Looking for an all-natural way to help support healthy cholesterol levels? You can augment a healthy regimen of diet and exercise with herbs to support healthy levels of cholesterol. Learn more about the herbs and supplements you can use to support healthy cholesterol levels and your heart health with a list of our favorites.
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in every cell of your body, and it's essential for making hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest food. There are two main types: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), often called "bad" cholesterol, which can build up in your arteries and lead to heart problems, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as "good" cholesterol, which helps remove LDL from your bloodstream. While your body produces all the cholesterol it needs, consuming too much from fatty foods can raise your LDL levels, increasing your risk for health problems. Luckily, there are natural ways to manage cholesterol levels, including incorporating certain herbs into your diet.
Which Herbs Lower Cholesterol?
Certain herbs can play a significant role in helping to lower cholesterol levels naturally. Incorporating these herbs into your daily diet can be a simple and effective way to support healthy cholesterol levels and promote overall heart health.
Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that has been used in Asian medicine for centuries, typically mixed with other herbs. Folk medicine uses ginseng to treat a variety of ailments and support heart health. These days, ginseng root is sold in capsules and in many popular products—green teas, coffees, and even energy drinks. Some studies show that ginseng may support healthy levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and "good" HDL cholesterol1.
Artichoke leaf extract
Like ginseng, artichoke leaf extract has long been used throughout history in medicine, and one of its most popular uses is as an aid in supporting healthy cholesterol. In several clinical trials, artichoke leaf extract has shown an impact on supporting healthy levels of “bad” LDL and total cholesterol2. Researchers have struggled to replicate the most promising numbers seen in studies, but the findings are encouraging – artichoke leaf extract may play an important role in supporting healthy levels of cholesterol that’s out there on the market.
Flaxseed
Though not an herb, flaxseed is one of those wonder foods that is touted to help against many serious conditions, including heart problems. Flaxseed may support healthy cholesterol levels and overall heart health3. You can find flaxseed at the grocery store in ground form or alongside many other herbs in the supplement aisle.
Astragalus
For thousands of years, astragalus has been a staple in Chinese medicine, often combined with other herbs to combat various health problems. Its main use is to support the immune system, but as an antioxidant, it can also support heart health. People with heart health issues may use astragalus to support healthy cholesterol levels and the overall functioning of their hearts4.
Hawthorn
The hawthorn berry plant has been a part of ancient medicine across the world, including Europe, the Americas, and China. Both the berry and leaves are edible, and people can use the entire plant for its health benefits. Hawthorn has antioxidant properties similar to astragalus, which help to support the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Research suggests that hawthorn can support healthy levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (these are fats in the blood; your doctor measures your level of triglycerides when they perform a cholesterol blood test5.
References
1. Richelle M, Tavazzi I, Offord E. Comparison of the Antioxidant Activity of Commonly Consumed Polyphenolic Beverages (Coffee, Cocoa, and Tea) Prepared per Cup Serving. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2001;49(7):3438-3442. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11453788/
2. Porro C, Tarek Benameur, Cianciulli A, et al. Functional and Therapeutic Potential of Cynara scolymus in Health Benefits. Nutrients. 2024;16(6):872-872. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10974306
3. Rodriguez-Leyva D, Bassett CM, McCullough R, Pierce GN. The cardiovascular effects of flaxseed and its omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2010;26(9):489-496.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989356/
4. Wang D, Zhuang Y, Tian Y, Thomas GN, Ying M, Tomlinson B. Study of the Effects of Total Flavonoids of Astragalus on Atherosclerosis Formation and Potential Mechanisms. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2012;2012:1-10 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306992/
5. Wu M, Liu L, Xing Y, Yang S, Li H, Cao Y. Roles and Mechanisms of Hawthorn and Its Extracts on Atherosclerosis: A Review. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2020;11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047282/
* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT DISEASE.
**SIMOPOULIS 2011/P204/A, B (SIMOPOULIS AP MOL. NEUROBIOL. 2011/44:203-215)
† Supportive, but not conclusive, research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. ♦The MegaRed 3X formulation uses a self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) technology to support high absorption. Studies show that applying the SMEDDS technology to highly concentrated fish oils dramatically improves the absorption of both EPA and DHA.