You should achieve your daily nutrient intake by incorporating plant-based nutritional supplements into your diet. It helps to know that the quickest and more accurate way to realize the full benefits of plant-based supplements is to follow a healthy diet.

Mixing your vegan supplements with a diet that includes animal products may not give you the best results, as some animal-based foods–like red meat, butter, cream, and whole milk–have saturated fat that can increase your total cholesterol.

Several plant-based supplements, like omega-3, soluble fiber, and sterols and stanols can help you lower your cholesterol.

 

Common Vegan Supplements to Lower Cholesterol

High cholesterol increases the risk of heart complications like stroke, heart attack, and coronary heart disease. Supplementing your daily meals with the right nutrients will help you keep your cholesterol levels down.

Here are some of the main plant-based supplements you should consider:

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber absorbs water as it travels down the digestive tract and turns into a greasy paste, slowing down digestion. It comes from a wide variety of food items, including fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.

This type of fiber binds itself to the cholesterol in your digestive tract and eliminates it from your body when you pass stool.

Sterols and Stanols

Sterols and stanols are plant compounds that occur naturally and mimic cholesterol. They trick your digestive system into believing it has absorbed enough cholesterol from food.

Taking a few grams of these plant compounds every day may help lower your total cholesterol, especially your bad cholesterol. Sterols and stanols are found in many plant-based ingredients, including nuts, vegetables, seeds, fruits, and legumes.

Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids help lower blood triglycerides–the fat in your bloodstream that is converted into energy when your body needs additional energy. Triglycerides come from the extra calories you consume.

Small doses of omega-3 fatty acids daily can reduce the secretion of triglycerides from your liver by providing your body with enough fatty acids needed for oxidation (breaking fatty acids down to generate energy). This reduces the amount of unused fat in your bloodstream, thus bringing your cholesterol levels down. However, experts warn consumers against taking unregulated omega-3 fatty acids supplements to avoid complications.

Vitamin B3

Commonly referred to as ‘niacin,’ vitamin B3 enables your body to convert food into usable energy. It also contributes significantly to keeping your skin, digestive system, and nervous system in good condition.

This vitamin prevents your liver from producing excess triglycerides that are likely to cause your cholesterol levels to rise. Niacin also helps increase good cholesterol–high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to counter the bad cholesterol.

Niacin can be found in a wide range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. However, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions when consuming this supplement to avoid possible side effects.

Red Yeast Rice

Also referred to as ‘red rice koji,’ red yeast rice is a product of fermented rice. This rice is fermented with a special type of yeast known as ‘monascus purpureus.’ This process enables the rice to acquire essential chemicals like ‘monacolin K,’ which affects cholesterol levels. Monacolin K is the same as a statin drug, which can lower cholesterol levels and other types of fats in your blood.

 

Closing Thoughts

These plant-based supplements can potentially lower your cholesterol levels, especially when they’re combined with a healthy diet and consistent physical activity. For reliable nutrition essentials and vegan supplements, including the best beet supplement for blood pressure, explore the Sur website today!