Advancement of science and technology has made the life of modern men quite comfortable. While it has eased several things, the changing lifestyle has also caused different adverse effects on humans. Health problems like diabetes, irregular blood pressure, thyroid and even cholesterol are often attributed to the modern lifestyle. Though irregularity in blood sugar or pressure is often easily diagnosed, cholesterol often remains unchecked and leads to severe health threats. If you too are suffering from high cholesterol level and looking for foods to reduce the problem, you can certainly consider taking supplements. Before taking any of the supplements, you need to gain some knowledge about them.

A list of cholesterol-lowering supplements has been provided below for your guidance.

Barley – One of the easily available diet supplement, barley can help in lowering LDL level of your body without leaving any side-effect on your health. Rich in fiber, barley is also a good choice for people with digestive problems. Before including barley in your diet, you need to know the required portion for yourself.

Artichoke leaves- Quite popular as Cynara Scolymus, dried artichoke leaves can be one of the best choices for dietary supplements to lower cholesterol level. It not just reduces the bad cholesterol or LDL, but it cuts down the total cholesterol level of the body. However, people who are allergic to ragweed may not find artichoke leaves to be a suitable option as it often causes a reaction.

Fish oil- Depending on your preference, you can directly consume fish oil in liquid form or as a tablet. Consuming fish oil every day can help in reducing the triglyceride level of your body. However, some people may not like the after effects like a fishy smell or foul smell from the mouth. Nausea and vomiting are also sometimes experienced as an adverse effect on fish oil consumption. People taking blood thinning medications like warfarin may get an adverse effect after fish oil consumption and consulting a doctor is recommended in this regard.

Niacin- When you are looking for simple and effective solutions for reducing blood cholesterol level, niacin can be your best choice. Studies have proven the fact that niacin not only controls the blood cholesterol level but also improves the good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein level of the body. Though this does not cause any side-effect on health, some may experience nausea, vomiting, flushing, itching or a headache.

Ground flaxseed- Easily available in stores, ground flaxseed, can help in regulating the triglycerides level of your body. However, people under blood thinning medication may not find it as a suitable option as it interferes with these medicines. Apart from that, people may initially get diarrhea, gas or stomach bloating.

Plant stanols- If you are looking for oral supplements in the form of pills, plant stanols can be a good choice. It keeps a check on the overall cholesterol level of the body, especially the LDL cholesterol. Plant stanols seldom have any adverse effect on health. However, some people may get diarrhea.

Oats found in whole oats or oatmeal – Oats is often considered one of the healthiest choices for breakfast. It not only keeps the stomach full but also reduces the cholesterol level of the body. Research has proven the positive impact oats make in cutting down the LDL level of your body. However, some may experience stomach bloating, diarrhea, vomiting or gas problems in the first few days. In most of the cases, the complaints are resolved in a week. People taking cholesterol-reducing medicines may not find it a very useful option.

Whey protein – If you are not much interested in the above-mentioned supplements, you can always give a try to the whey proteins. These are known for curbing down the LDL level as well as the total cholesterol level of the body. The best part is, it does not interfere with any medication and can be consumed by all. Some may initially get common side-effects like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Soya protein- Last but not the least, you can always consider soya protein, when you are looking for supplements to reduce cholesterol level. Apart from regulating the triglyceride level and LDL cholesterol, it keeps a complete check on the cholesterol level of your body. However, it might not be preferred by people with bowel problems as it may cause diarrhea or constipation. Vomiting and nausea may also be experienced by some.

Though all the diet supplements are easy to use and offer health benefits, one must note their side-effects as well. Also, it is recommended to consult a nutritionist or a doctor before taking any of the supplements, as they can suggest you the right option. Diet supplements can certainly help you in curbing the cholesterol increase, yet it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle.