Dr Amani Flood, a Naturopathic Doctor at Northshore Medical and Aesthetic Center, shares her tips for how to lower cholesterol...

1. Stay away from the sweet stuff. One little known fact about lowering cholesterol is that it’s linked to sugar consumption, so a simple way to lower cholesterol is to cut down on the sweet treats, candies, sodas and pastries. That’s because our bodies make excess cholesterol from sugar.
2. Add a fiber supplement to your diet. Dr Flood insists oat fiber is one of the best options as it contains soluble fiber, which reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aka the "bad" cholesterol. Eating oatmeal is also good, but for those who don’t feel up to devouring a bowl of oatmeal every day, try the supplement instead.
3. Work up a sweat. When it comes to lowering cholesterol, moderate exercise is important. Not only does it raise your “good” HDL cholesterol, it also lowers the bad kinds. Moderate exercise means you would have difficulty talking while performing that level of exercise. Health experts suggest vigorous aerobic-style workouts for 20 minutes, three times a week.

Bonus tip: Try natural supplements. Dr Flood recommends three supplements, all available at NMAC, including Cholesterol Complete (a specialised formula designed to help manage overall cholesterol levels, promote an optimum balance between LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol and enhance healthy metabolism); Omega-3 (fatty acids can lower cholesterol when used in therapeutic doses); and Lecithin (research shows a diet rich in Lecithin may increase good HDL cholesterol and lower bad LDL cholesterol). Please note: Before using any supplements, discuss your needs with a qualified health care provider for your safety and best results.

To book an appointment with our Naturopathic Doctor or GPs call 293-5476.