A few methods for lowering cholesterol

Dr. Theodore Feldman, a medical director at Baptist Health’s South Miami Heart Center, was recently interviewed by the Miami Herald and enlightened it’s readers with some interesting facts about cholesterol.
Apparently, cholesterol can be both helpful and deadly to the body. It is actually an essential component of our cells and contributes to the chemical make-up for sex hormones. However, like many things we intake, an excess of cholesterol can block arteries and lead to heart attacks.
On another note, just because a person has high cholesterol does not mean they will necessarily develop heart disease. Sometimes people with lower levels of cholesterol can develop it, although having high cholesterol is the biggest indicator for possibly developing heart disease.
Fortunately, there are many ways to lower cholesterol. Statin drugs are useful for those with heart disease and diabetes. They block the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, which makes the liver act as if it needs more cholesterol, in turn lowering cholesterol in blood circulation. The side effects of taking statin drugs are slim to none, but include muscle aches which could become inflamed and release toxins to the kidneys.
If taking supplements is not your forte, there are other alternatives to lowering cholesterol. Even though statin drugs have shown to make a huge impact towards heart disease, having a diet that is low in saturated fat proves to be helpful. Also, soy protein, oat bran, and fiber will lower cholesterol levels. Lastly, as many of us know from commercials, Cheerios can even reduce cholesterol levels too.

To read the Miami Herald interview with Dr. Theodore Feldman, please click on the link.