Best supplements for cholesterol: The herbal tea proven to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels

High cholesterol is a condition when a person has too much cholesterol (a fatty substance) in their blood. While some cholesterol is good (HDL cholesterol), having too much LDL cholesterol can cause problems.

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• High cholesterol: Eating this popular food could lower cholesterol

High cholesterol is mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol.

The NHS advises cholesterol can be lowered by eating healthy and getting more exercise.

Studies have also suggested bergamot tea might help.

Bergamot tea, most commonly known as Earl Grey tea, is made by combing black tea and bergamot orange extract.

The plant compounds in bergamot have been shown to provide a variety of health benefits – one of which is lowering cholesterol.

Firstly, bergamot contains flavanones, which may inhibit enzymes that produce cholesterol in the body. 

A study in 80 people with high cholesterol levels also found taking bergamot extract every day significantly decreased total and LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol after six months, compared with baseline values. 

Other studies have observed similar results, with some research suggesting that bergamot may enhance the effects of traditional cholesterol-lowering medications. 

Lowering cholesterol can help boost heart health, and another way bergamot tea may be able to do this is by decreasing blood pressure.

High blood pressure can increase a person’s risk of heart attacks and strokes.

A study in 95 adults at risk of high blood pressure found those who drank three cups (750ml) of black tea per day for six months had significantly lower blood pressure compare with those who drank a placebo. 

Other ways to lower cholesterol

Another way to lower cholesterol, according to the NHS, is to eat less fatty food.

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• High cholesterol: Supplement to lower levels

It advises: “To reduce your cholesterol, try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat.

“You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat.”

You should try to eat more oily fish, like mackerel and salmon, brown rice, bread and pasta, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and eat less meat pies, sausages and fatty meat, butter, lard and ghee, cream and hard cheese, like cheddar, cakes and biscuits, and food that contains coconut oil or palm oil.

Increasing the amount you exercise can also lower cholesterol.

The health body advises: “Aim to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week.

“Some good things to try when starting out include walking – try to walk fast enough so your heart starts beating faster, swimming and cycling.

“Try a few different exercises to find something you like doing. You’re more likely to keep doing it if you enjoy it.”

Stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol can also help lower cholesterol.

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