Ok folks, what supplements are you all taking to lower cholesterol?
Posted by Brilliant_Addendum56@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 249 comments
My doctor suggests fiber supplements and I'm seeing plant sterol supplements on Amazon but I'm not sure how effective those are.
FluidCell466@reddit
I've been using ArmoLipid Plus for years and had great results...it's not cheap in the UK but I usually get it on optimalnaturals. shop
FactoryMadness@reddit
Supplements? I went straight to Atorvastatin. I ain't fuckin' around, cuz I don't want to find out.
D0nk3yD0ngD0ug@reddit
I will never understand people’s outright obstinance towards being on life saving medication.
National-Foot5259@reddit
Because we believe in holistic healing and not made bs.
west-egg@reddit
I heard from friends who take statins that they cause short term memory problems. I think it’s reasonable to try lowering cholesterol on your own before taking drugs.
AntonymOfHate@reddit
Any memory problems that I have? They can also be blamed on thyroid disease, parathyroid disease, menopause, two covid infections, and aging. Make my statins the bully to my memory? Sorry. I prefer to take CoQ10 as a hedge, and hope for the other four things to not f around with me anymore. So far, they haven't.
_38_45@reddit
From what I understand, there are certain statins that may break through the blood brain barrier, but there are statins that are more liver specific in their action. Taking a supplement with CoQ10 can help strengthen the blood brain barrier. But as always, consult your doctor if you're worried or are experiencing brain fog.
nola_mike@reddit
Because you can make dietary changes that do the same things.
violetstrainj@reddit
I can’t take statin drugs because they give me insomnia. I’ve had to figure something else out.
anomalocaris_texmex@reddit
Who wants regulated medicine with a 30 year track record with billions of users produced in a regulated factory overseen by professionals, when I can get unproven supplements from Temu?
Sausage_Queen_of_Chi@reddit
Some people like adventure
tillyspeed81@reddit
As a nurse that adventure usually results in meeting me for a week while I get you prepped for a heart Cath or CABG….its all fun and games til the catheter comes out…
sherahero@reddit
My doctor hasn't prescribed me medication even though my total foot saw has been in the high range for years because my good cholesterol is also very high. So I tried to manage mine in other ways.
Sausage_Queen_of_Chi@reddit
Your total what
sherahero@reddit
Awful typo for cholesterol. My mistake. I really need to proofread.
Sausage_Queen_of_Chi@reddit
Have you listened to the current administration in the US
redditsuckshardnowtf@reddit
Dr. Oz and others
kittenpantzen@reddit
A statin was the only thing that moved the needle on my cholesterol. I was already eating a pretty healthy diet with an unreasonable amount of fiber in it, but my fork couldn't beat my genetics.
Less than 6 months on a statin, and my LDL dropped from almost 200 to 85.
AntonymOfHate@reddit
That's really great. Happy for you. It's done well for me, too. I'm convinced that health issues are 85% genetically predisposed, and the other 15% might be lifestyle. We've had a lot of people in our family age to 88+ in reasonably good health in our family despite abusing ourselves with alcohol, tobacco, and physically intensive or stressful office work.
Statins work.
shohei_heights@reddit
I wish I wasn’t one of the few people with major adverse reactions to statins.
AntonymOfHate@reddit
oof...that sucks. Not every solution works for everyone. Sorry to hear it.
EatsCrackers@reddit
Right? People act as if popping a statin is like popping a tictac. Medications have side effects. Medications interact with each other. Medications aren’t always as easy as all that, and it’s not weird to want to avoid taking one for something that could be managed with oatmeal and parking at the far sides of parking lots.
shohei_heights@reddit
Eh... Cholesterol is often high due to genetic issues which food and exercise choices have little effect on. Statins and all medicines can have side effects. I was unlucky, but it seems statins are generally good.
AntonymOfHate@reddit
It works miracles. I've taken it since even before I got fat LOL
donnadoctor@reddit
They’re not mutually exclusive options
Taupenbeige@reddit
Atorvastatin? I went straight to 100% plant-based diets. Got any idea how much coconut oil I’d have to consume to trigger atherogenesis?
I likewise “ain’t fuckin’ around” after my dad had a sextuple motherfucking bypass 13 years ago.
“I can eat as much dietary saturated fat as I want so long as I’m tricking my liver in to not producing any cholesterol” doesn’t really strike me as the most logical solution.
redditsuckshardnowtf@reddit
My cholesterol is low now due to this med.
MattAU05@reddit
Yeah man, my LDL has improved a ton but my doctor asked me if I wanted to move my statin dose up and I quickly said yes. I also do stuff to reduce it naturally, but I’m good with any help I can get. I don’t want “ok,” I want optimal.
EfficiencyIVPickAx@reddit
I went from extremely high LDL to normal in 3 months with careful diet and Tirzepitide. My doctor was shocked. I've never been on a statin or anything similar.
awesomeNiceCrisp814@reddit
flax seed oil and dose cholesterol shots and better than I expected.
not a fan of the mango taste though, never have
prayersforrain@reddit
Literally just more dietary fiber. I dropped my total cholesterol 60 points in a year just by adding more fiber. Oatmeal, chia, flax, psyllium husk in the form of Metamucil
sherahero@reddit
I started taking psyllium husk a couple times a week and eating more salads and mine went down 30 points in a year
SillyEffective4700@reddit
What were your LDL numbers?
PersianCatLover419@reddit
Yes eating more grains and fiber helps.
caramelpupcorn@reddit
60 points? Bravo my 40+ compadre! I've been fiber-ing it up for a bit, hope I get as good results as yours!
marcos_MN@reddit
Whole wheat pasta is nice to mix in as well!
Accomplished_Job6927@reddit
I've been on lipitor for a few years now and my calcium score is 0. My dad died from heart disease
CarlSpackler22@reddit
Rosuvastatin.
Straight medication per my Doctor.
It works.
Potts77@reddit
Repatha (injection) every two weeks. Significant reduction!
FlizmFlazm@reddit
Wat were your cholesterol levels? I’ve asked my doc about this but he refuses to prescribe it.
Potts77@reddit
I had a really high Calcium Score and I had a lot of muscle pain related to Statins
Cool_Jelly_9402@reddit
Me too. Still on atorvastatin too. Familial hypercholesterolemia. I eat super healthy and workout but it kept going up until Repatha. My numbers plummeted on it. Lowest it’s ever been since I was first tested in the 4th grade
like_shae_buttah@reddit
Vegan diet. Hard to gain cholesterol even you consume it. Unless you have familial hyper cholesterolemia.
Snibber-62@reddit
Psyllium, phytosterols and 1/4 cup of tree nuts per day. Registered Dietitian.
Saint_Napalm@reddit
Oatmeal. Seriously oatmeal for breakfast will lower your cholesterol like crazy.
Exotic-Guidance-9779@reddit
I eat oatmeal every fricking day and it's still too high 😩
ProperBar4339@reddit
Do you add anything to it? Chia seeds, ground flax seed, and hemp seeds have tons of fiber
BibFortunaCookie@reddit
Prob genetic like me. My cardio said it didnt matter what I did it would be high and to go ahead and get on a statin. Here I am.
OtherlandGirl@reddit
Yeah, I’m resigned that I’ll be on them eventually, it runs strong in my family - my 20 yr old niece, who runs track and does other sports, already has high cholesterol. It’s depressing. I’m just trying to stay off them as long as I reasonably can. (48 for reference)
username11585@reddit
Why don’t you want to get on one?
OtherlandGirl@reddit
They can be hard on some organs, notably the liver - I know there are probably new ones that are better(?), but it’s a concern for something you’re likely to be on for the rest of your life, not starting any earlier than you have to. Also, I just don’t want to be chained to prescription meds until I have no choice.
hamburglord@reddit
Idk, sounds like you should get on them as soon as you can. I was apprehensive when a cardiologist recommended them at 40 and he said it is was it is. If your at risk your at risk, he’s been on them since about 40, too.
username11585@reddit
Why apprehensive?
hamburglord@reddit
Just having to accept getting older and having health conditions that will require daily interventions.
Salty-Tea6815@reddit
Just get on the statin. I might take a few tries to find the one that doesn’t give you side effects bcuz everyone is different. But once you do you’re good to go. My cholesterol shot up after becoming hypothyroid. After getting on the right statin that I could tolerate my ldl went from 150 down to 72 in a month on the lowest dose with zero side effects. And it actually eases my mind a little bit about dying young of a heart attack like my mom did.
hamburglord@reddit
Oh I did! Been on rosuvastatin for 16 days now! I’ll schedule an appt with my primary in a month or two for bloodwork. Sorry about your mom. Mine passed from heart and other complications in August, which is what prompted me to get off my ass and see a cardiologist in September.
Salty-Tea6815@reddit
Same one I take! Hope it works well for you, too.
BibFortunaCookie@reddit
Same here though, sorry about your mum. My second option was my gyno, totally unrelated but I told her my cardio recommend i start a statin and she agreed i lower my cholesterol now before I had any actual heart issue and that was a good enough second opinion.
Sausage_Queen_of_Chi@reddit
Yeah, high cholesterol runs in my family. My dad has it and had been on meds since I was a teenager I think. At least one of my brothers has it and I have it too despite being pretty active and having a relatively good diet. It could be better but it certainly isn’t shitty enough for high cholesterol at this age.
Jellyfish-Ninja@reddit
Me too. And I’m active and do all the things yet cholesterol continues to climb.
tonymacaroni9@reddit
With butter?
Frosty_Cloud_2888@reddit
The cholesterol is too dam high
OtherlandGirl@reddit
Same! I had to eliminate a lot of the dairy I was consuming (tbf, it was a lot), added fish oil supplements and upped my cardio exercise, but it worked! I went from shockingly high LDL to just in the high end of normal in about 6 months.
Now we just see if I can keep it down…
MotherofaPickle@reddit
My LDL is just below the low end of normal. I should try eating oatmeal for a while before my next bloodwork and see if I can’t scare my doctor. (She’s not stellar at anything except renewing life-saving prescriptions and giving me antibiotics when I need them).
Individual_Sky_4612@reddit
This worked for me as well. My cholesterol wasn’t that high, but eating oatmeal for breakfast has lowered it. I do instant steel cut oats with unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon.
FriendshipWithTheSun@reddit
Oatmeal did the trick for me. It helps that I love it and don’t mind eating it every day.
Youcants1tw1thus@reddit
I didn’t know this. I have great numbers on my bloodwork and I do eat oatmeal a couple times a week when it’s cold.
bourton-north@reddit
It’s really not that simple.
theoneandonly6558@reddit
Overnight oats, add some chia seeds. Those fuckers suck the cholesterol right out of your gut. I do oats, spoonful of chia and hemp seeds, milk and cinnamon but you may want to add some.brown sugar. Flax is another good adder. You can add that to anything.
When I first tried overnight oats I thought you were supposed to eat them cold. You can, but once I started heating it up, it became palatable lol.
My days of reading the back of the cereal box as a morning activity are over.
Jellyfish-Ninja@reddit
I use quick cook oats for my overnight oats. I add Greek yogurt, unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon, and various fruits so I have different flavours. Banana, berries, peach, pineapple, coconut, orange, cranberry, apple… Sometimes I’ll add peanut butter. When I eat it in the morning, sometimes I’ll toast walnuts or pecans on the stovetop and add them. I never add milk to them. I don’t like how they turn out.
Jokierre@reddit
I’m all aBOUT this routine. Hemp hearts also hits my mix.
Sausage_Queen_of_Chi@reddit
Maybe unless your genetics suck
RaspberryVespa@reddit
Oof. I fucking hate oatmeal. But I like oatmeal cookies. Does that count??
pisachas1@reddit
Try overnight oats. I can’t stand cooked oatmeal. But I love overnight oats with peanut butter and blueberries.
HorseWorking@reddit
Interesting. I like oatmeal but tried overnight oats once and it was a big hell no for me. It has the consistency of drinking cold vomit.
hamburglord@reddit
You ca warm it up! Warm vomit goes down much better.
Funkopedia@reddit
I eat one every day, but recently noticed that half of the flavors have about 10-13% cholesterol in each packet. So check the labels!
pisachas1@reddit
You can make it yourself easy. I do three days worth at a time. 3/4 cup oats, 2tbsp ground flax seed, 2tbsp peanut butter, 1 1/2 cups of whatever milk I use oat milk, then 2 cups frozen blueberries. Only takes a few minutes and no extra junk in it.
Lucky-Remote-5842@reddit
Use real oatmeal. Not the sugary packets.
tifumostdays@reddit
I've been soaking Oat Bran in whole milk overnight. Easy and significantly better than rolled oats and better for you.
Serious_Lettuce6716@reddit
I’m not a fan either but I like to throw in a splash of my favorite trail mix to liven it up. I also like to make it with hot black coffee instead of water.
EternalSunshineClem@reddit
Oatmeal is just hospital slop. Granola all the way.
1dirtymfer@reddit
I hate oatmeal when eaten consistently. But truth.
atampersandf@reddit
How about Grape Nuts and yogurt?
Asleep_Onion@reddit
The only problem with this is it tastes like oatmeal
CannabisErectus@reddit
Add honey, nuts, and blueberries w a splash of oat milk
q120@reddit
Good old beta glucans
orange728@reddit
If you are a night snacker like me, oatmeal before bed helps digestion the next day and lower cholesterol.
AntonymOfHate@reddit
I'm old enough to take a statin (atorvastatin) and it's worked miracles. I do still try to keep my bread wheat or rye and my cereal oatmeal or wheat on the off chance that I'll someday be fit and slim enough to get my numbers down naturally. I'm not a victim or a shape: they just work. High cholesterol runs in the family like anything else that tries to kill us though, and none of us are fearful of the miraculous modern pharmaceuticals that whatever God you do or don't believe in has allowed humans to create with their big brains and careful testing.
Infinite-Football795@reddit
Red wine
cmajka8@reddit
Atorvastatin
Mwiziman@reddit
Pineapple cores, lots of fiber. It’s a pineapple flavored carrot.
HighGlutenTolerance@reddit
I take psyllium fiber capsules 2-3 times per day.
TeamAsteroid420@reddit
Supplements? How bout a prescription for amlodipine and olmesartan?
kmmccorm@reddit
Because those are both for high blood pressure.
TeamAsteroid420@reddit
Oh right.
Mysterious-Mango-752@reddit
i can’t have high fiber anything so i’m going with a statin if it ever becomes an issue
Rpd840@reddit
Rosuvastatin
kmmccorm@reddit
Dropped by cholesterol by 100 points in a month.
HughPajooped@reddit
My have a friend who talks badly about statins. I've heard of stiffness but not sure what other common side effects there are. Do you have any?
shohei_heights@reddit
It caused full body numbness from peripheral neuropathy within a month for me. If it was just stiffness I would have stayed on it.
The reaction I got is quite rare though.
HughPajooped@reddit
That sucks. Did that go away after you want off off it?
shohei_heights@reddit
Yeah, fortunately it did.
Puzzled_Loquat@reddit
Same.
goater10@reddit
I’m a member of the rosuvastatin club too.
Mountain_Ladder5704@reddit
I just exercise like crazy and eat a giant bowl of all bran buds every morning. Super regular and total cholesterol was 157 with 49 triglycerides
frooootloops@reddit
Cutting out meat/animal products honestly.
everybodys_lost@reddit
Eating plant based... Just cutting out dairy is a great one if you don't want to be fully plant based.
lifeat24fps@reddit
It runs in my family and only a statin did the job. Believe me we tried the oatmeal, the losing weight, even eating vegan for a year. It just kept going up.
Darkpriest667@reddit
I eat healthy weigh 135 pounds and run ultramarathons, When my doctor told me last year my cholesterol had been steadily rising and I asked "what can I do besides take meds" She said : eat less red meat (I dont eat it at all hardly), exercise (hah), and don't be fat (which I was already not) looks like you're going on a statin. Cholesterol has been perfect since taking simvastatin. I think im on the lowest dosage they offer.
HughPajooped@reddit
Any side effects from the statin?
Darkpriest667@reddit
That I know of? No, but I forget ;-) seriously, no side effects that I can tell. -- at 44 I'm on two meds -- the statin and a thyroid medication because my thyroid decided to stop working at 30 years old. I'll take it.
Racacooonie@reddit
High cholesterol in runners can be a the result of RED-S or underfueling. Low carb/high fat diet can also play a role. It's interesting when runners have high cholesterol and are given the standard advice to exercise more. Genetics also play a role!
Darkpriest667@reddit
I thought that too, but after we went back and looked it had been slowly rising for 10 years, it's likely genetics.
Glittering_Rush_1451@reddit
Same here only even regular statins didn’t work for me so now I have to take a shot every other week to keep mine down.
Pretty_waves904@reddit
Same with me and high blood pressure. Ive never been overweight, I exercise regularly and have been on BP meds since my 20s.
Every new doctor was always shocked when they met me in person because on paper my meds read like a very obese person.
snn1326j@reddit
Same. It runs in my family and I didn’t want to take the risk so I went on the statin. I’m vegetarian and also on a GLP-1. It lowered my LDL but not by enough. Normal weight/BMI.
BellaFiat@reddit
Same here. Tried everything possible and I exercise regularly as well. Still remained high. Can’t reverse calcium buildup once it’s there
CallidoraBlack@reddit
You might want to ask for a referral to a registered dietitian to help you figure out what changes you can make to try to get your levels down. If you make the changes and it doesn't get better, you'll need to be on medication. High cholesterol is largely genetic and the body produces cholesterol, so don't feel like it has to be all your fault if it doesn't get better without medication.
muhhuh@reddit
I just don’t get tested so I don’t have to worry about it.
Odd_Advantage_4245@reddit
Fish oil and CQ-10 dropped mine about 25% in 4 months
sipporah7@reddit
I don't know about cholesterol but taking psyllium husk fiber pills is the best thing ever. Poops are easy to pass and regular.
_Disco-Stu@reddit
None. Supplements that aren’t prescribed as medically necessary by a physician following medical testing are primarily unregulated by any governing bodies in the US.
I have less than zero interest in discovering what’s being put in already pointless, expensive snake oil. Especially under RFK’s “leadership”.
Yellow_Curry@reddit
Diet. Although new research says dietary cholesterol isn’t the impact on the blood levels. I cut out sugar and highly processed carbs.
realisan@reddit
We moved to a vegan diet after my husband had bad side effects with statins. It took a year to see the full effect but his numbers went way down. Not as far as when he was on the statin, but into the normal range. We’ve loosened up the diet a little bit (adding some dairy and fish) and it’s stayed stable this second year.
Separate-Relative-83@reddit
We did this with my mom. Cut out most carbs and sugar, increased protein and veggies. Decent amount of fat. She’s gluten intolerant so still had some rice and stuff. Doc thought it wouldn’t work, 6 months later her cholesterol was great. It worked.
McBoognish_Brown@reddit
I think I agree with that research at least somewhat. I have been eating almost nothing but meat and cheese for 20 years and my cholesterol always fine
SickOfNormal@reddit
I try to tell my friends this they just don't believe me.
Me: eating meat meat meat and eggs eggs egg...
Them: You're going to die of high cholesterol.
Me: my cholesterol is perfect
Them: mines high, so i can't eat like you
Me: if you ate like me, you wouldnt have high cholesterol.
Them: you're wrong
Dunno what to tell them.
notenoughcharact@reddit
It’s mostly genetic. Your diet will almost certainly raise their cholesterol significantly.
SickOfNormal@reddit
Carnivore diet has been proven to lower cholesterol
notenoughcharact@reddit
Cholesterol intake has very little impact on blood cholesterol but there are a billion studies showing that saturated fat raises cholesterol. Just because there are a few outlier studies doesn’t mean they’re true.
McBoognish_Brown@reddit
Eggs and leaner meats are not high in saturated fat
McBoognish_Brown@reddit
People are weird. I’ve already been downvoted at least twice in my previous comment because apparently people are angry that I don’t have high cholesterol?
fermentedradical@reddit
Same! This is what matters, and it's way better than popping pills.
PersianCatLover419@reddit
None. Diet and exercise help a lot.
mothernatureisfickle@reddit
I talked to my doctor multiple times and we agreed that even though I wanted to try the fiber supplement and food route, she wanted me to start a medication. We compromised and I started the medication and started the fiber and food. She told me that when my numbers are better in 6 months we can do a trial of no medication and see how just the fiber and food do on their own. Her reasoning about staying alive made a lot of sense.
Careful-Use-4913@reddit
Nope! Diet is sufficient.
lmstr@reddit
I supplement with 10 hours of cardio per week.
blue_trauma@reddit
Nothing, I eat healthy and always have.
ElectricLego@reddit
Steel cut oats is my jam. And Silk Oatmilk because I like the flavor and texture. No rolled oat instant packets loaded with sugar, just plain or with some cinnamon. Last checkup all my lab numbers were in normal range so something's working
MoonlitBlossoms@reddit
Ugh.. for me it runs in the family and my diet doesn’t seem to make enough of a dent. I was diagnosed at 13 as a normal weight, healthy teenager. I used to have to take these packets of statin to sleep overs. 🤦♀️ And today I take Rosuvastatin.
Righteous_Fire@reddit
Cholesterol is not your enemy.
Sugar is.
Thee-lorax-@reddit
My doctor told me my cholesterol was genetically perfect. I don’t know what that means. I eat oatmeal every morning though.
PoppaTitty@reddit
18/6 eating window with a 3 day water fast every couple months. Eating well in general is important but humans didn't evolve to eat AS MUCH as we do.
Kinky-Bicycle-669@reddit
Niacin but it needs to be the kind that causes the flush. I've seen it lower cholesterol and a1c levels.
Miscellaneous-health@reddit
Yes, worked for me. Dropped my ldl 50 (in 6 months with no other changes in lifestyle, etc). I don’t flush much any more as my body became accustomed to it.
asuddencheesemonger@reddit
This worked very well for me: went from uncontrolled to better than target: file:///private/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/009725FC-9438-4366-9F44-2CC674EB8310/tmp/TempDocs/Portfolio_Diet_Scroll_editable_eng.pdf
Mental_Chip9096@reddit
Go straight to the statin. In a month my total cholesterol has dropped like 75 points
Ckn-bns-jns@reddit
Psyllium husk fiber (generic sugar free Metamucil)
I also drink beet, ginger, turmeric juice most mornings
Dfiggsmeister@reddit
I do a combo of miralax plus Citrucel daily. Gives me my daily fiber, keeps the soft serve chocolate ice cream flowing, and no hemorrhoids. Also cleanest poops I’ve had in a long time.
kinky_flamingo@reddit
Psyllium husk
studiotec@reddit
If you're looking at fiber supplements check out Sunfiber. It fully dissolves in water.
Rurumo666@reddit
If you want to try the supplement route, look into Bergamot Extract-I'd recommend one containing "Bergamonte" which is made in Europe and has been used in many of the studies.
No_Cartoonist981@reddit
Ok I would have no idea what my cholesterol is or how to test it. I know no one in real life who has ever mentioned it and I have friends who have been on new diets the whole 20+ years I have known them. I have blood tests every year minimum testing blood counts and iron and after a recent health scare had every scan and test I can think of. Never since has cholesterol come up with any health professional, I am 40, female, post menopause, in the uk and am now worried I’m missing out? Is cholesterol something that’s spoken a lot about in the UK and I’ve just missed it?
jelloshot@reddit
I can't speak for the UK but in the US a lipid panel is a routine lab drawn annually. It will test LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol, and triglycerides levels.
sherahero@reddit
Psyllium husk. I do a scoop (it came with a scoop, maybe a teaspoon or so?) in 8-10 ounces of water and chug it. Drink lots of extra water. I do this every few days.
I also started eating salads nearly every day with lunch or dinner or both to get more veggies in.
Total cholesterol went from 254 to 219 in one year with just those changes.
I do and did exercise and lift weights but haven't dieted and haven't lost much weight. We do cook at home several times a week but go out to eat once or twice a week.
These were the easiest changes for me to make and stick with.
EternalSunshineClem@reddit
Is your doctor okay with 219? That's close to what mine is and I eat mostly healthy things. Just can't outrun genetics.
sherahero@reddit
I just recently got checked so I hope it continues to get better. My HDL is very high which she said makes a difference so I don't need medication yet.
EternalSunshineClem@reddit
Nice! Yeah nobody is sounding the alarm on mine either though it feels high to me too. Glad you're doing well
GenevieveLeah@reddit
Sounds like you’re doing great! Hope your levels are lower on your next check.
CaliSinae@reddit
Went vegan on my dr’s suggestion and never looked back.
AnswerSure271@reddit
Red Yeast Rice & CoQ10 (Qunol)
Celeste_Seasoned_14@reddit
CoQ10 is what my doctor said to take, in addition to dietary changes (less saturated fat).
Breeezy0@reddit
My partner's doc recommended this for him. He started a month ago, and doc said to give it 6 months and recheck. Im on atorvostatin - did it for me. My doc and I tried for 2 years to do things naturally, but sometimes your genes just take over.
TycoBrahe@reddit
This answer should be higher. I used to work for a well known supplement company (didn’t know anything about or take them before). The doctor on staff recommended Red Yeast Rice, and it did wonders.
C_A_P_S_CAPSCAPSCAPS@reddit
Not to be taken while also taking a Statin.
canisdirusarctos@reddit
Note that the first is the same as the drug called lovastatin.
lumbrefrio@reddit
Same. It was crazy how much it lowered it for me.
jelloshot@reddit
I take Nature Made Cholestoff twice a day, psyllium fiber 2-3 times a day, and krill oil. My cholesterol used to be high but went down to normal levels after starting this routine. I also try to stick with leaner meats such as ground turkey and fish and eats lots of legumes.
bleuvein@reddit
Cholestoff worked for me too. This should have more likes. Most of the above comments don’t fit OPs request
AshDogBucket@reddit
I changed my diet:
No beef, no pork, no full fat dairy, no fried foods, only whole grain bread/ pasta, only brown rice (no white rice), no baked goods, no snacks over 1g sat fat, no meals over 2g sat fat.
sum-9@reddit
Oats, apples, bananas, and almonds. One serving of each every day.
Let_things_go@reddit
Estrogen as a post menopausal elder millennial. My diet and exercise were fine, but I could not budge my cholesterol numbers. Two months after starting an estrogen patch, my cholesterol dropped back into a normal range.
rialucia@reddit
Yep, my LDL and Triglyceride levels were always fine and only started to creep up when I started really getting into the throes of perimenopause. I had no idea how much estrogen affected cholesterol.
Quick_Lobster7886@reddit
fiber (especially psyllium) is the most reliable for lowering LDL. plant sterols can help a bit if taken daily, and omega-3s are great for triglycerides. i keep it simple with fiber + omega-3s, and use multi-vita-maxx from organixx to cover micronutrient basics so i’m not stacking a ton of pills.
OkBaconBurger@reddit
I switched to a plant based diet 6 months ago and my numbers dropped big time. Maybe I’m the unicorn here but it seems to have worked pretty well for me. I’ve lost a few pounds too.
I’ve got very young kids in the house still and the labs just were not getting better and family members had some bad health scares this last year. So I felt like I needed to do something to keep the cholesterol down, the colon cancer at bay, and diabetes something I dodged.
Eviltwin325@reddit
Cholestoff has amazingly lowered my husband's cholesterol levels!
velouria-wilder@reddit
If it’s just a little high, you can lower it a bit with regular blood donation.
Mountain_Horse_7516@reddit
I’ve had high cholesterol for years narrowly escaping a statin.
Finally this year I got it all in normal range using this daily and exercise. I didn’t change anything in my diet.
https://cymbiotika.com/products/d3
liftkitten@reddit
I stopped drinking and my cholesterol went down 40 points. Granted I was drinking more than my fair share, but that was the only change I made and it staved off the need for medication.
WMDeception@reddit
You guys are ok su0plements. I just kept taking drugs, except now they have funny names like Atorvaststin and they worked very well for me.
AdhesivenessWeary377@reddit
Wait y’all trying to lower yours? Mine is below the range on both types. Usually surprises my doctors since I end up with a new one every 2 years normally. You would think it would be in the notes.
rob132@reddit
Rowing an hour every day
jockfist5000@reddit
Nothing, mine is 171 as is.
redditsuckshardnowtf@reddit
Lipitor works.
VisibleSea4533@reddit
Mine was borderline high the last few years. Doctor held off on any prescription, but last year finally went with rosuvastatin.
GutsAndBlackStufff@reddit
Popeyes
johnnyfeelings@reddit
The Mediterranean diet
thebarbalag@reddit
Fish oil, as prescribed.
FooFightingManiac@reddit
Fish oil. I have tipped over the 200 mark a couple times. My doctor told me to take fish oil each time and each time my numbers dropped 40 points in a matter of 3 months. I take it year round now. Unfortunately everyone is different and your body may not respond the same way. But fish oil is full of good cholesterol and it helps sweep out the bad cholesterol for me anyway
blondeviking64@reddit
I just dont go to the doctor. No cholesterol problem. Lol.
obsequyofeden@reddit
HRT- perimenopause/menopause makes your cholesterol Higher (due to declining estrogen levels)
quickblur@reddit
A statin
Reagannite1981@reddit
Doctor prescribed Omega 3. The prescription is better than over the counter stuff because it has to go through FDA approval and so they know what’s in the fish better than over the counter from what he explained to me. Helped a ton and I lost weight too so bonus!
argyle9000@reddit
I ignore cholesterol % on labels, but try to limit saturated fat to 20% daily value or less per meal. I try for a high protein, low fat diet. I have a spoon of Metamucil (I get the generic stuff from Costco) daily in my water. I run, swim, or play tennis most days of the week and I take a small dose statin from my doctor. My numbers are finally in the green after being super high for most of my life.
That Metamucil is great. Not super fun to drink, but I really noticed the difference in my annual numbers when I started drinking it. Just make sure you clean whatever container you put it in before putting the container into the dishwasher. That stuff gets stuck to everything for some reason.
Sweet-Sale-7303@reddit
My cholesterol is only slightly high due to my thyroid removal. I do eat a ton of oatmeal. A ton of chicken as well. Tons of coffee.
eury13@reddit
Metamucil is the one my doctor has suggested to me in the past. It has psyllium fiber, which is recommended for cholesterol control.
HorseWorking@reddit
Nothing. My cholesterol is great. Psyche! I’m American, I can’t afford to go to a doctor.
memyselfandi78@reddit
No supplements. Just lipitor overe here.
BadDaddy10280@reddit
Red rice yeast and niacin. It's the base of pharmacological statins
This-Fun1714@reddit
Prunes
Overall-Author-2213@reddit
Cut saturated fat. Increase soluble and insoluble fiber significantly from supplements and fruits and veggies. Add chia seeds to your smoothies or just drink down in water every day. Add fermented foods in your foods every day. Increase your omega threes significantly. 1 to 2 G of supplements. Add salmon. I really like sardines not for taste but cost and effectiveness. Plant sterols like you get in cholest off can help.
Cut refined carbs significantly.
Exercise 5 days a week.
mjh8212@reddit
Mine seems genetic. Lost 115 pounds still had high cholesterol and I’m on a statin.
infinitevertigo@reddit
Congrats on the weight loss! It's hard work.
Dimplefrom-YA@reddit
none of i don’t have cholesterol issues. just low iron
Agreeable-Mix7262@reddit
Zepbound
Throw-away17465@reddit
I’ve never needed to lower my cholesterol, because I don’t eat shit food.
This is one more health condition you can’t just cheat out of with a pill. Adjust your diet .
q120@reddit
Familial hypercholesteremia wants to speak to you
Throw-away17465@reddit
Oh I know, my best friend in high school had it. She was on statins when she was 15 years old
That being said, I stand by every letter of what I said above. Prove me wrong.
TerribleNews@reddit
Exercise. And not even hard exercise. I have a family history of very bad cholesterol and heart attacks but my cholesterol is great. My blood pressure, blood sugar and heart rate are also great. My diet is pretty good (I have a sweet tooth though) but I do not do anything at all to eat for cholesterol. However I walk or bike daily, enough to get my heart rate up for 15-30 minutes twice a day and rarely drive. I live close enough to work that I commute by walking or biking. This is partly luck and partly making that a priority. I work a desk job but I take frequent breaks and go for walks during the day.
shaggy68@reddit
Vegan diet works for me.
SemperPutidus@reddit
Nexlizet, I can’t take statins due to insane muscle pain.
Rough_Beautiful1031@reddit
Fermented black garlic and bergamont supplement
elstie01@reddit
Check out Nattokinase.
tc_cad@reddit
No supplements. I eat oats every morning and a hearty bean chili for lunch M-F. This has kept my cholesterol in check.
noronto@reddit
Haha, I’m going to the doctor in Monday, gotta start taking pills.
No-Acanthisitta7930@reddit
Krill oil and a statin. Shreds cholesterol and triglycerides
nocabec@reddit
I lowered mine by adjusting my diet. I stopped eating meat (still eat fish), eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Eat more egg whites instead of eggs. Eat less sugar. This is the way.
McBoognish_Brown@reddit
Much of it is genetic. I eat nothing but 90% meat and cheese and my cholesterol has always been fine, but my triglycerides are a little high. I don’t eat very much sugar or processed carbs though
BellaFiat@reddit
Unless it’s in your genes to have high cholesterol. Went fully vegan for years - was still extremely high. Had both parents die of cardiac events. Not playing around with that.
malai556@reddit
Same here. I’ve been on a statin for a couple years, and my cholesterol went down some. Diabetes this year, so I finally got my act together and really got serious about my diet and exercise. Overall cholesterol and HDL are actually low, but my LDL is still high. Increased the statin because my doctor said there’s not much we can do to fight genetics beyond what I’m already doing.
herseyhawkins33@reddit
Yep, my uncle is in excellent shape and eats very well. Still had to go the statin route. Cholesterol is now under control.
Ineedavodka2019@reddit
Same on the hereditary thing. I’ve always had high cholesterol. Even at 21 when I was young and in shape. Now I’m on a statin and my cholesterol is great. I’m also on zepbound so I will need to get it rechecked. My whole family has heart disease. Dad and mom died from it with other complications. I definitely don’t want to go that route
GenevieveLeah@reddit
You can try cardio, psyllium fiber, eating more veggies.
If it doesn’t budge, however, in 6 months to a year, just try the statin.
Don’t want to be in the ER with chest pain wishing you’d taken the darn statin when first advised to.
Bourbon-No-Ice@reddit
Dr. Told me to take red yeast rice and fish oil. Red yeast rice is a natural strain from what I gathered. I have had zero side effects so far with it (I've been on it 3 months) rosuvastatin or atorvastatin (one of them) made my muscles hurt very bad. I changed then changed doctors.
muroc17@reddit
Effective but miserable: niacin. Feels like a massive sunburn for 15 minutes, then you’re fine. It’s absolutely the worst but totally works.
ECTexan@reddit
Walking. Without changing anything else about myself, I got a walking pad that I use during work. I’ve been walking 10-30k steps a day depending on my workload. Cholesterol levels all normal again.
ThemanfromNumenor@reddit
Nothing (literally). Took up fasting about 2 years ago and my cholesterol went from needing meds to absolutely perfect
smooth_grooves@reddit
My cholesterol is borderline too low. I avoid ultra-processed ingredients as much as possible and use the Bobby Approved and Yuka apps to analyze foods at the grocery store. Also, no smoking, no drinking, no added sugars, minimal restaurant food. Lots of veggies. Oatmeal every day.
Deep-Interest9947@reddit
I’ve been vegetarian for 35 years. I eat out once a year. I don’t eat processed food aside from flour tortillas. My cholesterol is still high. Sometimes it’s just genetics.
TheAskewOne@reddit
Nothing. I don't eat meat and I'm very careful with my diet.
herseyhawkins33@reddit
If your doctor recommends a statin it's likely the right way to go. Results > anecdotes.
inabighat@reddit
So far regular running has kept me out of the medication zone. Unfortunately I don't know of any supplements that will replicate the effect :(
ChaucersDuchess@reddit
I’m T1 diabetic so even with good cholesterol, onto the statin I went. I take the lowest dose of Crestor and my cholesterol is 93, triglycerides are at 99.
BlacksmithThink9494@reddit
Applesauce with fiber (motts mighty), metamucil. I also eat bean dishes instead of meat.
Specialist-Job-509@reddit
This is the opposite approach and might be too much for a lot of people, but intermittent fasting (no calorie intake for 16+ hours of the day), will drop your cholesterol like a rock. It’s a little difficult to get used to, but holy shit does it change things fast. On top of the cholesterol benefits, the abs I used to have in my 20s are back now and I’m feeling pretty damn good about myself
orange728@reddit
Up your fiber intake and walk. That is the best thing you can do if you don't want to go on a statin. Oatmeal is good, but if you don't like it, pears apples, etc. Chia or flax seeds in yogurt or pudding or smoothies is good too.
TheJokersWild53@reddit
Cutting my sugar intake.
Trick-Alternative328@reddit
Fiber, but get checked for Apo little A
KnobSquash@reddit
Cholesterol is good, carbohydrate are bad
marcos_MN@reddit
Beets w/ CQ-10, omega-3. I also eat a lot of leafy greens, wild rice, and drink 3ish cups of green tea each day.
Quinalla@reddit
Oatmeal & flax seed & and two different super high fiber cereals. More fruits & veggies too. So far that’s been plenty for me! But I will take statins if I need to, but diet changes will do a lot!
DrMcJedi@reddit
Tirzepatide. Lost 70 pounds in the last 2 years, and everything is back to normal again.
RaspberryVespa@reddit
I’d been looking into this myself, and Benecol Soft Chews are supposed to work pretty well to lower LDL quickly … but I haven’t personally tried them yet.
lightstarangelnyc@reddit
I’ve taken plant sterols for a few years and they don’t do much so I’m stopping with those. Add fiber
Environmental-Fox961@reddit
Gummy multivitamins with omega-3
jRok57@reddit
Avocado. At least once a day
EfficiencyIVPickAx@reddit
Metamucil. Just follow the lable.
Brewers7882INF@reddit
Cocaine, it’s a hell of a drug.