There’s a simple solution to the problem of how to lower cholesterol naturally &, without too much medication involvement. Physicians realize that cholesterol medications are not good for the body in the long term and should only be prescribed as a last resort. They tend to advocate for the patient to initiate lifestyle changes. The problem is, most patients either refuse to cooperate, give up too soon or are simply too addicted to such cholesterol prone activities, like drinking and smoking.

Initially, doctors may get the patient interested in giving up unhealthy food. While many people start out with good intentions, following their new diet to the letter, they often decide it’s too much trouble and give up. Other patients tend to believe that nicotine, alcohol or caffeine have nothing to do with high cholesterol counts. They’re so addicted that they rationalize these things don’t contain fat, so they don’t affect cholesterol levels! But are they right?

Numerous medical studies disagree with this way of thinking. Medications don’t work if the dietary and lifestyle changes aren’t in place. Study after study show that alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine affect cholesterol levels negatively, as much as fatty food does. If lowering intakes can help, then eliminating these unhealthy choices should work wonders and a good way to lower triglycerides.

A trip to the nutritionist is the first step in lowering cholesterol. Unfortunately, if the patient is turned off by “bland” or “rabbit” food because the are used to a carnivorous diet, this step will not work. People often refuse to change diets they’ve had for decades. But, if the diet was really that good in the first place, why are you sick?

Eliminating red meat from your diet is one way to lower cholesterol. All saturated fats affect cholesterol counts adversely, and have no place in a health-focused lifestyle. Replace these artery-stranglers with healthier cuts of poultry and fish. While poultry and fish also contain cholesterol, they don’t affect the health as much as beef and pork do.

Choosing health over sickness and permanent medications should be obvious, but unfortunately, many people refuse to choose wisely, continuing on the fast-food road to bad health. When you really think about it, changing your diet is a really simple way to lower cholesterol naturally.

Gary Guidoppi blogs about common health treatments at his site, HowToLowerTriglycerides.org. Read more about vldl cholesterol and how to lower triglycerides.