We hear so much about Cholesterol in the news today. It is in advertising constantly also, as drug companies want to lure more and more people into taking their medications.

The truth is many of us could benefit from lowering cholesterol naturally. This will help you avoid the side effects that cholesterol lowering drugs are known for.

The first step in this process is to get on a steady exercise program. Raising your heart rate and getting the blood pumping will help with cholesterol and also help you lose weight too. It can be something as simple as walking at a good pace for 30 minutes daily. Whatever exercises you choose, stick to the plan you make and try to get in at least 30 minutes every day. Additional exercise is helpful, but there is no reason to exhaust you.

Diet is important and has a direct effect on your cholesterol. You can raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol, while you lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Adding fiber to your diet is beneficial and easy to do. Choose foods that are high in natural fiber content. A good choice that is easy to increase your dietary fiber is Psyllium husk powder. This is a fiber rich powder that you can add to juice or water, or swallow as in capsule form. Psyllium husk is very high in natural fiber content and it will help regulate your digestion too.

Flax seed is a healthy fiber choice that also contains beneficial minerals. This can be added to cereals, breads, yogurt, shakes, and more. Flax is rich in nutrients and fiber that will help lower cholesterol naturally.

Minimizing your consumption of sweets is important for overall health and maintaining your best cholesterol levels. More than just sweet treats, you should be aware of foods that raise your blood glucose, because they are high in carbohydrates. A low carbohydrate diet can be very helpful for weight loss, and cholesterol control. It may also increase your energy level and has other benefits for health.

Eating lower carbohydrate foods while also getting a good daily supply of protein and good fats will round out your healthy diet plan. Check your food packaging before purchasing for the amount of carbohydrates, and other important information.

Many individuals have lowered cholesterol by adding niacin supplements to their daily routine. Niacin is a B vitamin that has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol. Avoid the flush-free variety, and look for slow release niacin. The regular niacin will cause flushing effect to the body that many people are not comfortable with, so always start with a low dose adding more as you can tolerate it. As with any supplement you should consult your doctor, or seek out more information before taking.

You can lower your cholesterol naturally and achieve better health at the same time.

This is a guest blog post by Enrico F.. He’s a diet coach and writer. He writes about the 28 day Mediterranean diet plan at Mediterraneanbook.com. If you want Enrico to share his finds on how much saturated fat per day with you, follow him on Twitter.