High Cholesterol – Natural Treatments in Guelph
Heart disease is the leading cause of death around the world, and therefore, we should all take good care of our cardiovascular systems, especially as we get older. Many patients want to know if they should take cholesterol drugs; the answer is “It depends.” Although statin medications are effective at lowering cholesterol and the associated risk of heart attack, not everyone requires drugs. Deciding whether to take a statin or not should be made based on your risk of having a heart attack.
High cholesterol is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s crucial to also assess other risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, inflammation, genetics, smoking, and family history. At Guelph Naturopathic Medical Clinic, our team of naturopathic doctors is dedicated to naturally lowering cholesterol. We guide our patients in interpreting their lab results and calculating their 10-year heart attack risk, helping them decide if medication is necessary. After starting treatment, we recommend follow-up blood work in 4-6 months to ensure our approach is effective for you.
Our Approach
Cholesterol levels usually improve with diet and lifestyle modification alone. In some cases, nutritional supplements may be helpful to improve cholesterol. Even if you still require medication, you should make healthy changes to lower your heart disease risk. At Guelph Naturopathic Medical Clinic, we have over 20 years of experience lowering cholesterol naturally using the following approach:
- Weight Loss – Maintaining proper weight is vital to have a healthy cardiovascular system. Losing weight is an effective strategy for many people to improve cholesterol levels. We recommend weight loss strategies that promote health and are sustainable in the long term.
- Exercise – Regular exercise can help improve your cholesterol. We will encourage you to maintain your healthy exercise routine and keep you accountable.
- Heart Healthy Diet – A heart-healthy diet is critical to maintaining normal cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and reducing inflammation. We explain what foods to eat and provide heart-healthy recipes to help lower cholesterol.
- Stress Management. We all experience stress occasionally, but high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can raise cholesterol. We can recommend different techniques and supplements to help you manage your stress.
- Nutrient deficiencies – Many different nutrients can help lower cholesterol. Ideally, we want to obtain these from our diets; sometimes, supplementing with specific nutrients may be required, especially if you take certain medications that cause depletion. We can help evaluate your needs to determine if supplementation is warranted.
- Herbal medicine – Medicinal plants have long been used to treat heart disease. Research studies confirm the cholesterol-lowering effects of a variety of herbs. Although herbs are generally safe, some can have side effects or interact with your medications. We are very knowledgeable in herbal medicine and can advise you on what is best for you.
We can help you with your high cholesterol in Guelph.
Dr. Matt Gowan is a naturopath in Guelph with over 20 years of clinical experience. He has a special interest in heart disease, diabetes, weight loss and digestive issues. In addition to being a naturopathic doctor, he is a professor, author, and researcher.
Disclaimer: This content is subject to change. The information is intended to inform and educate; it does not replace the medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. © 2024 Guelph Naturopathic Medical Clinic. All rights reserved.