I think a good time to take it is first thing in the morning or between meals.
You might also consider taking cayenne pepper and eating oatmeal a few times a week. Also, eating carrots or drinking carrot juice regularly may be helpful.
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
At end of May 2013, my cholesterol had reduced to 4.1! I was amazed by this. There were no other changes to my lifestyle except sticking to only having any refined sugar (chocolate, sweets, cakes etc) every other day, rather than almost every day. Sometimes in the last year I would go 3/4 days with no refined sugar, but would have natural sugar via fruit. This is also quite a big change, but I am sure it's the vinegar that's the main cause of the massive reduction as I have always had some refined sugar in my diet.
Migs
★★★★★
SIDENOTE: My diet consist of no fried foods, mostly baked, boiled, fruits and veggies... I do have "snacks" on occasion.
I drink a tablespoon a day and wash my hair with it. Absolutely works!!! It even helps with acid reflux, crazy enough!
Green Tea
★★★★★
Both of my parents are frequently tested for high cholesterol. A couple days before each test, they drink a few cups a day, and their lab tests always come out normal. I imagine if they drank it regularly it would keep the levels down consistently. They're just funny that way.
★★★★★
God Bless,
Carolyn
Niacin
★★★★★
All my numbers were greatly improved within 6 months after my visit to www.cholesterolscore.com . This website focuses primarily on the therapeutic use of niacin. The therapeutic use of niacin is nothing less than miraculous. Even my HDL, which had been my only acceptable lipid number, shot from 65 to 92.
All my other cholesterol numbers are now at healthy levels. I had been spending nearly $100 a month in insurance co-payments for Lipitor before switching to niacin. The little bit of niacin flush is nothing much at all. Especially when a year's supply of niacin costs me only $70.
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
★★★★★
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
Curry Leaves, Garlic and Black Peppercorns
★★★★★
This is a remedy tested by many and found effective. 10 fresh, washed curry leaves, one pod of garlic and 2 peppercorns, to be crushed and had at any time, with or without food/water etc. In a month the cholesterol will come down significantly. My partner and son have both experienced its benefits and I have just started using it myself.
Curry leaves are commonly used in Indian cooking, but are now available almost everywhere in the world.
Red Yeast Rice
You are correct in thinking that red yeast rice may be raising your HbA1c. Red yeast rise is essentially similar to the statin drug Lovastatin/Mevacor as discussed here :
Here is a relevant quote from the article :
Red yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statin medications. One of these, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin (Mevacor). Doctors prescribe statins to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Statins are noted for increasing HbA1c as discussed here in this Cleveland Clinic article :
https://www.ccjm.org/content/90/1/53
Here are some very relevant article quotes :
- The weight of the evidence suggests that statin use is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus, but the magnitude of the effect has varied across studies, including differences between randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
- The risk is generally greater with high-intensity statin therapy and higher statin doses. However, many other variables are also involved, including prediabetes, genetics, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, lifestyle, and other medications, most notably glucocorticoids.
- In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, statin use is associated with a small increase in hemoglobin A1c, and this effect may be greater with atorvastatin than with other statins. However, the benefits of statins in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outweigh their adverse effects on glycemic control.
It is hard for me to understand how the potential risk to start diabetes is an acceptable side effect of statins given the many health dangers associated with diabetes.
You might be interested in reading my article regarding Nattokinase, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis here as a potential alternative to red yeast rice :
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/high-dose-nattokinase-for-atherosclerosis.html
In my opinion, cholesterol is a poor marker for atherosclerosis, which statins are supposed to help prevent.
To make matters worse, this 2020 article suggests that statins can potentially contribute to atherosclerosis :
Here are some relevant quotes from the article :
- Statin therapy is associated with higher coronary artery calcium scores and increased macrophage Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) activity in patients.
- Statins disrupt the complex between Rac1 and its primary inhibitor RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor), in macrophages, leading to Rac1 activation and Rac1-dependent IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta) expression.
- During experimental atherosclerosis, statin therapy leads to macrophage Rac1-dependent increases in IL-1β and atherosclerotic plaque calcification.
Art
Dietary Changes
Thanks for the information! I will look into it.
My cholesterol has always been very low, even below 100 when I was in college and not on the best diet...
~Mama to Many~
Citrus Bergamot
★★★★★
Citrus Bergamot has some free text articles on Pub Med that describe effects such as
"The results are shown below, but patients who received 500 or 1,000 mg of BPF (bergamot polyphenol fraction, essentially refined bergamot oil) for 30 consecutive days saw a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and blood glucose coupled with a significant increase in HDL levels.2 Mar 2023 "
It is from sour inedible orange mainly grown in Sicily and is fairly widely available as a supplement, even in Australia at one major
chemist chain as well as online from the usual well known big American supplement suppliers.
A number of testimonials on them have (seemingly genuine) testimonials about reductions in their levels. My open minded GP read one study on my phone when trying to put me on statins
and said, "This is rather interesting." A friend had her cholesterol levels drop markedly after she put herself on CB when her GP also wanted her on statins. He did not want to know why but conceded her latest
levels did not now warrant a statin.
Red Yeast Rice
Red yeast rice has the active component Monacolin K which is chemically identical to the active ingredient in the statin drug Lovastatin :
Here is a relevant quote :
' Red yeast rice products may not be safe; some may have the same side effects as certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, and some may contain a potentially harmful contaminant. '
Lovastatin is known to cause muscle pain and muscle damage :
https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/lovastatin-oral-tablet#important-warnings
Here is a quote from the article :
' Serious muscle damage warning: Using lovastatin raises your risk of serious muscle problems. These problems include myopathy, with symptoms that include muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Myopathy can lead to rhabdomyolysis. With this condition, muscle breaks down and can cause kidney damage and even death. If you have unexplained muscle pain or weakness, stop taking lovastatin right away and call your doctor. '
Another option might be lecithin granules at two tablespoons / day. It can be thrown in a small glass of water without mixing and just drink it down or it can be sprinkled on foods, desserts or added to smoothies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065734/#:~:text=Lecithin is capable of reducing, nervous system and brain activities.
Here is a relevant study quote :
' One-two months before the treatment beginning, blood samples were collected for total lipids and cholesterol fractions analysis. The results showed a reduction of 40.66% and 42.00% in total cholesterol and of 42.05% and 56.15% in LDL cholesterol after treatment for one and two months, respectively. A significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations was observed during the first month of treatment, suggesting that the administration of soy lecithin daily may be used as a supplemental treatment in hypercholesterolemia. '
Art
Dietary Changes
Now I'm changing my dairy intake to pretty much zero because my cholesterol shot up to 389. I've read many times it is most important to divide your Triglyceride # by your HDL #. I've also read and heard that people that are living longer have high cholesterol numbers, and those that die earlier have low LDL numbers (low total cholesterol numbers).
I'm nervous about information being true, or untrue, so I am going for lowering my intake of dairy products. I have to tell you though, long (back to my 20s and I'm 68 now) I did not do dairy! I just didn't care for any dairy products! But I'm going to try anyway. I eat mostly lean meats but add some olive oil, lots of veggies, low amounts of carbs and only safe carbs (so I've read) like berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and I gotta have a few blueberries).
I can't remember why but I was scared off from Lecithin when I used it for a couple of weeks. I first ordered the wrong thing, then bought what was supposedly the right thing but something was going on that made me think it was the lecithin. I know I need to keep better track of these things. Input welcome, I just think we should talk more about our basic diets before piling on the ACV, Lecithin, or any other fix.
★★★★★
Take 1 Tablespoon of coriander seed, 1 cup of water.
Heat until boil and wait to cool.
Drink twice a day. Check your cholesterol every 3 days. Stop when normalize.
★★★★★
LDL is 29
Trig's is 46
Total cholesterol is 134
I started taking fenugreek capsules back in the winter of 95- 96 for sinus issues. Every winter I immediately got a sinus infection. Cholesterol began to change and hasn't stopped.
I spend 12 to $15 for a year's worth of fenugreek capsules and take one a day and have done it since that winner of long ago. Most of my relatives had started taking fenugreek because of me since none of their prescription drugs worked.
Last year my HDL was 94 but this apartment has a lot of mold in it that keeps coming back and my immune system works overtime.