High Cholesterol
Natural Remedies

Effective Home Remedies for High Cholesterol

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Oatmeal
Posted by Cammie (USA) on 12/29/2006
★★★★★

morning - oatmeal w. "Smart Balance" spread & baked apple or cut up fresh apple, include skin & cinnamon (no sugar) plus 1 tablespoon psyllium in water at night. Lowered cholesterol 22 points.


Flax Seeds
Posted by Daniel (Chilliwack, Canada) on 09/26/2025
★★★★★

Hi everyone. I had high cholesterol, and I cured it with organic ground flaxseed. I stopped taking the poisonous statins Dec /24. I consumed 1 pound/week with water. When I got my lab results in early Sept/25 my doctor asked me what I was doing to treat my HC and U told her she was amazed, and so was I. There are so many health benefits to flaxseed I continue my protocol.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Art (California) on 02/24/2021 2681 posts

Hi PCL,

Good on you for reconsidering about statins.

Here are a few reasons why statins may not be the best choice.

1. Statins are known to cause muscle pain, liver damage, increased blood sugar and neurological side effects as discussed here:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013

2. Statins have caused memory loss in some people as discussed here:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/cholesterol/new-findings-on-statin-memory-loss-link

3. Statins can cause tendon damage or rupture as reported in the following study link:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666488/#

On the other hand, "Soy Lecithin" lowers cholesterol and triglycerides as shown in the following study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065734/

It is worth noting that I have not as yet been able to find other cholesterol studies for other forms of lecithin such as sunflower lecithin and my experience is that "granular soy lecithin" has been effective for several friends who have used it.

Art


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Marilyn Wright (Northern Calif) on 01/30/2017

I find ACV is easier to swallow with V-8 juice.I started with 1tsp ACV and 4 oz of v8 juice twice a day and now I am up to 1/2 tablespoon of ACV and 4oz of v-8 juice. Marilyn


Understanding the Role of Cholesterol
Posted by Swissophie (Switzerland) on 11/06/2015
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Please read the article “The Cholesterol Myth That Is Harming Your Health” on Dr. Mercola's site (Google will find it). What an eye opener! It explains why cholesterol lowering drugs are so dangerous, why we need cholesterol, and why it might be high (repairing damage done by arterial inflammation). Taking ACV should help lowering the inflammation and with it most probably the cholesterol, but do not give up healthy fats, including eggs. Be well!

Niacin
Posted by ORH (TEN MILE, TN) on 11/03/2021

DONNA,,,,,,,, ORH here and good advice. Md's prescribe flushing Niacin Rx and that is 500 mg, far too high to start. So people forget that program. To get 100mg, you must get a supplement. Increase dosage as you stop flushing. The 9-11 first responders ended up taking thousands of mg and in a sauna to get rid of their toxins. Their towels were dark from what was excreted during the flush. Tom Cruise installed and paid for that protocol because the medical folks had no clue.

Gene DeCode has a detox for the jab that will soon be on his new site..... blessed for service.org. One brilliant man. ====ORH====


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mikell (Louisville, Kentucky) on 11/02/2014

Just started taking apple cider vinegar to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, 2 tsps. in 8oz. of water, 3x a day. I am curious about the cayenne pepper, how should it be taken? Thanks!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jo Ana (Fl) on 04/24/2015

Try a teaspoon of organic ACV in every glass of water you drink. This is a great way to get your needed ACV every day. I've been doing this for years and when I'm someplace where organic isn't available, I feel badly deprived.

It's so easy, and it gives the water a flavor that once you become accustomed to it, you will look forward to drinking your water often throughout the day.


Red Yeast Rice
Posted by Tinydancer (Dayton, Ohio, Usa) on 05/20/2013

Protecting yourself against heart disease requires far more than just simply lowering your cholesterol levels. In fact, 50 percent of the people who are hospitalized with heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels, and 25 percent of people who develop premature heart disease have no traditional risk factors at all. Maybe elevated cholesterol isn't the real cause of heart disease in the first place.

Trillions of dollars are spent on cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) and heart disease is still the leading cause of death. What is wrong with this picture?


High Cholesterol Readings
Posted by famcoll (Nashville, TN) on 01/01/2023
★★★★★

It's important to assess a determination of "high cholesterol" before you decide to do something about it. Look at the lipid panel yourself and check to make sure your HDL (good cholesterol) isn't so high that it is throwing off the total cholesterol numbers. Many years ago, the doctor told me that my total cholesterol would always look high because my HDL is so very high. That has proven over and over again to be the case. If you want to use your lipid panel to check for your risk of heart disease due to high cholesterol, enter your numbers, age, etc, at this Univ. of Wisconsin website

https://www.mcw.edu/calculators/ldl-cholesterol-goal-level

Lecithin
Posted by Yvonne (PA) on 04/26/2022
★★★★★

I followed Ted's high cholesterol protocol (https://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/cholesterol2.html) of granulated lecithin, 1 teaspoon twice a day, mixed with lemon oil (or d-limonene) 10 drops twice a day too, as well as 1 teaspoon of glycine twice a day, green tea extract 1/8 teaspoon twice a day, and lysine 1/4 teaspoon twice a day to reduce triglycerides. I did not do borax in water 1/8 teaspoon to reduce triglycerides.

I also made oatmeal porridge with soy milk.

I got tested two months after I began the regimen and my total cholesterol decreased from 249 to 208. Triglycerides reduced from 57 to 48. (My HDL went from 106 to 81; LDL, from 134 to 118).

This is amazing! I have always had elevated cholesterol but this is the lowest it has ever been. I am ever so grateful for Ted's protocol.


Oatmeal
Posted by Tom (Los Angelez) on 07/23/2021

Hi, Good to know about oats and sharing all these details.I was wondering did he add any kind of milk in the oatmeal?

BTW fish oil and COQ10 alone does not lower cholesterol. You need to Red Yeast Rice along with it.
Give it a try.


Thank you,
Tom


Brazil Nuts
Posted by Margie S. (United States) on 08/27/2019
★★★★★

A coworker of mine introduced me to Nutritionfacts.org. There is an article called Four Nuts Once a Month by Dr. Greger. I started eating 1 Brazil nut every day (even though the article said you would get the same results eating 4 nuts a month).

My results are as follows: I went from 224 down to 204 down to 136. I get mine already shelled at Trader Joes. They will always be a daily staple of mine. Brazil nuts are high in selenium.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Beatriz D. (California) on 02/19/2022

Hello Carla! What time of the day do you take the ACV? and do you do it after a meal or before? Thank you!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Timh (Ky) on 12/21/2017 2042 posts

K: Here are 3 clean artery remedies.

-Nattokinase and Serrapeptase

-Herbs that clean and allow the plaques to absolve.
Take in capsules or as a tea ---Garlic, Cayenne, Ginger, Hawthorn, Lemon, ACV

-Dr Linus Pauling artery cure is daily Vit-C & Lysine *would like to add that daily Grapeseed Extract alone also prevents "hardening of arteries"*.

As for fat burning, Triple Strength Lecithin is good along with Choline/Inositol supplement. The amino acid Methionine w/ B-12 & Folic Acid is my fav.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pacific Coast Lady (USA) on 01/22/2021

Thank you, Sharon in MO, I just got my bloodwork back and my cholesterol is still high. I've had it high most of my life I think, but never kept good track. I run around 300 plus (combined LDL and HDL, LDL is 239 of the 330 on "just received" results). I am going to shop for clean, organic lecithin today. Thank you again, it will be worth a try for sure.

PS I was diagnosed with 3rd degree Heart Block in 97, not sure if that is caused by cholesterol. I have a pacemaker since then and I am 68.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pacific Coast Lady (USA) on 02/24/2021

I am concerned I may not have ordered the right Lecithin. I'm not sure I can mention a brand or put a link, so I'll mention the brand I ordered. I don't want to do anything against the site rules, but I know they check all the posts before they allow them so I'll go ahead. I ordered granules (lecithin) from Life Extension. The ingredients sounded good and reviews, but someone mentioned, back in 2015 post, that there is not GMO Soy, no matter what the label says? Thanks again for any help,


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pacific Coast Lady (USA) on 02/26/2021

Hello Art, good to find your post.

I got my Lecithin. It sure doesn't taste bad at all, and I could just chew it up in my mouth if I had to ;) I dissolved a tbsp of the granules in my decaf Green Tea (which I like to chill to make it ice-tea) I don't notice any difference in taste with that. It takes just a little time, maybe 15 min. to dissolve in the cold tea but people can use a blender to speed up the process if need be. I read it's good to do it for about 30 min. before I eat so am doing it that way. I hope it works, and I don't know if I should do the 3 tbsp, 3 x a day. I don't see anywhere you mention how much you used per day? I'll just keep taking some each day. I didn't get my Lecithin until this afternoon in the mail, so it has nothing to do with what happened to me this a.m. I have Type 2 diabetes just diagnosed Jan 20.

I cut my carbs way back to I think below 30g a day, I was so concerned about having something like Diabetes. Anyway, yesterday got to talk to a dietician, and leary of them as well but I listened. She encouraged me to eat more carbs, 30g per meal say. So I started that today. But from 6 a.m. to 9:15 I felt so good and healthy, lots of energy, and for the first time in weeks, no headache on awakening.

Then at 9:15 or so, I got the bad shakes, like the hypoglycemic thing I got as a kid when I didn't eat soon enough. Then a headache that didn't feel like any headache I'd ever had, so really clueless. I don't do this unless I know something is way wrong, I went to the emergency room, and all I got done was my blood pressure, temperature, checking stuff.

My blood pressure for the first time I know of in 68 years was 170/??, I can't remember the bottom number but it might have been 120, or not. I was just so upset because the waiting room was full, the inner exam rooms were full, sick people surrounding me, and I didn't stay as my head stopped hurting and I figured I wouldn't be seen anyway.

I plan to contact the clinic tomorrow and ask about my blood pressure, they are open on Saturdays. If this crazy new way of eating, high cholesterol, and of course high triglycerides are the cause of now, High Blood pressure, I can only hope I can find an answer for that here too. I'm 5'2" and right at 129, exercise regularly walking, never ate a whole lot of carbs and all this. Kind of overwhelming, but I trust alternative medicines/home-remedies over drugs and I won't give up. Thanks for your's and everyone's input on the site,


Low Carb Diet
Posted by Rw (Southwest Virginia) on 01/17/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

All of my cholesterol levels were bad but then improved an average of over 30% by eating a low carb diet. They're all back down in the healthy range. I did not cut down on fats at all, just carbs. I bought a glucose meter and learned how to eat so that my blood sugar stayed under 110 after meals (it usually peaks around 1 1/2 hours after a meal.) I eat about 15 grams of carbs at each meal and I make sure I eat a good portion of protein first to balance it. Yeah, it was some getting used to, but it's not problem now and I don't have any carb cravings or anything. I also took fish oil and drank matcha tea, but I don't think it would have been such a dramatic difference without cutting the carbs. My doc was impressed when he saw the numbers. He said, "What did you do?" :)

Niacin
Posted by Phe (Los Angeles, California) on 03/22/2016
★★★★★

I am happy to report that 1000-1500 milligrams of niacin daily drastically reduced my high triglycerides in just under four months. I am a 41 year old male who was diagnosed with high triglycerides back at end of October 2015. My blood test revealed my triglyceride level was 449 mg/dl (optimal reference range is below 150 mg/dl) which was due in part to being to being overweight, which was a result of poor dietary habits and too much alcohol. Fast forward to February 2016, along with a healthy diet and exercise and the crucial inclusion of daily niacin intake, my triglycerides dropped 80% to 87 mg/dl. I lost about 40lbs in that time but I know that the rapid lowering of my triglyceride level was not only due to weight loss but the niacin which is well-documented for its effect on high triglycerides and cholesterol. Simply stated niacin works.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Tx) on 09/28/2015

My cholesterol has always been high. Cholesterol Total 256; HDL 142; LDL 107 and Triglyceride 35.

I am not taking any medication, but will try the organic apple cider vinegar in some warm water early in the morning. Hope it will lower my numbers.

I am 75 years old, work full time, exercise three times a week and eat a very healthy diet but love a glass of good red wine. I wonder whether I have to cut that out.

Brigitte

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shamoon (Washington, D.C.) on 08/05/2015
★★★★★

I agree that ACV works well at cholesterol/LDL reduction. It does not, repeat Does NOT raise cholesterol or deplete HDLs.


Niacinamide
Posted by Lisa (Southern California, US) on 03/02/2015
★★★★★

I started taking 1000 mg of niacinamide, which is vitamin B3, to help me get to sleep. When I went in for my annual check up with the doctor, my cholesterol actually went too low and she told me to lower my dose to raise my cholesterol. It took about 6 months of taking it. Also, niacinamide doesn't make you flush like niacin, and it still worked to lower cholesterol. The only side effect is it makes you really sleepy, so take it before bed.

Cholesterol Testing
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 11/02/2013

Hello Beth from Atlanta,

Re: your concern about cholesterol

Good News! The "medical/drug industry" has propogated a myth about cholesterol. The FACT is that cholesterol is absolutely necessary for health in the human body. The Good News is that you do not have to be concerned about cholesterol levels. In fact, if you want to think of it this way, if the Doc tells you that you have "hight cholesterol" just respond..."That's GOOD. Got to have that cholesterol. Both HDL and LDL. High cholesterol is good for me."

The truth is:

Cholesterol is made by the liver and transported in "shuttles" out of the liver (protein suttles) called LDL and after the body uses the cholesterol which was carried by the LDL protein box cars for proper body functioning (especially the brain needs cholesterol) then HDL shuttles carry the used cholesterol back to the liver for reprocessing.

The test that is performed on us by the industry ... the test that gives us cholesterol levels is a measurement not of the cholesterol level in our body but of the "shuttles"....and 95 percent of the folks who just read that think I must be mistaken:

So here is the youtube to read the MOST informative 9 minute analysis of the truth I've come across. Google: "Dr. Rosedale cholesterol youtube" and you'll find his 9 minute video.

Here is one of the points in this amazing video: The tests for cholesterol given to us is not measuring cholesterol but rather the "shuttles" which are not the cholesterol itself. The cholesterol tests are giving you "shuttle" reading, not the cholesterol/fat reading. Really....look at the Rosedale video.

There is some argument that very small cholesterol (which is not measured by 99 percent of all cholesterol tests) could be a source in "sticking" to the "gap junction" in the lining of the arteries thereby oxydizing and inflaming to produce ultimately blockage/plaque. But the real culprit is not the small ldl, says Dr. Rosedale, (overcome by proper diet of good raw foods) ... the real culprit is SUGAR ... good old deadly white sugar.

The effort, therefore, to make people afraid of LDL levels is totally misplaced...we MUST have LDL suttles to carry cholesterol throughout our bodies...I say MUST have it...or we will see a collapse of the body system. The rise in dementia in the last twenty years is likely due to a rise in the use of statin drugs.

Statin drugs keep the liver from producting cholesterol; and remember cholesterol is good for us. The whole effort to 1. Measure cholesterol is at best a misunderstanding of what is actually being measured (remember the cholesterol reading is NOT a cholesterol reading...it is a "shuttle" reading...LDL and HDL are NOT cholesterols) and 2. the body must have cholesterol to function. We will die without cholesterol.

So how do we keep the blockages from taking place? Isn't the probem fats? No...

Well, remember, the biggest culprit is ...again-sugar. So break the sugar habit and the sugar related cravings.

I thought I'd never get rid of the sugar cravings until I understood that the hypothalymus is the key to telling the body what to do relative to metabolism; In one day I ended my cravings. I used in the morning on an egg, olive oil and no sugar at all in the morning. For lunch I eat anything but with a teaspoon of olive oil somewhere in the mix and again at night a good oil, such as grape seed oil. No sugar at night. The next day you'll find your cravings are gone. Repeat the "good oil" use every day. The good oil can be used on anything of course; not just on an egg. I usually drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil on a third piece of whole wheat bread and I've found I'm not hungry until lunch...no cravings. The hypothalymus will respond by not using the easy to metabolize sugar and instead will be told to use oils (like my body fat) instead. Cravings end.

So please look at the "Dr. Rosedale youtube" video. Only nine minutes and you will go away wondering how so many "smart" folks in the medical industry could be so incorrect about such a fundamental issue.

Now next in the "how to keep plaque from forming" analysis: God designed us to consume foods that give us natural Vitamin E...not synthetic E...and the E has the effect of making sure the lining of arteries and veins are not tacky, which allows plaque formation if they are sticky. Even our blood can get think and sticky and E keeps that from happening. So if I get enough E, then the blood is thinned and not thick. Thus I do not need asprin. God made E to do that for us. And even if we get plaque formation, the E keeps inflamation at a minimum because E is an anti oxident. E also assists in oxygen carrying and thus helps all muscles (heart) to stay healthy. (Two big issues in cardio health: Plaque formation and oxygen delivery. A problem with either two can kill you.) I take 800 IUs daily of natural E. E has been milled out of most foods and soil depletion has taken it out of other sources; at least in the quantities we need. But at 800 IUs E is serving a theraputic function. That is, there is a longevity issue at high levels of E usage. So if you are not attempting such theraputic levels, a person should at least get 200 IUs daily. The natural E...NOT synthetic like you get at a drug store.

dave


Carrot Juice
Posted by Luciakc (Nanuet, New York) on 07/06/2012
★★★★★

Drink at least an 8 oz. Glass of Carrot Juice a day and it will lower your Cholesterol Significantly anywhere between 3-6 months! It does work! My Cholesterol was 294 and now it is 184- IT WORKS! Try it and you'll definitely like it, It tastes great too!

Lecithin
Posted by Wbones (Las Vegas, Nv) on 04/28/2011
★★★★★

High triglycerides: My wife and I were told by our doctor that our triglycerides were high and the doc was suggesting I start taking meds for the problem. I checked online for a solution. We both started taking 2 TBS of Lecithin Granules and 2 pills of 4 MG of Astaxanthin daily for 2 weeks before our blood work. When we went back for the results My wifes had dropped 70 points, and mine had dropped from 320 to 200.


Vitamin D
Posted by EB (England) on 10/20/2021

If you juice a bunch of celery every morning and drink it you will lower your cholesterol. I did it for 3 weeks between appointments and it brought it way down.


Garlic
Posted by Cynthia (San Francisco, CA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★

THIS INFORMATION WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME AND THE REMEDY GARLIC REMEDY WORKED FOR ME VERY WELL AND LOWERED MY BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL. THANKS AGAIN HAVE A GOOD DAY.


Red Yeast Rice
Posted by Art (California) on 01/14/2024 2681 posts

Hi KAYJAY,

You are correct in thinking that red yeast rice may be raising your HbA1c. Red yeast rise is essentially similar to the statin drug Lovastatin/Mevacor as discussed here :

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/red-yeast-rice#:~:text=Red yeast rice contains chemicals, the risk of heart disease.

Here is a relevant quote from the article :

Red yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statin medications. One of these, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin (Mevacor). Doctors prescribe statins to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Statins are noted for increasing HbA1c as discussed here in this Cleveland Clinic article :

https://www.ccjm.org/content/90/1/53

Here are some very relevant article quotes :

  • The weight of the evidence suggests that statin use is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus, but the magnitude of the effect has varied across studies, including differences between randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
  • The risk is generally greater with high-intensity statin therapy and higher statin doses. However, many other variables are also involved, including prediabetes, genetics, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, lifestyle, and other medications, most notably glucocorticoids.
  • In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, statin use is associated with a small increase in hemoglobin A1c, and this effect may be greater with atorvastatin than with other statins. However, the benefits of statins in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outweigh their adverse effects on glycemic control.

It is hard for me to understand how the potential risk to start diabetes is an acceptable side effect of statins given the many health dangers associated with diabetes.

You might be interested in reading my article regarding Nattokinase, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis here as a potential alternative to red yeast rice :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/high-dose-nattokinase-for-atherosclerosis.html

In my opinion, cholesterol is a poor marker for atherosclerosis, which statins are supposed to help prevent.

To make matters worse, this 2020 article suggests that statins can potentially contribute to atherosclerosis :

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.313832#:~:text=Conclusions:, –IL-1β signaling axis.

Here are some relevant quotes from the article :

  • Statin therapy is associated with higher coronary artery calcium scores and increased macrophage Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) activity in patients.
  • Statins disrupt the complex between Rac1 and its primary inhibitor RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor), in macrophages, leading to Rac1 activation and Rac1-dependent IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta) expression.
  • During experimental atherosclerosis, statin therapy leads to macrophage Rac1-dependent increases in IL-1β and atherosclerotic plaque calcification.

Art


Citrus Bergamot
Posted by Pallas (Canberra, Australia ) on 11/06/2023
★★★★★

Statins versus Citrus Bergamot

Citrus Bergamot has some free text articles on Pub Med that describe effects such as

"The results are shown below, but patients who received 500 or 1,000 mg of BPF (bergamot polyphenol fraction, essentially refined bergamot oil) for 30 consecutive days saw a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and blood glucose coupled with a significant increase in HDL levels.2 Mar 2023 "

It is from sour inedible orange mainly grown in Sicily and is fairly widely available as a supplement, even in Australia at one major

chemist chain as well as online from the usual well known big American supplement suppliers.

A number of testimonials on them have (seemingly genuine) testimonials about reductions in their levels. My open minded GP read one study on my phone when trying to put me on statins

and said, "This is rather interesting." A friend had her cholesterol levels drop markedly after she put herself on CB when her GP also wanted her on statins. He did not want to know why but conceded her latest

levels did not now warrant a statin.


Red Yeast Rice
Posted by Art (California) on 10/29/2022 2681 posts

Alan M.,

I forgot to answer your question about what to take for the muscle pain. CoQ10 has been shown to alleviate the muscle pain :

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.118.009835

Here is what they concluded :

' CoQ10 supplementation ameliorated statin‐associated muscle symptoms, implying that CoQ10 supplementation may be a complementary approach to manage statin‐induced myopathy. '

It may be more beneficial to use CoQ10 in a soft gel form for best absorption.

Art


Dietary Changes
Posted by Charity (faithville, Us) on 08/17/2021

You might glean from this teaching on cholesterol:

Dr. Berg's Wife Has Crazy High Cholesterol of 261.. - YouTube


Oatmeal
Posted by beverly (Texas) on 04/20/2023

I started the carnivore diet three months ago and have never felt better. About to turn 75 next month. Before I never really felt good........always blah and had lots of allergies. Vast improvement. I researched it for months before taking the leap. Lots of info on utube.



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