Some of the best tips for lowering cholesterol without medication include exercising, eating healthy foods, and cutting out bad habits like smoking. Exercising and eating right can additionally help a person lose weight, which may also lead to lower cholesterol numbers. Stress elimination can be helpful for cholesterol, but this is not always an easy option depending on a person's job and other daily obligations. Even though lowering cholesterol without medication is possible, it is probably still a good idea for a person to see a doctor before attempting this. Some people have cholesterol that is dangerously high, and medication may be necessary in addition to lifestyle changes.
People who are interested in lowering cholesterol without medication should try to get in a little exercise every week. Exercise for lowering cholesterol does not even have to be high intensity. Walking for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, is typically enough to make a significant change in cholesterol numbers. Over time, regular exercise might also help a person lose weight and become healthier overall, which reduces the chances of many other health problems. People who exercise not only tend to have lower cholesterol, but they also often have decreased risks of heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Eating healthy food is just as important as exercise for lowering cholesterol without medication. A person who wants to lower his or her cholesterol numbers should make an effort to eat things with lots of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Foods that contain a lot of fiber include various breakfast cereals, oatmeals, and whole-grain breads. Fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout is considered a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It's probably a good idea for a person with high cholesterol to avoid frying food and instead try to get in the habit of grilling and baking.
Smoking and high levels of stress also contribute to high cholesterol. It is typically very difficult for most people to eliminate these problems from their lives. Smoking is normally very addictive, and high stress levels are occasionally unavoidable. A person who is interested in lowering cholesterol without medication should still try to stop smoking and reduce stress levels because both of things can have a big impact on cholesterol numbers. A doctor may be able to help a person find ways to end his nicotine addiction if he finds himself unable to do it on his own. Stress can often be managed by taking time out every day to practice deep-breathing relaxation techniques or by taking a little bit of time out every day away from the cause of the stress.