Is high cholesterol going to cause blockages in my arteries?
Cholesterol and calcium can build up in your coronary (heart) arteries and cause blockages. Having high LDL cholesterol is only one of the many risk factors that can increase the chances of this happening over time.
The main risk factors that can cause this include SMOKING, HYPERTENSION, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, INFLAMMATION, BEING OVERWEIGHT, FAMILY HISTORY (GENETICS), LACK OF EXERCISE, UNHEALTHY DIET and OLDER AGE.
What can I do to lower my cholesterol without statins?
It would be worthwhile checking with your cardiologist that that your risk is not high enough to warrant statin therapy. See section below:
Lifestyle measures: An LDL lowering Strategy
Increase fibre, cut back on animal products (Trans and Saturated fats).
Eat more poly and mono unsaturated fats (olive and canola oils, salmon, tuna, trout, seeds, avocado).
Heart healthy milk with plant sterols, flora pro active spreads with plant sterols.
Increase plant based protein (eg legumes, lentils, peas, soy, nuts and seeds).
Metamucil every day.
Eating raw garlic and/or oatmeal.
Regular exercise.
Drinking green tea.
Using corn oil to cook.
Re-assess to see if the changes has helped lower your cholesterol (suggested 2 months after each intervention).
If not changing consider adding one of the following then retesting prior to the addition of the second product.
