Nutrients that may benefit those with high cholesterol
Curcumin in curry, you can find Curcumin here to purchase
Natural Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is one option
Natural Vitamin E complex is helpful but limit total Vitamin-E intake through supplements to 1,000 units a week.
Fish oils can be helpful, perhaps also Krill-Oil supplements.
Green Tea extract to prevent oxidation
Niacin  lowers cholesterol, LDL, Lp(a), and triglycerides while raising HDL. Slow release preparations are better.
Psyllium half or one teaspoon in a glass of water twice daily with food. Psyllium reduces cholesterol levels and cardiac risk--An article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that supplementing the diet with psyllium fiber has positive effects on blood lipids while potentially cardiovascular risk. Sixty-eight adults with high cholesterol consumed a high-fiber and a control diet for 1 month each in a randomized crossover study. The high-fiber diet included 4 servings per day of foods containing psyllium that delivered 8 g per day of soluble fiber than did similar, unsupplemented foods in the control diet. Fasting blood samples and blood pressure readings were obtained at baseline and weeks 2 and 4, and the subjects' weight was monitored weekly. Compared with the control diet, the high-fiber diet reduced total cholesterol levels. Applying the Framingham cardiovascular disease risk equation to the data confirmed a reduction in risk of 4 percent. Small reductions in blood pressure were found after both diets. The subjects reported no significant differences in palatability or gastrointestinal symptoms between the diets.
     Comments: Even though the reduction of cholesterol was small, it was nevertheless a positive response. Adding psyllium to the diet, for instance about a teaspoon in a glass of water two or three times a day with meals will help reduce cholesterol and also helps regulate bowel movements.
Flaxseed added to soup or foods could be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels.
Policosanol sugar cane extract may reduce cholesterol but research is conflicting. You can find Policosanol here.
Licorice extract has been studied
Amla herb has been studied in rodents

Health problems with high cholesterol
Abnormal levels of fats circulating in the bloodstream, especially cholesterol, can lead to long-term problems. The risk of having atherosclerosis and coronary artery or carotid artery disease (and therefore the risk of having a heart attack or stroke) increases as a person's total cholesterol level increases. Low cholesterol levels are therefore generally better than high ones, although extremely low cholesterol levels may not be healthy either. An ideal total cholesterol level is probably 140 to 200 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). The risk of a heart attack more than doubles when the total cholesterol level approaches 300 mg/dL.

Different types of Cholesterol
Not all cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. The cholesterol carried by LDL (the so-called bad cholesterol) increases the risk; the cholesterol carried by HDL (the so-called good cholesterol) lowers the risk and is beneficial. Ideally, LDL cholesterol levels should be below 120 mg/dL, and HDL cholesterol levels should be above 50 mg/dL. The HDL level should account for more than 25 percent of the total cholesterol. The total cholesterol level is less important as a risk factor for heart disease or strokes than the total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio. Whether high levels of triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease or strokes is uncertain. Blood levels of triglycerides above 250 mg/dL are considered abnormal, but high levels don't appear to uniformly increase the risk of atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease.

Diet and Cholesterol
A diet rich in fatty fish may protect the heart and blood vessels by reducing inflammation, according to researchers. The investigators found that individuals with the highest cell levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon and mackerel, had lower levels of C-reactive protein in their blood. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of blood vessel inflammation, is associated with risk of heart disease. In a study of nearly 28,000 women, levels CRP were more accurate than levels of "bad" cholesterol at predicting the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. see diet for info on the best foods to eat. Bulking up the diet with vegetables and legumes such as beans and peas can lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease

Exercise and Cholesterol
Being physically fit boosts levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and improves the removal of "bad" forms of cholesterol. Exercise reduces levels of CRP (see above).

Eating frequency and Cholesterol
A person's cholesterol levels may depend not only on what he or she eats, but also how often, according to UK researchers. They found that middle-aged and older adults who ate frequently throughout the day had lower "bad" cholesterol levels compared with those who tended to down one or two large meals per day. This was despite the fact that the frequent eaters, on average, had a higher calorie and fat intake.

Medical Therapy for high Cholesterol
Without a doubt, statin drugs do lower cholesterol levels and reduce the rate of heart attacks.. But do they also reduce mortality? In a new trial the statin pravastatin (Pravachol) did not reduce the risk of death and heart disease in people with moderately high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Cholesterol and mental function
While a high total cholesterol level in middle age is a risk factor for developing dementia later in life, a drop in cholesterol after middle age may also be a sign of later cognitive problems. Falling total cholesterol levels after middle age may point to an ongoing disease processes in the brain, and could be a marker for risk of late-life cognitive impairment. Dr. Miia Kivipelto, from the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues investigated changes in total cholesterol levels in relation to cognitive functioning in late-life. The study involved some 2000 people who had their cholesterol level measured in midlife, and were re-examined an average of 21 years later. The team focused on 70 people who developed mild cognitive impairment during follow-up, 48 who developed Alzheimer's disease and a "control" group of 1,203 people who remained mentally intact. "Mid-life total cholesterol represented a risk factor for more severe cognitive impairment later in life," the researchers found, with significant differences between the controls, those with mild cognitive impairment, and those with dementia. On the other hand, a moderate drop in total cholesterol from mid-life to late-life "was significantly associated with the risk of a more impaired late-life cognitive status," the investigators report in the medical journal Neurology. These findings remained unchanged after adjusting for factors that might influence brain function, including age, sex, education and even the presence APOE-4 gene, which is known to predispose people to develop Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, March 6, 2007.

High cholesterol in children
April 2007 - The American Heart Association has released new guidelines for drugs that reduce high cholesterol levels, primarily statin drugs like Lipitor, in children and adolescents with high-risk cholesterol, and especially in children from families with familial hypercholesterolemia. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder in which very high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) develop at birth and can cause heart attacks or death at an early age. Most children with cholesterol abnormalities can be successful treated solely by modifying lifestyle. The focus of the guidelines, however, is on those children who require more aggressive therapy. Dr. Brian McCrindle, head of the writing group and professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, believes several drug trials of children with familial hypercholesterolemia indicate the use of statins can be as safe and effective in children as in adults. Compared with the older guidelines, the new guidelines have less stringent criteria for initiating lipid-lowering drug therapy and now recommend statins as the first-line agents when therapy is needed. Circulation, April 10, 2007.
   Comments: There is no evidence that long term use of statins in children for high cholesterol improves lifespan and additional dangers and side effects of statin drugs could be found in the future in children. We feel very aggressive dietary modifications are needed and statin drugs should only be used in extremely high cholesterol levels.

Good cholesterol and Bad Cholesterol
There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). When you get your cholesterol levels checked, your doctor will usually give you both readings, plus the total cholesterol level. LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol because high levels are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. This cholesterol, together with other substances, builds up and forms plaque inside artery walls, causing blockages that can limit blood flow. LDL of less than 100 mg/dL is optimal. HDL cholesterol often is called "good" cholesterol, because sufficient levels have been found to reduce a person's risk of heart attack. Experts think it may carry "bad" cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where the LDL can be passed from the body, HDL cholesterol levels of less than 40 mg/dL increase a person's risk of heart disease. There is no evidence yet that taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol levels improves overall mortality. Cholesterol natural therapy for high cholesterol herbs and vitamins for cholesterol and heart disease.

Cholesterol emails
Q. I recently had my cholesterol checked and it had dropped from 259 to 231, the problem I have is that my good cholesterol which had been holding in the 70's for years dropped to 43. I feel one of the supplements I'm taking is reducing my good cholesterol. Can arginine - Niacin - Bee pollen or bilberry have a negative effect on my hdl cholesterol. Nothing else has changed in my lifestyle that I think could account for the decrease in cholesterol HDL.
   A. We are not aware that the supplements you are taking have a negative influence on hdl cholesterol. There are constant fluctuations in cholesterol levels based on a number of factors including diet and time of the blood sample, sleep patterns, exercise level, therefore repeated cholesterol levels are needed over time to have a more accurate understanding.

Q. I am a commercial pilot aged 62 in New Zealand. My total cholesterol in my Sept. medical was 7.8 (we use a diferent system of measurements). Cholesterol should be less than 5. My HDL was 2 - >1, LDL 5.4 - <3 and Triglycerides 0.9 - <2. My cholesterol ratio was 3.9 - <4.5. So my HDL, Triglycerides and ratio were all fine but my LDL was far too high and this pushed up my total cholesterol. Last year I was placed on a statin and suffered severe back ache. I was placed on synflex for the back ache and after three weeks collapsed and was rushed off to hospital with a bleeding stomach ulcer and needed 3 units of blood. In Sept. I started taking 1000 mg of fax seed oil and 10mg of policasanol a day. After 8 weeks my LDL cholesterol had droped from 5.4 to 4.5, a 17% reduction. My HDL cholesterol remained the same. My total cholesterol dropped from 7.8 to 7 and my ratio dropped to 3.5. I then found a new supply of policosanol (23mg tablets) and after another 7 weeks my LDL cholesterol had dropped another 9%. My total cholesterol dropped to 6.4 and my ratio was down to 3.2. I still have some way to go but a 26% reduction in LDL cholesterol in less than 4 months has convinced me that a combination of flax seed oil and policosanol does work.

Q.  I recently began taking a fish oil supplement, but noticed that each softgel contains 5 milligrams of cholesterol. Isn't this a health detriment?
   A. Cholesterol in the diet has been blamed more than it should for health problems Cholesterol, up to a reasonable amount, is needed by the body to make important hormones. Cholesterol at 5 mg should have no health hazard.

Q. I'd like to share my experience with you of how I finally lowered my cholesterol until Dr. Ravindra could hardly believe it and kept telling me my lab results were perfect last time. I had been taking prescription drugs but I didn't get the excellent results until I also took triple lecithin capsules and omega 3 fish oil. I eat vegetables, fish (including canned sardines, good for women), and chicken breasts. I find that the less meat I eat, the less I want. I also believe if you eat less sugar you crave it less. I use no Nutra-Sweet (aspartame) because it was so toxic to my body that I had nose bleeds and unbearable headache from only a small amount.

Q. I am interested in your viewpoint on the cholesterol drug Zetia. I (and probably others) would like to know just how dangerous and/or truly effective this medication is since Zetia claims to block cholesterol absorption.
   A. We have not evaluated this cholesterol drug in any detail. For the time being, we feel psyllium, glucomannan, and other fibers may offer a good alternative to Zetia in some patients.

Q. I am a sixtyfive year old male. My cardiologist has prescribed me 2,000 mg of fish oil and 3 6.25mg tablets of Welchol (colesevelom HCl) manufactured by Daichi Sankyo from Austria. What are the long term effects of taking Welchol and are there better herbal alternatives?
   A. WelChol is a drug prescribed to lower blood cholesterol levels. WelChol works by binding with cholesterol-based bile acids to take them out of circulation. This urges the liver to produce a replacement supply of bile acids, drawing the extra cholesterol it needs out of the bloodstream. WelChol may be taken with a statin drug that lower cholesterol in a different way. Among these statin drugs are Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor. We believe there are excellent alternatives to WelChol and statin drugs as listed above.

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