Looking for a natural alternative to keep your cholesterol in check, but overwhelmed with the vast array of options available in the market? We've got you covered! Our team has done the legwork for you by rigorously testing and reviewing the top cholesterol supplements of 2024.
We went above and beyond by comparing the big players in the industry against lesser-known companies to uncover the real contenders. The results are in, and they might just surprise you. We discovered that pricey supplements don't always guarantee better outcomes, and that the best choice for your health and wallet may come from an unexpected source.
Our winner outshone the rest in terms of ingredient safety, projected effectiveness, value, and customer satisfaction.
Check out our comprehensive list of Top 3 Picks:
PROS | CONS |
✅ Potent formulation with 250mg of industry-leading Curcugen™ turmeric extract | ❌ Only available online |
✅ Contains complementary ingredients such as BioPerine® and also Ginseng extract | ❌ Regularly out of stock due to high demand |
✅ Made in an FDA and HACCP certified facility in Taiwan | |
✅ No unnecessary additives or fillers | |
✅ 30-day risk free satisfaction guarantee | |
✅ Highly rated for customer experience | |
✅ Free express delivery on all local orders | |
PROS | CONS |
✅ Contains 500mg of industry standard turmeric extract | ❌ Does not use premium turmeric extract |
✅ No unnecessary additives and fillers | ❌ Pills have less bioavailability than liquids |
✅ Widely available both online and offline | ❌ No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine® |
✅ Vegetarian, gluten and yeast free | ❌ Divisive feedback from some consumers |
PROS | CONS |
✅ House brand of a reputable medical provider | ❌ Low amount of turmeric extract - 50mg |
✅ Affordable option | ❌ Pills have less bioavailability than liquids |
✅ Widely available online | ❌ No presence of complementary ingredients, especially BioPerine® |
✅ No added starch | |
✅ Manufactured in USA | |
BEST OVERALL CHOLESTEROL MANAGEMENT
ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Made with ingredients you can pronounce
MADE WITH TURMERIC & GINSENG
Supports Immune Function, Heart Health, Energy
NON-GMO & PRESERVATIVES-FREE
Free of soy, dairy, gluten, and vegan-friendly
We Bought & Tested The Best Cholesterol Management, Here’s Why This Is Our #1 Pick
As you get older, it becomes more and more important to pay attention to your cholesterol levels as they tend to increase with age. High cholesterol levels increase your risk of getting coronary heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. One relatively easy way to combat high cholesterol levels is by making some changes to your diet and consuming foods and supplements that have been shown to be beneficial in managing high cholesterol levels. But first, let’s go through a brief primer on cholesterol and what it does to your body.
HDL vs. LDL Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a compound that is not entirely harmful—it is needed in the formation of healthy cells. But not all cholesterol is the same. There are two main types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In your body, cholesterol is carried inside lipoproteins. HDL is generally thought of as “good” cholesterol because it absorbs and transports cholesterol to your liver to be removed from your bloodstream before excess cholesterol can build up in your arteries. In other words, HDL helps to get rid of excess cholesterol. LDL, on the other hand, is considered “bad” cholesterol because it carries cholesterol directly to your arteries, where it may accumulate on the walls of your blood vessels. This build-up of plaque (i.e. atherosclerosis) causes your blood vessels to narrow, hinders blood-flow to and from your heart and other organs in your body, and increases the risk of blood clots. This blocking of blood-flow in your arteries can lead to many health problems—heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.
With this in mind, the higher your HDL levels, the better; and the lower your LDL levels, the better.
HDL levels for women should be at least higher than 55 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and 45 mg/dL for men. LDL levels for men and women should be no more than 130 mg/dL if you don’t have any underlying heart conditions or diabetes. If you do have these conditions, your LDL level should be no more than 100 mg/dL.
However, after menopause, women’s LDL levels tend to increase while their HDL levels decrease. Other lifestyle factors that can contribute to an increase in LDL and total cholesterol levels include: a lack of regular exercise, smoking, a diet high in saturated and trans fats (saturated fats instruct the liver to produce more LDL cholesterol), and excessive consumption of processed foods.
There are some basic lifestyle changes you can make to manage your cholesterol levels:
If you’re a smoker, stop smoking. Smoking lowers HDL levels and is also harmful for your blood vessels, which makes them even more vulnerable to plaque build-up.
Exercise regularly—at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthy diet and limit your consumption of the following: full-fat dairy products (these are rich in saturated fats), red meat, processed food, fried food (these contain high levels of trans fats, which increase LDL levels) and other foods that contain high amounts of saturated vegetable oils.
Introduce some key ingredients—such as ginseng and turmeric—into your diet that can be helpful in managing high LDL cholesterol levels. The rest of this article will focus on exploring dietary changes that can help reduce LDL and total cholesterol levels.
What Are Supplements?
Supplements can be any kind of vitamin, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and amino acids that you can eat or drink. They come in various forms such as:
Pills
Powders
Tablets
Capsules
Liquids
The main function of supplements is to supplement one’s existing nutrition. While vitamins and tablets can help one’s health, they are not meant to take the place of a healthy and nutritious diet and lifestyle.
That being said, taking the right supplements with a nutritious and well balanced diet can provide a host of health benefits.
Foods and Supplements to Manage High Cholesterol Levels
Garlic
It may leave you with pungent breath, but eating garlic is an inexpensive way to combat high cholesterol levels. Studies found that consumption of raw garlic can decrease total and LDL cholesterol levels—half to one clove of garlic per day lowers cholesterol levels approximately 10%, while a 2016 review of studies on garlic found that garlic can reduce total cholesterol by up to 30 mg/dL. Garlic is quite a versatile culinary ingredient: you can chop up raw garlic and add it to salads, or simmer it in olive oil and use this as a dressing, spread, or dip. Of course, eating garlic alone won’t be enough to fully reduce your cholesterol levels, so be sure to adopt other measures in conjunction.
Soy Products
Soybeans and foods made from them (like tofu and soy milk) can help to lower LDL cholesterol—25 grams of soy protein (equivalent to around 2.5 cups of soy milk) per day can lower LDL cholesterol by 5% - 6%. This is a relatively small reduction, so it’s obviously not going to be sufficiently effective in preventing cardiovascular disease by itself.
Beans, Oats, and other foods rich in soluble fiber
Beans and oats are examples of foods that are especially rich in soluble fiber. Foods that are rich in soluble fiber are effective in lowering LDL levels because soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in the digestive system and removes it from the body before the cholesterol gets into circulation. You should aim to consume at least 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber per day.
Ginseng
Ginseng has been documented to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. A study conducted on postmenopausal women showed that ginseng has the beneficial effect of markedly decreasing LDL cholesterol levels and thereby helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women; while another study found that the consistent consumption of ginseng root powder lowered LDL cholesterol levels. More generally, ginseng has been shown to have anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Apart from its cardiovascular benefits, ginseng has long been recognized for its ability to boost the immune system and fortify the body.
Turmeric (Curcumin)
Turmeric, that vibrant yellow spice that is often found in Southern Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, has long been used as a traditional treatment for inflammation and infections, but it also has cardiovascular-protective effects. Turmeric contains an active compound, curcumin, that has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol levels—one study concluded that curcumin can be used as a more natural alternative to conventional drugs for protecting against cardiovascular disease. More specifically, another study determined that turmeric extracts lowered LDL cholesterol levels and also prevented LDL from being oxidized—a key prevention because the oxidation of LDL is crucial to the development of atherosclerosis.
In addition to turmeric’s benefits for cardiovascular health, studies have suggested that turmeric also has anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects.
Black Pepper (Piperine)
Black pepper contains a key bioactive compound called “piperine” that has been linked to better heart health and better management of cholesterol levels. Its cholesterol-lowering effects have been examined in a number of studies: One study found that piperine reduces cholesterol uptake by internalizing cholesterol transporter proteins, while in another study, the ingestion of a black pepper extract over 42 days was linked to a substantial decrease in blood cholesterol levels, including LDL cholesterol.
It’s obviously going to be tricky and rather impractical to consume sufficient quantities of black pepper every single day, and to keep track of how much you are consuming so that you know you are consuming enough piperine for it to have a significant effect on your cardiovascular health. Instead of dousing your food with black pepper, your best option is to look for a highly-concentrated piperine extract. One of the most established piperine extracts is BioPerine, which offers the benefits of piperine in a more bioavailable and highly concentrated formulation (bioavailability being the proportion of the compound that is able to enter circulation and have an active effect on your body).
Medical Disclaimer: The contents of this site, its articles within, and the information provided on the website are explicitly based on publicly available research papers and articles, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. We strongly advise our readers to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
Comments