Lifestyle Tips That Lower Cholesterol

Focus On Soluble Fiber

When making dietary changes to reduce cholesterol, patients are often advised to focus on soluble fiber. This type of fiber is found in whole grains, oats, beans, peas, lentils, and fruit. Soluble fiber is a nutrient source for probiotic bacteria in the gut, and it can help reduce low-density lipoprotein. A 2007 study followed thirty adults who took soluble fiber supplements each day for three months. The participants consumed three grams of soluble fiber per day. At the end of the study, the subjects had an eighteen percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Soluble fiber has also been shown to increase the cholesterol-lowering benefits of statins. For example, a study published in 2005 examined sixty-eight adult patients who were already taking ten milligrams of simvastatin. Over the three-month study period, the patients also took a daily psyllium (soluble fiber) supplement. The results demonstrated the addition of the soluble fiber supplement increased the effectiveness of the ten-milligram dose of simvastatin, producing cholesterol reductions that were the same as taking twenty milligrams of simvastatin without any additional fiber. Patients should check with their doctor about how much fiber they need each day, and they might wish to ask about the most suitable sources of soluble fiber for their health needs.

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