The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kathy (Cherry Hill, Nj) on 01/30/2017
★★★★★
I was a previously a skeptic but ACV has reduced my cholesterol.
I am 56 years old and my cholesterol had been getting higher and higher over the years (I also am hypothyroid). My doctor told me to try to reduce my levels or she was going to prescribe statins, which I did not want to take.
I came to the Earth Clinic website and decided to try ACV. I started taking 2 Tbsp. ACV in water just once a day.
In Sept. of 2016, my total cholesterol was 232, HDL 54 and LDL 151. In December of 2016, my total cholesterol was 209, HDL 56 and LDL 130.
So, my overall cholesterol went down 23 points and my LDL went down 21 points in 3 months taking just 2 Tbsp. ACV a day.
My doctor was amazed and told me to just keep doing whatever it was I was doing.
I am going to try mixing it with pure grape juice as some have suggested. It is very hard for me to get the ACV down with just water, which prevents me from taking it as often as I would like.
Low Carb Diet
Posted by Hal (Ny) on 01/22/2017
I eat high fat, low carb. My cholesterol was always low and I knew the high fat diet would raise it, but I know enough about the cholesterol B.S. that I wasn't worried. My bkfst usually consists of 2 tbsp. (grass-fed) butter, 1 tbspn of MCT oil, 1 tbsp. of cocoa powder blended in cup of very warm water. I was using Bulletproof Coffee, but I gave up coffee, so I just substituted cocoa.
By April 2015, my Cholesterol was 315. I didn't mind that much, but I started taking Calcium D-Glucarate 2x/day (thanks Dave Asprey), and Tocotrienols 2x/day. By 6/16 it was 236.
As of 11/23/16, my Cholesterol is 198 (HDL - 73, Triglycerides - 64, Chol/HDL ratio - 2.7). I backed off to once a day each because I don't want to be below 200.
Hope this helps.
Low Carb Diet
Posted by Rw (Southwest Virginia) on 01/17/2017
★★★★★
All of my cholesterol levels were bad but then improved an average of over 30% by eating a low carb diet. They're all back down in the healthy range. I did not cut down on fats at all, just carbs. I bought a glucose meter and learned how to eat so that my blood sugar stayed under 110 after meals (it usually peaks around 1 1/2 hours after a meal.) I eat about 15 grams of carbs at each meal and I make sure I eat a good portion of protein first to balance it. Yeah, it was some getting used to, but it's not problem now and I don't have any carb cravings or anything. I also took fish oil and drank matcha tea, but I don't think it would have been such a dramatic difference without cutting the carbs. My doc was impressed when he saw the numbers. He said, "What did you do?" :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shazmin (Oxfordshire) on 12/03/2016
Red Yeast Rice (natural statin) is not nearly as good for you as many think. Google it.
Bergamot Juice
Posted by Adriano (Italy, Calabria) on 10/28/2016
★★★★★
Cholesterol is reduced with the bergamot juice, international studies attest to its effectiveness. The Calabria, in Italy, is the only manufacturer in the world.
The bergamot juice should be natural, no preservatives and sulfites. The bergamot juice contains natural statins.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by D (Usa) on 09/02/2016
I put mine in grapefruit juice to make it easier to drink and almost cannot taste it, unlike in water. Not good for your teeth straight, or your stomach. Also, I try to eat something before, even if it is just a small snack.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by G (Uk) on 09/01/2016
Try using organic products and raw apple cider vinegar.
To a small quantity of hot water in a glass, add a small spoonful of pure coconut oil and wild honey and stir until dispersed, add 200 - 250ml of spring water 10ml of raw cider vinegar and 25ml aloe vera, do not sip but try to drink it fairly quickly, this should sort things out.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by George (Uk) on 08/01/2016 4 posts
Then type in VAP test and you'll realise cholesterol myth is not talking about VLDL and particle sizes and CRP and PLAC etc...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by George (Uk) on 08/01/2016 4 posts
Losing weight through plant based diet plus exercise plus stress-reduction plus less sitting down plus ACV (as part of diet) plus keep off wheat and sugar...that seems the way forward. But there's still old age.....
Book Reviews
Posted by George (Uk) on 08/01/2016 4 posts
You're supposed to take CQ10 WITH statins - that's probably why they had those effects and probably why your friend advised... Ubiquinol rather than CQ-10 really. More importantly lose weight, diet plants, exercise, yoga and have a VAP test (google it)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Maverick (Texas) on 07/27/2016
I'm a nurse and I don't claim to know everything, but I am more educated in medical practices than the general public. I actually promote natural alternatives to patients and encourage people to modify their diets and lifestyle in an effort to reduce dependence on pharmaceutical drugs.
In fact, my cholesterol lab results just returned high and I'm on this site perusing all the anecdotal evidence suggesting ACV and Red Yeast Rice reduces cholesterol. I plan to test this myself and run my labs in 6 weeks.
Why? Because even though I'm a nurse, my goal is not to put everyone, including myself, on drugs! Not all of us have succumbed to the pressure of Big Pharma. :)
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Art (California ) on 07/03/2016 2326 posts
★★★★★
If you have high cholesterol and high triglycerides but want to avoid statins, then according to the abstract below, Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth may be a reasonable alternative. It has worked very well for me, but I am taking significantly more than what was used in this study. I did not get the increased HDL cholesterol benefit mentioned in the study, but my LDL and triglycerides stay about in the middle of the normal range with no special diet now.
The dosage they used in the study is the smallest I have ever seen mentioned for people. I started out at one heaping tablespoon in a cup of water in the morning and one heaping tablespoon in a cup of water in the evening for a total of two heaping tablespoons of Food Grade DE per day for two weeks. I now take DE only once a day first thing in the morning at one heaping teaspoon and that is my maintenance dose.
The fact that the study got good results with just a total of 750 mg/day divided into to three separate doses throughout the day lets me know that I can probably get by with significantly less DE as a maintenance dose. Compared to other things like ACV, the taste is much more tolerable and mild. The cost is very low if purchased in containers of 20 pounds or more. At my current dose a 20 lb bag will last for many years and costs less than $25 delivered to my door. It's even cheaper if you can get it from a farm supply. Just be sure it is Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth and nothing else. DE is purported to have other health benefits also. Another benefit is that if I go on vacation and forget my DE, no problem as the effects last awhile. In the study they said the benefits were still present after 4 weeks of no DE. Do a little research and see what you think.Here is the abstract and remember to get your doctor's approval and supervision before trying DE.
Art
Eur J Med Res. 1998 Apr 8;3(4):211-5.
Diatomaceous earth lowers blood cholesterol concentrations.
PubMed Abstract
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lynnegarwood (Uk) on 07/03/2016
Your numbers look great to me and as you age, it is important to have higher cholesterol and yours seems perfect. Studies the lower the cholesterol the more chance of death from heart attack. LDL will be kept in blood if fighting infection etc. Do not worry - your levels are fab - bet you outlive your uneducated doctor - read Chris Kresser, Chris Masterjohn or Dr Malcolm Kendrick (book Doctoring Data) Blog: the cause of heart disease :)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Anna (Ma) on 06/12/2016
Could you post an update? I've been taking it but it has started giving me collywobbles (upset tummy). Thanks.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kitt (Pa) on 04/17/2016
Doctors never like to even hear the word natural, after all they get paid to keep you sick! They don't believe in vitamins or natural cures. They are paid kickbacks for pushing medicine that has worse side effects then the problem you went in with. then you have nurses who think they know everything! I have used ACV for the last year, not even the organic, the regular stuff from the market, for psoriasis. Even that works!!!
I drink a tablespoon a day and wash my hair with it. Absolutely works!!! It even helps with acid reflux, crazy enough!
Niacin
Posted by Bebe (In) on 03/29/2016
My husband's doctor told him to start out with 100 mg everyday for the first two weeks then up the dose, to another 100 mg in another two weeks til you get up to the 500 mg dose level, then leave it at the 500 mg dose every day once a day, any more than that would affect your kidneys.
Niacin
Posted by Phe (Los Angeles, California) on 03/22/2016
★★★★★
I am happy to report that 1000-1500 milligrams of niacin daily drastically reduced my high triglycerides in just under four months. I am a 41 year old male who was diagnosed with high triglycerides back at end of October 2015. My blood test revealed my triglyceride level was 449 mg/dl (optimal reference range is below 150 mg/dl) which was due in part to being to being overweight, which was a result of poor dietary habits and too much alcohol. Fast forward to February 2016, along with a healthy diet and exercise and the crucial inclusion of daily niacin intake, my triglycerides dropped 80% to 87 mg/dl. I lost about 40lbs in that time but I know that the rapid lowering of my triglyceride level was not only due to weight loss but the niacin which is well-documented for its effect on high triglycerides and cholesterol. Simply stated niacin works.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Bodhisattvya (Eugene, Or, Usa) on 02/22/2016
Shih Tzu Momma:
For elevated Triglycerides:
1.) Vitamin B5, (aka Pantothenic Acid & Pantethine.) Dosage: 300mg's three times daily.
2.)Psyllium Husk Powder: 1 heaping tsp. 1-2 times daily. My Family Practice Physician calls Psyllium Husk Powder the "Poor Man's Questran", (Questran is a Prescription Drug that treats elevated Triglycerides.)
3.) Guggullipids: A standard dose of guggul (plant extract) is 400-500mg taken three times daily with meals, totaling 1,200-1,500mg daily (although doses up to 2,000mg have been used before) If using the guggulsterones in isolation, a dose of 25mg taken thrice a day with meals is used.
4.) Omega 3's(e.g. Fish Oil, Krill Oil, Flaxseed Oil if you're a Vegetarian.) 4000 mg's of Fish Oil daily. I'm not sure about dosages on the other two.
Niacin
Posted by Bama (Bama) on 02/14/2016
I've started niacin + vit C. Per Dr Saul, you do equal parts of each but my niacin flush occurs with such a small dose that I'm doing the vit c much higher. I'm taking maybe 70 mg niacin 3x/d and a total of 1000 mg of c. Very low, but I can tolerate it easily enough. My question is this: for niacin to work for cholesterol, you must feel the flush? I get a pretty good flush w/ this dose and hope for it to become more moderate by the time the long weekend is over--don't want to explain at work why I'm so red. Thanks all.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kristin (Mobile, Alabama) on 02/05/2016
★★★★★
Happy to report that ACV has helped to lower my total cholesterol. In Dec 15, my total was 288. As of Feb 2 2016 it is 226. I've been taking 2 T of ACV and fish oil every night before bed. In another month I will go for a check up to see HDL and LDL results! So excited that I won't be relying on statins!
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Toni (Oregon) on 02/03/2016
★★★★★
My cholesterol was high enough that my doctor wanted to put me on 40mg of Zorcor (?). She told me that it would make every muscle in my body ache and recommended CoQ10 for relieving that. I told her that if it was taking that kind of toll on my body it was hurting me. She said, "The risk of not taking it is worse than the risk if you do."
It's a long story how I stumbled upon Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth, but I found a study done on 60 people (which is a very tiny study) that said that people who took 1 heaping Tablespoon of Diatomaceous Earth in water one time a day had their cholesterol halved in 30 days and within normal limits in 60. I told the doctor I wanted to do an experiment for three weeks. She agreed.
In those three weeks what I discovered is that it doesn't taste as bad if you use more water. Initially I had about 1/4 cup of water (the thought being it would be quicker to get down) and now use about 3/4 cup, take a heaping tablespoon of the stuff and dissolve it and chug it down. I'm totally serious here, I tried everything to get the taste out of my mouth...rinsing with water, my coffee etc. The best thing is to take a mouthful (just a sip) of Muscato wine. Takes the taste right away. I have a little bottle that I use.
Within three weeks my Cholesterol dropped from 310 to 240. It is now within normal limits. I've spread the word and several of my friends have had the same result. To buy it, if you have an animal feed store nearby, you can get a 20lb bag of the stuff for about $10...a lifetime supply :) I don't recommend the Organic kind sold on Amazon. First, its super expensive compared to the farm store. Second, two people I know had larve come out of them (bug worms) and when they switched to my kind they didn't. The Larve won't hurt you, but YUCK. So just get regular FOOD GRADE (that's important) Diatomaceous earth.
Red Yeast Rice
Posted by Friend4u (Mi) on 12/12/2015
★★★★★
All of my adult life I have always had high cholesterol. I've been eating a vegan diet for many years and didn't understand why my cholesterol was so high. I found something online where it said that coffee raises cholesterol. I love coffee and was a regular at the local coffee shop. In the last six months I also started drinking it at home.
When my cholesterol was checked 08/26/2015 it was higher than it's ever been. My total cholesterol was 353 LDL 263 Triglycerides 163. This report did not even show my HDL.
The first month I didn't do anything and continued drinking coffee.
The second month I started taking Red Yeast Rice Complex that also had CoQ10, Policosanol, Pantethine and Plant Sterols. I took 600 mg twice a day. My cholesterol was checked again on 10/24/2015. My total cholesterol was 276 HDL 73 LDL 183 and Triglycerides 87.
The third month I quit drinking coffee and continued taking this dosage for about another two weeks and then took 600 mg once a day until the bottle was gone.The beginning of the third month I also started a Terrain Modification program where I am only drinking nutrient dense liquids through out the day and eating one meal per day that is mostly raw. I just had my cholesterol checked again on 12/04/2015 and the total cholesterol was 239 HDL 87 Triglycerides 128 and LDL was 126.
My cholesterol ratio went from 6.2 down to 2.7 in just a little over three months.
Understanding the Role of Cholesterol
Posted by Nat (Brooklyn, Ny) on 11/11/2015
There is evidence that just as high cholesterol is dangerous, so is (too) low cholesterol.
Low cholesterol is associated with higher rates of aggression, violent behavior, depression, suicide, also cancer, Parkinson's, memory loss, and other illnesses. So, while lowering cholesterol lowers risks of heart disease, it raises risks of other health issues.
In the book Uninformed Consent the authors quote a recommendation of around 230 as being the (all around) safest cholesterol level.
So if someone is fighting anger, depression, etc, maybe he should check his cholesterol levels and if they are on the low side try to raise them to around 230.
Maimonides, a Jewish sage and doctor taught that in personal traits the middle way is balanced and healthy. To get to the middle and balanced way one should examine one's personal traits and strive to bend any unbalanced personal trait to its opposite, (after-which, in most cases, one should bring the trait to the middle; with anger, however, one should bend it too its opposite without afterwards going to the middle). And what is the opposite of anger? Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna said that one should bend anger to mercy (and this will help a person overcome anger). Nachmanides, Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman taught that one should train oneself to always "speak all one's worlds, calmly/gently/softly to all people, at all times, and in all circumstances, and in this way one will be saved from anger".
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Judy (Durango, Co) on 11/11/2015
You may want to reconsider the red rice yeast. It is well known that it will give a person the same side effects as the statins because of its similar chemical structure. It did me. I couldn't tolerate any of the statins either. Bad muscle pain. I am 62 and had a heart attack 12 years ago followed by 7 vessel bypass surgery, then 8 stents. They all clogged up and I had bypass surgery again 3 months ago. I'm not convinced that cholesterol was the clogging factor but I am going to give the vinegar a good try. I think it may have been the fact that I took calcium supplements since about age twenty. My arteries were very "calcified."
Understanding the Role of Cholesterol
Posted by Swissophie (Switzerland) on 11/06/2015
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Please read the article “The Cholesterol Myth That Is Harming Your Health” on Dr. Mercola's site (Google will find it). What an eye opener! It explains why cholesterol lowering drugs are so dangerous, why we need cholesterol, and why it might be high (repairing damage done by arterial inflammation). Taking ACV should help lowering the inflammation and with it most probably the cholesterol, but do not give up healthy fats, including eggs. Be well!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Will (Irwin Pa.) on 10/14/2015
★★★★★
Dear Brigitte, I just had some blood work done for my 6mo.check up. 6mos ago my cholesterol was 200. LDL was 128 / HDL was 54 . Today my cholesterol is 167. LDL is now 104 / HDL is 47. I take 2 tablespoons of organic ACV a day with 2 tablespoons of raw honey I don't know if it will work for you. It has a been great for me. Good luck. Bill
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn.) on 09/29/2015
HI U BRIGITTE, , , , , , , , , , , , , I think our Anti-Aging doctor would tell you that you are in good shape , except your LDL should be below 100. She says the cardiologists are off base on cholesterol levels.
Your brain requires it. Suggest you get counseling from an integrative doctor before you start messing with a test that has HDL and triglycerides that most would kill for.
===========ORH==========
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 09/28/2015
Dear Brigitte,
Seems like some consider an occasional glass of red wine to actually be good for the heart. Personally, I don't think you have to give that up.
Hopefully the Apple Cider Vinegar will work. You might also try adding a bowl of oatmeal to your diet a few times a week for breakfast.
Keep us posted on your progress. I think we have a lot to learn from someone who is 75, eats well, exercises and works full time. Good for you!
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Tx) on 09/28/2015
My cholesterol has always been high. Cholesterol Total 256; HDL 142; LDL 107 and Triglyceride 35.
I am not taking any medication, but will try the organic apple cider vinegar in some warm water early in the morning. Hope it will lower my numbers.
I am 75 years old, work full time, exercise three times a week and eat a very healthy diet but love a glass of good red wine. I wonder whether I have to cut that out.
Brigitte
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Julie (Brooklyn, Ny) on 09/07/2015
★★★★★
I agree,
My cholesterol was 268 in May 2015. I've been drinking ACV water for several months and I had another doctor's appointment earlier this month and my cholesterol was 208.
I was completely shocked and I will continue to drink ACV water.
Also, I noticed that I have a lot more energy and less pain upon waking in the morning.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Shamoon (Washington, D.C.) on 08/05/2015
★★★★★
I agree that ACV works well at cholesterol/LDL reduction. It does not, repeat Does NOT raise cholesterol or deplete HDLs.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Beanie ( Whiteville, N. C. 28472) on 05/17/2015
Thank you for the information about vinegar and baking soda. God Bless you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Green Augustine (Mold, Denbighshire, North Wales) on 05/05/2015 41 posts
Hi Wendy, you don't say how old you are so this may not be relevant, but there was a good double blind trial done at the University of Paris some years ago on women over 54. It ran for some years and they discovered to their surprise that those with the highest cholesterol of any kind survived acute heart attacks whereas those with low cholesterol didn't! When I asked my consultant what she thought of the results, ( I have high cholesterol), she said she knew the trial and agreed it was correct and then couldn't understand why I didn't want statins! I fit the age category. There are several good books out there including Dr Uffe Ravnskov ' Ignore the awkward' and ' Fat and cholesterol are good for you' etc. I believe he's had death threats so he can't possibly be saying anytHing of merit now, can he? ;-). When Ancel Keys first came up with the theory that high cholesterol was linked to heart attacks etc in the 1950's, he was laughed out of court. He wanted to do a trial to prove his theory using people from 26 countries, but only 6 fitted the criteria he needed to prove the point, and lots of other factors were ignored. However, Ancel Keys 'research' is still the corner stone for all those news reports we get frightening us into taking statins! So it's really wonderful to have this site and a few really dedicated investigative journalists out there too.
Multiple Supplements
Posted by Robert Henry (St George Island, Fla.) on 05/03/2015
HI U ELLE, good for you. Suggest you read the new book out .......PEO SOLUTIONS. Fish oil is bad news Charlie, not an opinion, fact. The supplement industry is almost as bad as the Pharmaceutical folks. Before you respond, read the book. This book is just out and should receive the Pulitzer prize for medicine. This revelation is even more better than when the New Zealand doctors said that ulcers were caused by e-coli and were ridiculed for 10 years by their peers.
That is until they received the Pulitzer prize for medicine.
As the book says, medicine is not science, it is an opinion of folks who do the study and they all have a self serving agenda. It's a money thing.
=========ORH================
Multiple Supplements
Posted by Elle (Fresno, Ca) on 05/02/2015
★★★★★
45 yr old female- In January 2015 my numbers were- 128/84 Blood Pressure (BP), 358 triglycerides and 238 cholesterol. Tested three months later in April, my numbers were 108/72 BP, 150 triglycerides and 170 cholesterol. My activity and weight remained the same (180), and I cut out a few servings of red meat and junk food per week. My nutritional supplements were: 1000 mg fish oil 3xday, 500 mg krill oil 1xday, 500 mg garlic pill 1xday, ACV pill 250 mg 1xday, 2000 iu D3 1xday, Now sunflower lecithin 1200 mg 2xday, and 200 mg COQ10 1xday and a multivitamin 1xday.
My doctor could not believe the results! High BP and AS run in my family. I am now at low risk for and heart or stroke issues.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dona (Michigan) on 05/01/2015
I also put a Tablespoon of local raw honey in my drink.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jo Ana (Fl) on 04/24/2015
Try a teaspoon of organic ACV in every glass of water you drink. This is a great way to get your needed ACV every day. I've been doing this for years and when I'm someplace where organic isn't available, I feel badly deprived.
It's so easy, and it gives the water a flavor that once you become accustomed to it, you will look forward to drinking your water often throughout the day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lisa (Hb., Ca) on 03/14/2015
I started taking Apple Cider Vinegar in my smoothies, is that a good idea?
Niacinamide
Posted by Lisa (Southern California, US) on 03/02/2015
★★★★★
I started taking 1000 mg of niacinamide, which is vitamin B3, to help me get to sleep. When I went in for my annual check up with the doctor, my cholesterol actually went too low and she told me to lower my dose to raise my cholesterol. It took about 6 months of taking it. Also, niacinamide doesn't make you flush like niacin, and it still worked to lower cholesterol. The only side effect is it makes you really sleepy, so take it before bed.
