The discovery of the link between high cholesterol and heart disease or strokes is probably one of the greatest breakthroughs in medical science of the past century. If only more people would become aware or their cholesterol level and act decisively if it is too high. There would then be a major reduction in the incidence of these diseases. And lets not forget that the above two conditions are highly prevalent and a major cause of death and disability in the western world.

After having your cholesterol level checked you might well discover that it's too high. Don't become too alarmed by this, as a high level is in fact, quite common in the western world. Fatty diet and a lack of exercise are an obvious cause, but in some cases where the level is extremely high, a genetic factor has to be taken into account. If your level is in fact extremely elevated, then medication and a low fat diet are the only answer. If however your level is only slightly higher than normal (and this accounts for the majority of cases) then natural cures for high cholesterol are of real benefit.

Do natural cures for high cholesterol actually exist? Well believe it or not, some of these remedies have been around since the dawn of history and are readily available. Perhaps the most famous one is our old friend garlic. Garlic as an ingredient for cooking is of course well known but its many medicinal properties are also legendary. Not only is it a natural antibiotic but also its benefit to the heart and circulation has been backed up by modern scientific research. You don?t have to chew on raw garlic as the cowboys did; odorless garlic capsules are readily available at your local drug store.

Raw nuts have also been found to be of benefit. Wall nuts are particularly good and the quantity you need to be of benefit, is only eight half nuts (they are sold in halves) a day. Recently, a huge breakthrough has been made in terms of natural cures for high cholesterol with the discovery of plant sterols. These are a type of plant hormone and yes, plants have them too, which have been found to have a dramatic effect on cholesterol levels. Just less than two grams of sterols a day can reduce your cholesterol level by as much as ten per cent. And the product is now available in handy yogurt drinks and spreads.