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Supplements For Cholesterol?

tdog333

Senior Member
Messages
171
I'm currently taking a med which is messing my cholesterol up a bit.

My overall cholesterol is good, but my LDL is a bit high, and my HDL is a bit low.

Is there anything besides niacin that helps raise HDL or lower LDL?
 

Mary

Moderator Resource
Messages
17,335
Location
Southern California
Is there anything besides niacin that helps raise HDL or lower LDL?

Why don't you want to take niacin? I started taking niacin about 2 years ago because it helped me a lot with sleep - it stimulates or sensitizes GABA receptors. It does make me tired if I take it during the day, so I don't take it then. But it's great at night. And then as an unintended side effect I found that it lowered my cholesterol.

If you do try niacin, do not get time-release or extended release - those forms have been associated with liver damage. And non-flushing niacin doesn't do the trick either. I don't mind the flush any more because it usually means I'll be asleep pretty soon.
 

erin

Senior Member
Messages
885
I managed to lower my cholesterol (was not to high) and other liver enzymes with artichoke tea. My neighbour grows them in her garden and kindly gave me some dried leaves of the petals. I simply fused them in hot water for 5 minutes and add a lemon wedge and drank it. Tasted quite pleasant. I'm sure you can get them dried in health shops.
 

erin

Senior Member
Messages
885
@JaimeS, lowering sugar intake is very helpful for over all symptoms. Whilst doing this I found olive leaf tea is helpful. Similar recipe of the artichoke, instead olive leaves, fresh leaves are better than the dried ones. This tea helps lowering the blood sugar.
 

CFS_for_19_years

Hoarder of biscuits
Messages
2,396
Location
USA
Life Extension usually has some good suggestions:
http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-01

http://www.lifeextension.com/Protocols/Heart-Circulatory/Cholesterol-Management/Page-les
Inhibiting Cholesterol Synthesis
Inhibiting Absorption of Dietary Cholesterol
Enhancing Cholesterol Elimination
Inhibiting Oxidation and Glycation of LDL
Optimizing the Lipid Profile
Improving reverse cholesterol transport
 

tdog333

Senior Member
Messages
171
Why don't you want to take niacin? I started taking niacin about 2 years ago because it helped me a lot with sleep - it stimulates or sensitizes GABA receptors. It does make me tired if I take it during the day, so I don't take it then. But it's great at night. And then as an unintended side effect I found that it lowered my cholesterol.

If you do try niacin, do not get time-release or extended release - those forms have been associated with liver damage. And non-flushing niacin doesn't do the trick either. I don't mind the flush any more because it usually means I'll be asleep pretty soon.

I have a really bad methylation profile, so niacin makes me feel weird mentally, and b12+folate makes me feel weird mentally too, so I try to be careful with methylation-type sups.
 

Mary

Moderator Resource
Messages
17,335
Location
Southern California
I have a really bad methylation profile, so niacin makes me feel weird mentally, and b12+folate makes me feel weird mentally too, so I try to be careful with methylation-type sups.

I'm sorry to hear that! Yeah, many people on this board have similar issues. Good luck, there are a lot of good suggestions above, hopefully some will help you --