How to deal with high blood cholesterol. What foods reduce blood cholesterol quickly and effectively. Cereals and legumes

Cholesterol refers to organic compounds, lipids that enter the body with food, as well as those synthesized by the liver. One of the varieties of natural fatty alcohols, cholesterol is needed to ensure normal human life.

Excess cholesterol in the blood is the primary link in the process of the formation of atherosclerotic, or cholesterol deposits, plaques in the blood vessels. Normally, the level of total cholesterol, found in the blood as an element of lipoprotein, is in the range of 3.6-5.2 mmol/l, and with age, due to physiological processes, the upper limit of normal increases depending on both the age and gender of the patient. With values ​​exceeding the upper limit, the risk of atherosclerosis increases, increasing significantly when the value reaches 6.2 mmol/l or more.

Circulating in the blood, cholesterol, when in excess, tends to stick together and accumulate in the arteries. Clumps or plaques impede the movement of blood, creating obstructions to blood flow and narrowing the lumen of blood vessels, which causes oxygen starvation and insufficient blood supply to tissues and organs. When parts of the plaques disintegrate, they contribute to the formation of a blood clot, which provokes thromboembolism, heart attacks, strokes and can lead to death.

However, just like excess, lack of cholesterol is also dangerous. This compound, for example, is one of the important advantages of breastfeeding: cholesterol is important for the development of the brain of infants, affects the production of necessary hormones, the musculoskeletal, immune, and reproductive systems, and in substitute formulas its content is significantly lower than that of mother’s milk. Other important functions of cholesterol include:

• ensuring the strength and elasticity of cell membranes;
• a necessary component for the synthesis of cortisone, vitamin D, regulation of the balance of phosphorus and calcium in the body;
• participation in the functioning of the nervous and immune systems;
• protection of blood cells (erythrocytes) from the effects of various types of hemolytic poisons;
• a necessary component for the production of hormones of the reproductive system, etc.

A reduced level of “good” cholesterol leads to disorders in the sexual and reproductive sphere, inability to conceive, loss of libido, as well as depressive states with a high probability of suicidal outcome, digestive disorders, the development of osteoporosis, diabetes, and hemorrhagic stroke. Because of the danger of lowering the level of total cholesterol in the blood when taking statins, first of all, experts recommend changing your diet, lifestyle, and trying to reduce cholesterol levels without medications. To do this, you need to know methods that help lower cholesterol without drugs, as well as which foods lower cholesterol in the blood and which, on the contrary, increase it.

How to lower cholesterol without drugs?

Cholesterol in the blood is contained in the form of a compound of lipid and protein, lipoprotein. Depending on the type of complex compound in total cholesterol, determined in a blood test, high molecular weight lipoproteins (“good” cholesterol) and low molecular weight (“bad” cholesterol) are distinguished. The ratio of good and bad lipoproteins is called the atherogenic coefficient, calculated using the formula: the difference between total and high molecular weight cholesterol is divided by the low molecular weight lipoprotein indicator. The optimal ratio is 3 or less. A coefficient of 5 indicates a high risk or the beginning of the development of atherosclerosis.
The practice of lowering cholesterol with medications has shown that when taking one of the most effective substances - statins - the level of total cholesterol, both “good” (by 30%) and “bad” (by 50%), is reduced, which negatively affects the body. In pharmacological practice, two groups of drugs are used for therapy: fibrates and statins. Fibrates are considered effective in combination with statins.

The drugs are prescribed for a strictly defined group of patients: those with a history of heart attack, stroke, acute coronary syndrome or heart surgery, as well as those with a hereditary risk of developing diseases associated with high cholesterol levels. The course of treatment is long, and if the risks are low, the use of medications that directly affect the concentration of lipoproteins is considered inappropriate.
To reduce cholesterol in the blood, bile acid preparations, nicotinic acid, cholesterol absorption inhibitors and other drugs are also used. At the moment, non-drug methods of therapy are recommended to reduce cholesterol to a certain level.

Physical activity to regulate cholesterol levels

This factor affects all people with high blood cholesterol levels, but especially those who lead a sedentary lifestyle, combining sedentary work with low leisure activity. Physical inactivity is also one of the main reasons for the formation of excess body weight, which also increases the likelihood of an increase in cholesterol levels.

Any physical activity - walking, running, swimming, sports games, gymnastic exercises - activates the metabolism in the body and helps eliminate stagnation of bile in the biliary tract, which helps the independent removal of excess cholesterol.
Sports walking and running are especially recommended: these sports, according to research, best help maintain the circulatory system in tone and cleanse the blood of excess cholesterol.

Bad habits and general health of the body

There is a strong correlation between excess body weight and elevated blood cholesterol levels. Normalizing weight helps lower cholesterol. If achieving a normal body mass index corresponding to sex, age and growth parameters is not possible through diet and physical activity, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Tobacco smoking is not just a bad habit. The constant intake of nicotine, tobacco smoke and carcinogens into the body has a detrimental effect on the entire body, including increasing the risk of developing atherosclerosis: a slowdown in metabolism leads to the accumulation of cholesterol and a decrease in the rate of its removal from the circulatory system.
Alcohol is a factor that has a negative impact on health. There is an unconfirmed theory according to which moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (no more than 200 ml of dry wines per day) can have a positive effect on the process of lowering cholesterol. A clear opinion on this issue has not been developed due to the lack of large-scale studies, but the harm from daily intake of even such doses of alcohol outweighs the possible benefits.

Bad eating habits also affect blood cholesterol levels. The habit of eating industrially produced food and excess sugar in food and drinks is also a negative factor that contributes to the formation of cholesterol plaques and the development of atherosclerosis. Excluding foods with hydrogenated fats from the diet (margarine, products with milk fat substitute, most confectionery products, processed foods, fast food, fried foods, etc.) helps reduce blood cholesterol by reducing the intake of low molecular weight lipoproteins contained in this group . Limiting the consumption of sugar in any form (in drinks, dishes, sweets, etc.) reduces the blood glycemic index and promotes the production of “good” low molecular weight cholesterol.
Thus, a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and giving up bad habits help reduce cholesterol without drugs.

Diseases, conditions and medications that increase cholesterol levels

Cholesterol can also accumulate in the body due to diseases or when taking certain medications. Impaired kidney and liver function, pancreatic diseases, type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism lead to an increase in cholesterol levels.
Increased cholesterol levels can also be a side effect of certain medications. This consequence most often occurs with long-term courses of immunosuppressants, hormonal steroid drugs, and female oral contraceptives. With long-term therapy with medications of these groups, regular monitoring of cholesterol levels is necessary.

Physiological conditions in which there is a natural increase in cholesterol concentrations without harmful consequences include the gestational period. Changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy contribute to increased production of lipoproteins, and a blood test may show that total cholesterol is almost twice as high as normal. This is a physiological norm that helps the development of the fetus and maintain the health of the mother. Without accompanying risk factors (diseases of the pregnant woman, pathologies, dysfunctions, which can increase with a high concentration of lipoproteins), this condition does not require correction or medical intervention, cholesterol does not harm the body and its indicators return to normal on their own after delivery.

High cholesterol: dietary principles

Proper nutrition is considered the main non-drug method of lowering cholesterol levels. However, before asking what foods lower blood cholesterol, you need to find out what types of food and drinks contribute to its increase: it is impossible to achieve a positive effect by eating “cholesterol-burning” foods in combination with junk food.

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The main substance that influences the increase in cholesterol levels is fat, so the diet for this disease is based on a significant reduction in foods rich in this substance. It is necessary to limit or completely exclude from the daily diet such foods as:

• meat and poultry of fatty varieties;
• sauces with a high fat content (including mayonnaise and salad dressings based on it);
• strong meat, fish broths and soups;
• baked goods, sweets, confectionery, chocolate;
• offal of any type;
• milk and dairy products, including butter, with high fat content (more than 5%).

Drinking strong tea, coffee, cocoa-containing and sweet carbonated drinks is also not recommended.
Products with refractory and hydrogenated fats are strictly excluded: these substances simultaneously increase the level of low molecular weight cholesterol and reduce the amount of “good”, high molecular weight cholesterol.
You should eat regularly, nutritiously, giving preference to gentle processing of foods: boiling, baking, stewing, steaming or grilling, minimizing frying and the use of oil or fat. During the day, you should eat 3 main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and one or two additional ones (second breakfast, afternoon snack).
Drinking regime is also important: per day you need to drink 2 liters (8 glasses) of liquid, preferably clean water, herbal teas, compotes, fruit drinks, freshly squeezed juices.

Traditional recipes and products that lower cholesterol

Products that are natural regulators of cholesterol levels are used to reduce the amount of “bad” cholesterol and increase the level of “good” cholesterol in their pure form in the diet, as well as in the form of tinctures, decoctions, and teas in alternative medicine. In both methods of use, it is necessary to remember the presence of contraindications: for example, 2-3 cloves of raw garlic (as a folk remedy, crushed garlic is infused in olive oil or alcohol and used as a sauce for dishes and a tincture, taken drop by drop) They help not only to reduce cholesterol, but also to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. This method, however, is not recommended for people with diseases of the digestive tract. Therefore, before starting such nutritional therapy, it is necessary to take into account possible contraindications, allergic reactions and individual characteristics of the body.

• Pistosterols for lowering cholesterol

The most useful substances for correcting the amount of cholesterol are plant styrene (phytosterols): they help increase high-density lipoproteins while reducing the level of low molecular weight cholesterol. Phytosterols are included in dietary supplements, but can be obtained just as effectively from food.

Avocado is considered one of the most popular foods rich in plant styrenes: according to the results, including half of the fruit daily in the menu for 30 days (subject to dietary rules) helps reduce cholesterol by 8%, while the level of high-density lipoproteins increases by 13%. . A low-fat diet for the same period provides a reduction of 5%.

The effectiveness of consuming various foods to correct cholesterol levels is based on the amount of plant styrene in each individual type. You should know that products that are the same as the original raw material after industrial processing differ in composition and content of both useful and harmful substances. For example, the calculation of the amount of phytosterols in olive oil is given for cold-pressed virgin oil, and when replacing it with cheaper or refined options, a similar effect should not be expected.

Foods rich in phytosterols also include pine nuts, flaxseed oil and seeds (and their mixture, urbech), almonds, cold-pressed olive oil and the already mentioned avocado.

• Fish fat

In its pure form or directly in fish, fish oil is very useful for high cholesterol levels, as it is a natural statin. Omega-3 fatty acid is responsible for regulating lipid levels and corrects the ratio of high- and low-density lipoproteins.
The highest content of fatty acids in relation to the lowest ability of tissues to accumulate mercury is observed in wild varieties of salmon and sardines. It is necessary to remember the rules for temperature processing of fish: during the frying process, most fatty acids are destroyed, so for healthy nutrition it is worth using boiled, stewed, baked or steamed fish.

• The effect of fiber on cholesterol

Research shows that if you start every day with oatmeal (not instant), then within a month the level of lipoproteins decreases by 5%. The same effect is observed when a large number of other cereals, whole grain bread, legumes (especially lentils and soybeans), flax seeds and oat bran are included in the menu.
Fiber-rich foods help regulate cholesterol: two months of daily intake of 100 g of bran on average helps reduce total lipoprotein levels by 14%, and also helps reduce body weight and improve digestion.
Bran can be mixed with cereals to prepare porridges, added to kefir, yogurt, and also replaced with regular bread and cookies with various variations with oat bran.
One of the most common and fiber-rich foods available to all segments of the population is white cabbage. For therapeutic purposes, it is recommended to include 100 g of fresh, stewed, boiled or sauerkraut in the menu per day.

• Polyphenols in berries and fruits

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Correction of the total level of lipoproteins can be achieved by increasing the production of high molecular weight compounds. Polyphenols - substances that stimulate the production of high-density lipoprotein - are found in olive oil, as well as in red and purple fruits: blueberries, lingonberries, pomegranates, dark grapes, cranberries, strawberries, wild strawberries, chokeberries. 150 g of fruits or fruit puree per day for 60 days helps to increase the amount of “good” cholesterol by an average of 5%, and cranberries with the same volume – by 10%.

Juices and purees can be consumed not only in their pure form, but also prepared berry mixtures, combined with desserts (low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt), and made mixed nectars and fruit drinks.
The most beneficial properties of grape berries are the thick skin and seeds; they can also be consumed internally. At the same time, the benefits of grape wine in lowering cholesterol are exaggerated: the value of the active ingredients when processing the juice into an alcoholic drink decreases, and the number of possible side effects increases.

• Garlic helps lower cholesterol: how to use it

Fresh garlic cloves contain a fairly high concentration of natural statin. When 2-3 cloves are included in the menu daily, a positive effect is noted.
Garlic should be consumed without heat treatment. It can be added to prepared dishes (stewed vegetables, salads, soups) in crushed form, infuse olive oil with garlic and use it as a sauce for salads (1 tablespoon per day). To achieve the effect, long-term and regular use of garlic is necessary, which is not recommended for people with diseases of the stomach and intestines.

• Magnesium for high cholesterol

Cholesterol in the blood is dangerous not only due to its accumulation, but also due to its ability to “stick” to the walls of the arteries and form cholesterol plaques. Normally, up to a certain amount of cholesterol, the cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels are able to repel lipoproteins. Low-density cholesterol, which circulates freely in the bloodstream, can be excreted from the body.

But with a decrease in the amount of magnesium in the tissues, this ability decreases, and triglycerides settle unhindered on the walls of the arteries. Eating foods containing high amounts of magnesium helps prevent atherosclerosis and remove “bad” cholesterol from the walls of the circulatory system.
White cabbage, especially sauerkraut, baked potatoes, legumes (beans, red beans, lentils), bananas, wheat and soy sprouts, nuts and seeds are rich in magnesium.

• Effect of Vitamin D

Vitamin D in fat-soluble form can be taken in the form of medications or dietary supplements, and it can also be promoted by the body to synthesize it independently by being outdoors in sunny weather.

This vitamin effectively reduces the level of low-density lipoproteins and helps increase high-molecular compounds. Research also shows a connection between high levels of vitamin D in the body and a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
It is preferable to stimulate the natural production of the vitamin in the body, and before taking medications containing it, you must consult a specialist, since there are a number of contraindications (diseases and pathologies of the thyroid gland, liver, kidneys, etc.).

Almost every person knows about the dangers of cholesterol. Elevated levels of this substance can provoke a disease such as atherosclerosis. In this case, blockage of blood vessels occurs, leading to heart problems and stroke. Many people are interested in the question of how to deal with cholesterol and prevent the development of serious illnesses.

But often people forget that they only need to fight hard against bad cholesterol, which settles on the walls of blood vessels. It can increase as a result of poor nutrition, various pathologies and bad habits.

What is cholesterol

Cholesterol or cholesterol is an organic compound from the class of lipids that is part of the cell membranes of almost all living organisms. 70% of this substance is synthesized by the human body and only 30% comes from outside with food.

Cholesterol in the body is found in the blood, spinal cord and brain, fatty tissues, adrenal glands, liver and gonads. The total amount of this substance is about 350 g. In its pure form there is very little of it; it is mainly present in the form of compounds - lipoproteins. All cholesterol found in the human body is divided into good and bad.

Functions of high-density cholesterol:

1. Regulates permeability and ensures the strength of cell membranes and protects them from the effects of free radicals.
2. Affects the activity of membrane enzymes
3. Participates in the production of bile acids, which are necessary for the absorption of fats in the intestines.
4. Takes part in the production of hormones (cortisol, cortisone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone).
5. Improves brain function.
6. Stimulates immunity.

Bad cholesterol (low density) causes the appearance of cholesterol plaques, settling inside the walls of the arteries.

If the level of cholesterol in the body is low, a person becomes vulnerable to a large number of diseases, including tuberculosis, liver cancer, and heart failure.

Consequences of high cholesterol levels

Bad cholesterol poses the greatest threat to the cardiovascular system. Plaques on the walls of blood vessels narrow their cross-section and impair blood flow. If the entire artery is blocked in this way, blood stops flowing to the organ. This can cause heart attacks, strokes, and coronary heart disease.

The following symptoms may indicate that the level of cholesterol in the body is elevated:

• Yellow spots on the skin.
• Pain in the lower extremities when walking or running.
• Angina pectoris.

But only a cholesterol test, which must be performed at least once every 3 years, can accurately identify the problem. The risk group includes the following categories of people:

1. Heavy smokers.
2. Obese persons.
3. Hypertensive patients.
4. Women during menopause.
5. Men over 50 years old.

Cholesterol deposits can be seen on the skin of the eyelids and around the eyes; they are small yellow sacs called xanthelasmas.

Treatment with traditional methods

You can fight bad cholesterol not only with the help of medications, but also with folk remedies. The basis of such treatment are medicinal plants.

• Flaxseed oil. To combat increased... You can buy it at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself. To do this, grind 100 g of seeds using a coffee grinder and pour in 200 ml of refined olive oil. Leave for a week in a dark place, then filter. Drink 20 ml of oil once a day on an empty stomach. The course of treatment should be ten days. Then they take a three-week break and resume taking it. In order to do this you will need 3 – 4 courses. The oil should be used with caution as it may cause exacerbation of cholecystitis or stomach upset. In this case, its use should be stopped.
• Onion . In order to eliminate cholesterol plaques from blood vessels, you need to add 20 g of honey and 10 ml of lemon juice to 100 ml of onion juice. 5 ml of this medicine is dissolved in 100 ml of water at room temperature and drunk in small sips. Take the solution at least twice a day for a month. The product must be stored in the refrigerator.
• Birch buds . 2 g of crushed birch buds are poured into a liter of boiling water and left for 2 hours, then filtered. Drink as tea during the day. The infusion copes with high cholesterol, eliminates swelling, treats liver diseases and has a choleretic effect. It has no side effects since this dosage does not affect the kidneys.
• Horseradish root. A tablespoon of finely grated horseradish is mixed with 200 g of low-fat sour cream. This medicine is taken three times a day with meals. Treatment is continued for 3 weeks. Horseradish root should not be used if you have high acidity or a peptic ulcer in the acute stage.
• Sea buckthorn oil. For internal use, sea buckthorn oil must be prepared independently. To do this, 250 g of fresh berries are crushed using a wooden pestle, placed in a glass jar and filled with the same amount of refined olive oil. After the medicine has been infused for a week, it is ground through a sieve. Store the prepared sea buckthorn oil in the refrigerator and take 20 ml once a day on an empty stomach. With its help, they not only cleanse blood vessels of harmful cholesterol, but also normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, treat stomach ulcers and restore the functions of the immune system.
• Pumpkin . You can use pumpkin juice. It contains a large amount of vitamins and antioxidants. Prepare the juice immediately before use. For this, ripe orange fruits are used. Take 100 ml of pumpkin juice per day, dividing it into 2 servings. It is first mixed with a small amount of honey. Treatment continues for a month. In order to store pumpkin juice for a long period, it must be pasteurized and hermetically sealed. In this case, it retains its beneficial properties for six months.
• Aloe arborescens. In order to prepare a medicine for high cholesterol, aloe leaves that are more than two years old are used. Before this, the plant should not be watered for 24 hours. Wipe the sheets, wrap in paper and place in the refrigerator for 12 days at a temperature of 6 - 8 degrees. During this period, biological changes occur in metabolism and biogenic stimulants are produced, stimulating vital processes in other tissues that have already begun to die. Then the aloe leaves need to be washed under running water, wiped with a paper towel and passed through a juicer. In order to preserve the beneficial properties of the medicine, it is preserved with alcohol. Add 20 ml of 96% ethyl alcohol to 100 ml of aloe juice. Store the solution in a glass container in a cool place. Take 5 ml juice twice a day before meals. It lowers cholesterol levels, normalizes digestion, stimulates bile production and promotes weight loss. There are no contraindications for drinking aloe juice.
• Gray jaundice. To combat cholesterol with folk remedies, dried jaundice herb is used. Fifty grams of dry raw materials are placed in a bag made of natural undyed fabric, a small weight is tied to it and filled with 3 liters of warm water. Then add 15 g of natural sour cream and 250 g of granulated sugar. The resulting mixture is placed in a warm, dark place for 14 days, remembering to shake daily. Take 100 ml of kvass half an hour before eating. Treatment should be continued for at least a month, then take a three-week break. Each portion of kvass drunk is replaced with 100 ml of warm boiled water with a teaspoon of sugar.
• Clover . In order to lower cholesterol levels, use clover tincture. To prepare it, 40 g of dry raw materials are poured with vodka, which will require 500 ml, and left in a dark place for a week. Strain and apply 20 ml twice a day before lunch and before bed. Treatment is continued for 3 months. This remedy increases the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, promotes their cleansing, improves blood circulation and the functioning of the digestive system.
• Dying gorse. To reduce the level of bad cholesterol, a decoction of the plant is used. To prepare it, add 3 g of finely chopped leaves to 250 ml of water and simmer over low heat. Only a third of the broth should remain. After it has cooled, filter and take 20 ml three times a day before eating. First you need to mix it with a small amount of honey. Treatment is continued for 2 months. The product has a mild choleretic and diuretic effect, and also cleanses the blood of harmful substances.

Hawthorn

You can fight high cholesterol with folk remedies, for example, using hawthorn:

• Juice. Hawthorn fruits are somewhat dry, so in order to get juice, mash a kilogram of fresh berries using a wooden rocker and add a glass of water. Put on fire and heat to 40 - 50 degrees. After this, they can be passed through a juicer. The finished medicine is taken 20 ml 3 times a day. Treatment is continued for at least a month. In order for hawthorn juice to be stored for a long time, you can use 70% ethyl alcohol as a preservative. It is added in a ratio of 1 to 5. Store the finished medicine in a cool place.
• Tincture from fresh hawthorn fruits. To prepare it, mash a glass of berries and pour in 100 ml of 70% alcohol. Leave for a week in a dark place, remembering to shake. Strain and consume 15 ml in the morning and evening. Use the tincture for 3 weeks.
• Tincture from dry berries. 50 g of fruits are poured with 200 ml of vodka and allowed to brew for a week. Without straining, place in the refrigerator and take 25 ml up to 3 times a day. With this tincture you can lower your bad cholesterol levels in a month.
• Infusion of hawthorn flowers. Not only the fruits, but also the color of this plant have medicinal properties. In order to prepare a medicine that allows you to normalize cholesterol levels, pour 200 ml of boiling water into a tablespoon of raw material and leave for 40 minutes. Strain, add 10 g of honey and drink in small sips. Use this infusion in the morning and evening for 6 weeks.

Bee products

The fight against bad cholesterol is carried out using the following bee products:

• Royal jelly. It stimulates metabolism, has a positive effect on the central nervous system, and improves blood composition. Milk helps reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, dilates coronary vessels and bronchi. To suppress sclerotic changes in the walls of blood vessels, take 20 g of royal jelly three times a day for 2 weeks. In order for it to act most effectively, it must be retained in the oral cavity as much as possible.
• Perga. It has a positive effect on the body, stimulates the immune system, and cleanses blood vessels from harmful cholesterol. Take bee bread 15 g once a day. Treatment can last a year.
• Honey. To add 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder to a liter of boiled water. Stir the solution well and take 50 ml three times a day. Continue treatment for 3 weeks.

Herbal infusions

You can use herbal mixtures:

1. Cinnamon rose hips, birch and cassia leaves, cold mint and orthosiphon herbs, carrot fruits.
2. Immortelle flowers, hawthorn fruits, flax seeds, perstacha grass, rose hips.
3. Hawthorn flowers, Veronica officinalis herb, wild strawberry and thyme, chamomile flowers.

The components of the collection are mixed in equal proportions and stored in a dry glass container. To prepare the infusion, 3 g of raw material is poured with half a liter of water and allowed to brew for 2 hours. Strain and take 150 ml 3 times a day. Treatment of atherosclerosis with such preparations lasts several years. Each of them is taken for 2 – 3 months, then they take a week’s break and change the infusion.

Treatment with drugs

If folk remedies fail to lower cholesterol levels in the body, drugs from different pharmacological groups are used. You should not self-prescribe medications. The dosage, dosage regimen and course of treatment should be determined by the doctor based on the results of the analysis.

Statins

Statins are the most well-known and effective drugs for lowering cholesterol levels. Such drugs include:

1. Simvastatin.
2. Fluvastatin.
3. Pravastatin.
4. Atorvastatin.
5. Cerivastatin.

All of these drugs reduce cholesterol synthesis in the liver by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. They affect total cholesterol levels. Drugs from this series lower the level of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins and increase the amount of high-density lipoproteins.

Statins are taken once a day in the evening, when maximum cholesterol synthesis occurs. The drugs have been used for many years. These medications have quite serious side effects, so if pain and weakness appear in the muscles, you should stop taking them and consult a doctor immediately.

Bile acid sequestrants

These drugs bind bile acids, mainly consisting of cholesterol, in the intestines and remove them from the body. Such drugs include Cholestyramine, Colestipol, Huar resin.

When using such medications, side effects may occur in the form of stomach upset and increased gas formation.

Fibrates

Fibrates inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver. They reduce the level of total cholesterol in the blood and increase the level of high-density lipoproteins. At the same time, platelet aggregation is reduced. These drugs include Gemfebrozil, Fenofibrate, Ciprofibrate, Etofibrate.

Antioxidants

Preparations from this series stabilize the functions and structure of cell membranes, neutralize free radicals, and promote the oxidation of fatty acids. They restore the elasticity of blood vessels and improve the functioning of the immune system.

Direct action antioxidants include vitamins E, P, C. Methionine, Lipoic and Glutamic acids have indirect action.

Prevention

In order to prevent an increase in the level of bad cholesterol, first of all, normalize your diet. To do this you need to change your diet:

• Reduce the amount of animal and trans fats consumed (butter, full-fat cottage cheese and sour cream, margarine). Use vegetable oils instead.
• Replace refined sugar, which increases cholesterol levels, with cane sugar or honey.
• Eliminate strong tea and coffee, replace them with clean water, compotes or fruit drinks.
• Instead of fatty meat (lamb, pork), eat dietary meat (turkey, rabbit).
• Fish (especially ocean fish) containing fat-soluble vitamins must be present.
• The main foods in the diet are vegetables and fruits with a lot of fiber.

You need to lead a healthy lifestyle and give your body adequate physical activity every day. This could be walking, running, yoga or fitness. Another method of prevention is giving up bad habits.

You can live with high cholesterol levels for many years without noticing the problem. If signs of pathology are detected, you should consult a doctor.