Is there a natural way to lower cholesterol?

My triglycerides are 474 and it should be less than 250. I tried a total fat free diet for a couple of months and allI did was lose a bunch of weight. Changing my diet didn't help at all. I really don't eat a bad diet. I rarely eat fast foods, red meats or fried food.

To the first answerer: WHY NOT!? High cholesterol isn't bad in and of itself but it generally IS a sign of imbalance in the body. Sometimes they have to do with genetics but otherwise, yes, looking to improve your cholesterol profile is a good idea.

1. If you aren't already, BECOME PHYSICALLY ACTIVE! Doing aerobic exercise AT LEAST 30 minutes a day is GREAT for your body. If you don't find the time, at least go out for a 10-minute brisk walk/walk up and down the stairs three times a day - it'll add up!

2. I'll give you a list of foods that lower cholesterol, make sure your diet includes some, if not all, of these:
- Oatmeal and oatbran (soluble fiber).

- Cinnamon (half a teaspoon a day)

- Walnuts, almonds, ground flax-seed, pistachios, avocados and other kinds of nuts and seeds (EXTREMELY healthy fats; a cholesterol-lowering diet in which 20 percent of the calories come from walnuts may reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 12 percent.)

- Extra-Virgin Olive oil (healthy fats again)

- Broccoli and cruciferous vegetables

- Tomatoes

- Fatty fish, or omega-3 fish oil supplements (n-3 fatty acids, duh). Look for low-mercury fish like Wild Atlantic Salmon or light canned tuna. Eat seafood at least twice a week.

- Fruit: dark grapes, blueberries, apples, grapefruit, cranberries, strawberries -- all these especially aid in lowering cholesterol. Choose whole fruit instead of juice as it contains fiber.

- Green tea (4 cups a day) or a green tea extract (i.e. capsules).

- Spinach, kale, carrots and foods rich in vitamin A (sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce, cantaloupe, apricots).

- Foods enriched with plant sterols or stanols (i.e. specialty spreads)

- Garlic (it contains compounds that help lower your liver's production of cholesterol)

- LIGHT (low/sugar-free AND low-fat/fat-free) yogurt with live active cultures (probiotics).

- Legumes (beans); eat them at least thrice a week.

- Soy products such as black soybeans, tofu, soy nuts, etc.

- Foods rich in niacin (vitamin B3) such as crimini mushrooms, chicken breast, salmon fillet, yellowfin tuna and dry active yeast.

3. Also, lower your sugar intake. Excessive intake of carbohydrates (especially simple carbs such as sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, maltodextrin, bread, etc.) RAISES your cholesterol. Same with excessive fructose but it is actually difficult to get too much of it if you eat the recommended amounts of fruits everyday, and they are very healthy anyway.

4. Do not, DO NOT eat trans-fats. These horrible fats are contained in margarine, baked goods, and most processed foods. The body cannot metabolize these fats and can get pretty screwed up if you eat them in excess. (Even foods labeled "trans-fat free" can contain trans fat. If somewhere along the ingredients of a food reads "hydrogenated [whatever] oil", put it back on the shelves where you found it and go buy something else.)

4. When cooking, remove the skin of poultry, and select lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat (i.e. sirloin or loin beef). Avoid processed meats like the plague - such as sausage, bologna, salami, hot dogs, even those with "reduced fat" labels. Try to eat as little animal fat as possible as this is generally high in saturated fat.

5. Organ meats such as liver, sweetbreads, kidney and brain are very high in cholesterol. Watch out.

6. You don't have to be afraid of eggs. One egg or two a day every other day is fine but just don't go crazy with it.

7. Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy.

8. Check out this article, too: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17952000/

9. Speak with your doctor and get regular check-ups. I'm sure if you follow a healthy, varied, balanced diet and exercise, you will be great.

There's a few ways...fat free diets are NOT the way to go.

Try introducing unsaturated fats (liquid fats) into your diet such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, etc.

Also, you could try increased soluble fiber intake from fruits and vegetables and whole grains (oats are good for this).

What's funny is that you don't actually have to avoid red meats and eggs to lower your cholesterol. In fact this will have no effect (as I'm sure you've already noticed). Inclusion of more soluble fiber and unsaturated fats will have a MUCH bigger impact.

Oh yeah, and try to eat 6 small meals a day and exercise. That oughta do it.

You already have good diet now try walking at a fast pace for least 20 - 25 minutes a day. Diet and exercise is a sure way of controlling cholesterol, oh, and for the diet, use olive oil instead of vegetable oil to cook in. Good luck.

Do you eat bread, sugar or any transfat? They will boost your triglycerides.

This is what worked for me:
1- a vegan diet
2- lots of Omega-3 high in DHA & EFA (look at Vitacost.com)
3- Cardio excercise. I ride a bike for 45 min a day and row for 15.

Like the advertisement says, sometimes it's from your family, part of your makeup. This kind of triglycerides can be hard to lower.

WHY would you want to lower your cholesterol??????