The availability of various products and medicines which can lower your cholesterol levels has resulted in many people overlooking the possibility to naturally lower cholesterol. A lot of people are resorting to prescription medications to manage their fat and cholesterol levels. However controlling these without medications is a safer way of managing your health.

In fact controlling your cholesterol naturally is quite easy to do but it seems not many people have the knowledge to do it. Medicines and other products may be effective at removing some symptoms but doing it the natural way is far better as you won't have to worry about the side effects from these products and medications. Taking medicines regularly to control cholesterol can damage your liver. Other side effects you may experience are muscle pain, memory loss and fatigue. A steady dose of prescription medications for many years may even lead to serious conditions like congestive heart failure. These artificial ways of reducing cholesterol through medications only minimally reduce your risk of death caused by heart attack. While medications may seem to be effective they may also put you at risk of serious side effects and chronic health problems. If you don't want to experience these side effects you should consider lowering your cholesterol levels naturally.

The natural way involves a change in lifestyle and the determination to follow a low cholesterol diet. A lifestyle change can help you significantly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and improve your general health. Because of the many diseases you can get from having high levels of fat in your body people are now becoming more conscious about their lifestyle. The most common problem people have is that of not knowing where to begin.

Basically cholesterol is a necessary component in the body. It aids in cell functions, hormone production and nerve insulation. It goes without saying that you therefore cannot totally eliminate it from your body. Too much of it causes the accumulation of fats in the arterial walls. This constricts the blood flow which carries nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. High fat levels increase your risk of developing various health problems like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and heart attack. The best way to avoid this is to maintain a balance of good and bad cholesterol.

One way to naturally lower cholesterol is by having a healthy diet that aims to reduce your low density lipoprotein and maintain a good amount of high density lipoprotein. LDL and HDL are the types of cholesterol. LDL is considered as bad cholesterol and HDL is considered as the good one. You can start your lifestyle change by first changing what you eat. Avoid fatty foods, especially those with high amounts of trans fat and saturated fats. Opt for olive oil, whole grains, wheat, lean meat and foods high in fiber when planning your meals. By choosing healthier foods, you can lower the amount of bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol in your body.

Regular exercise can also significantly help balance your levels. Thirty minutes of exercise daily is enough to maintain desirable levels of LDL and HDL in your system. Exercise will help you effectively maintain your weight and avoid fats from accumulating in your body. Aiming for your recommended weight will help you avoid numerous health problems.

Cut off bad habits like smoking, eating sweets and drinking too much caffeine and alcohol. These bad habits greatly contribute to the production and accumulation of unwanted fats.

These are just some of the things you can start with when planning to naturally lower cholesterol in your body.