The best dietary supplements for managing cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat produced by the body and found in the blood; its function is to build healthy cells to ensure the whole body functions properly. However, when the levels circulating in the veins and arteries exceed normal levels, this poses a real problem for the heart and the circulatory system. Indeed, high blood cholesterol is one of the main, if not the most significant, risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

This is because excess cholesterol leads to the formation of fatty deposits along the walls of blood vessels, which restrict blood flow. Over time, these deposits grow in size until they obstruct or, in the worst-case scenario, completely block the flow of blood throughout the body, causing a heart attack or a stroke – the two leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease.

When cholesterol levels are only slightly elevated, it is possible to bring them back to normal by improving your diet and overall lifestyle. However, when levels are significantly higher than normal, it is advisable to take supplements to reduce excess cholesterol.

In this article, we’ll look at the best cholesterol supplements to take to lower cholesterol levels and promote heart and circulatory health.

How can you lower your cholesterol levels?

Cardiovascular diseases are very serious conditions that, if underestimated, can even lead to death, but they can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle based on a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

In fact, before resorting to cholesterol supplements, it would be useful to follow a few simple daily steps to restore the correct level of cholesterol in the blood. The first step is certainly to adjust your diet or, in the case of obesity, to reduce your daily calorie intake to shed excess weight; this can be achieved by increasing the amount of fibre-rich foods (vegetables, cereals, fruit and pulses) and protein, and by reducing carbohydrate intake. Another tip is to eat white meat and oily fish rich in omega-3, which help to counteract cholesterol.

Furthermore, exercise reduces blood sugar and lipid levels, thereby lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Finally, if you smoke, it is best to give up, as smoking lowers levels of ‘good’ cholesterol in the blood whilst at the same time damaging the condition of the arteries.

Why take cholesterol supplements?

If these measures are not enough, taking cholesterol-lowering supplements is the best solution. Indeed, the formula of these products involves the use of plant extracts that offer beneficial effects in combating the cholesterol that builds up along the arteries; products made from fermented red rice are the most highly recommended as they release monacolin K, which increases the liver’s ability to eliminate cholesterol.

Soluble plant fibres derived from oats, peas and other pulses are another active ingredient that must not be missing from these supplements. These fibres are able to bind to bile salts in the gut and eliminate them. Bile salts are produced in the liver from cholesterol; their elimination therefore stimulates their production, which reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In addition, other ingredients help to reduce and normalise cholesterol levels to combat potential cardiovascular diseases: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which improve the process of eliminating excess lipids; phytosterols, which reduce the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol molecules, thereby lowering cholesterol levels; and finally, berberine and polycosanols.

The best supplements for managing cholesterol

Tsunami Nutrition offers you a list of the best anti-cholesterol dietary supplements that you simply must buy. These products are based on high-quality, patented ingredients that will help you reduce your blood cholesterol levels and prevent potential cardiovascular diseases.

TN Pharma Forti-Lipid

Forti-Lipid is a dietary supplement in tablet form manufactured by TN Pharma using a unique formula based on berberine, monacolins derived from fermented red rice extract, the patented OLECOL® olive extract, astaxanthin with ASTAGILE™ Microcapsules, rice bran oil and vitamins, which help to reduce excess cholesterol in the blood.

The blend of very high-quality ingredients contained in this product helps to prevent potential cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, by reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood and preventing the formation of blockages in the arteries.

All this is made possible by the patented OLECOL® olive extract, which exerts a threefold effect on blood lipid levels: it improves the blood lipid profile, reduces glucose absorption and lowers the risk of an increase in ‘bad’ cholesterol levels.

Furthermore, Forti-Lipid’s vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free formula contains other ingredients with unique properties; let’s take a closer look at them:

• ASTAGILE™ Microcapsules: a highly innovative ingredient that combines astaxanthin with the versatility and nutritional richness of spirulina, thereby helping to increase the production of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood.
• Berberine: a plant-based substance that helps eliminate ‘bad’ cholesterol, known as LDL, by reducing cholesterol absorption in the gut and the synthesis of triglycerides.
• Monacolins: derived from the fermentation of red rice, they help to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
• Rice bran oil: promotes the breakdown of LDL cholesterol thanks to the presence of octacosanol.
• Vitamins: Forti-Lipid also contains vitamins C, B5 and folic acid, which, thanks to their antioxidant action, help to reduce cholesterol.

TN Naturals Bergamot

Bergamotto is commonly used in the manufacture of perfumes, but apart from its pleasant scent, this plant has an incredible effect on cholesterol, as it helps to lower it and maintain healthy levels in the blood.

That is why the team at TN Naturals decided to create Bergamotto, a vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free capsule supplement containing a formula based on bergamot extract and coenzyme Q10 to promote good circulation and heart health by preventing blockages caused by excess cholesterol.

Bergamot extract contains a high quantity of flavonoids with antioxidant properties that reduce levels of LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ cholesterol) whilst increasing levels of the ‘good’ cholesterol, known as HDL, thereby promoting cardiovascular health.

Tsunami Nutrition Omega Pure Professional IFOS

The team at Tsunami Nutrition has developed Omega Pure Professional IFOS, a supplement in convenient softgels made from fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to increase levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol whilst reducing LDL cholesterol.

Furthermore, this omega-3 supplement for cardiovascular health is made from high-quality raw materials. This is confirmed by the fact thatOmega Pure Professional is IFOS-certified, a distinction granted only following clinical studies and analyses of the raw materials used to manufacture the supplement.

This certification attests that the concentration of EPA and DHA in this cholesterol-lowering supplement is high and that the raw materials are of excellent freshness.

This omega-3 supplement can also be taken by people with gluten or lactose intolerance, as it is certified gluten-free and lactose-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of cholesterol-lowering dietary supplements?

For people with high cholesterol, the first step is to consult a doctor so that they can assess cardiovascular risk. Based on this assessment, the doctor will prescribe the most appropriate treatment, which, in low-risk cases, may include lifestyle changes and taking specific supplements, but always in controlled doses.

You should exercise caution when taking cholesterol supplements if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffering from any kind of disorder, problem or illness.

How long does it take for cholesterol-lowering supplements to take effect?

There is no precise, set timeframe for the effects and results of taking cholesterol-lowering supplements. This is because each person’s absorption rate varies and the body reacts differently. The ingredients in the formula also influence absorption.

In fact, some people may experience almost immediate relief, as their bodies benefit from the supplement’s action right from the start, whilst others may find that their bodies absorb the supplement’s formula more slowly. 

However, you should take the supplement for at least two or three months, as this is generally the minimum time required to start seeing significant results.

What are the recommended doses for cholesterol-lowering dietary supplements?

The daily dose of cholesterol supplements varies from one product to another, so you should read the instructions on the product packaging carefully. However, with regard to the supplements we recommend in this article, we can advise you on the correct way to use them in order to benefit from their effects on circulation:

• TN Pharma Forti-Lipid: Take 2 tablets a day with water.
• TN Naturals Bergamotto: Take 1 capsule a day
• Tsunami Nutrition Omega Pure Professional IFOS: Take four capsules a day.