What do you use to lower cholesterol without statins?

I take both red rice yeast capsules and a product called Cholestpure, as per my integrative onc's recommendations. I have a diet very similar to yours-- in my case, I suspect elevated cholesterol levels are hereditary (mother has high cholesterol.). The combination of these 2 supplements brought my total level down to 190 from 240. No side effects at all.

I take both red rice yeast capsules and a product called Cholestpure, as per my integrative onc's recommendations. I have a diet very similar to yours-- in my case, I suspect elevated cholesterol levels are hereditary (mother has high cholesterol.). The combination of these 2 supplements brought my total level down to 190 from 240. No side effects at all.

a friend of mine on WW has recently been successful with help from a nuitritionist, she had horrible SE from all the statins but this is working for her.  Maybe you could try that?  Her diet is lo card, lots of protein and small meals many times.  Me I take lipitor to keep mine in line but sure hoping when I end the dang AL that things will be better

Lots of good suggestions!  I'm afraid of statins too.  A doc I trust told me the lowest dose is usually safe.  I was planning on that, with CoQ10, when I was diagnosed.

Berberine, which stabilizes and reduces blood sugar levels, may also lower cholesterol.  My naturopath has me taking this.

Niacin is supposed to boost HDL while reducing LDL.  I'm taking Slo Niacin with food and still flushing sometimes.  Need to increase my dosage before next year's blood test but I hate the flushing.

Hypothyroidism, even slight, increases cholesterol.  My endocrinologist is sure I'm overmedicated but I now feel halfway decent and my cholesterol levels are good so I'm not going to back down.

Niacin is effective in lowering cholesteral, BUT, it can have same effect as statins, causing a rise in blood glucose.

CO Q 10, extra virgin olive oil, raw almonds, good quality Nordic Natural Fish oil, no red met, no butter, light dairy, fruit, veggies, lean chicken, fish.  NO JUNK FOOD - which is easy if you're gluten free, which is what also kept me pain free during my 5 years on Arimidex.  Still gluten free just cuz I feel so much better this way.

All the AI's raise cholesteral, I'm curious to see what my levels will be this year now that I've finished Arimidex.

Mine had dropped 20 points after just being off for 2 months, so I am curious to see if the trend continues down. I have to get back to my oatmeal, which I ate religiously until this summer when I was doing too much vacation eating!

Great thread. I had taken a class called "Nutrition for Disease Prevention." I can't find my notes right now but I remember they recommended increasing soluble fiber to reduce bad cholesterol. (oatmeal is one option but there are many others, if you like to mix it up). Here's the Mayo Clinic's opinion:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002

Red yeast rice does work but can also cause some of the liver problems, etc. that statins do.

Intermittent fasting for 2 months dropped my cholesterol 20 points. You basically eat only 600 calories 2 days a week, normal eating the rest of the time.

I do the first 4 on the Mayo Clinic list as well. In general, it is important to get lots and lots of fibre. It can also help get rid of stray estrogen, will keep your colon healthy etc. I eat a no-sugar muesli with whole grains, nuts etc for breakfast, then loads of veggies and salads and beans/lentils.

Intermitant fasting....metamucil.

Additionally, if you can't do the fasting, you can also do two days (your pick) of eating high protein, low fat meals and less than 50 g of carbs (make them complex). Interestingly, high protein DOES NOT raise cholesterol done this way and in fact, lowers it. If you can have a large breakfast, medium lunch and small supper helps too.

I replaced all white flour with whole grains for bread and pasta and replaced white rice with brown rice. I try to get 1 -2 Tbsp of olive oil a day into my diet and have eliminated most dairy. I still eat organic greek yogurt. That combined with exercise reduced my cholesterol over 40 points even though I had an oophorectomy and started Arimidex.

Golden, thanks for the link. It looks like the stanols lower LDL. In my case, the HDL is a lot higher than the LDL, so to lower my cholesterol, I would have to lower the "good" cholesterol somehow. I wonder if that is even possible or advisable.

I take Slo-Niacin, but I do get the flushing unless I take my 81mg aspirin at least one hour before the niacin. I have no flushing at all when I do that. I cannot take statins. They cause significant pain in my upper arms. The niacin works well for me.

momine - you and I are in the same boat - my good cholesterol is driving my total number high, but my primary care doc is watching me as I came of Lipitor about 6 months ago.  I am having a lipid panel every 90 days and so far I am holding my own.  I took a tapering dose, ending with 10mg.  They said if I maintained on 10mg I could come off. 

As far as diet I try to follow a low-glycemic index diet, with high-fiber organic fruits and veggies.  I do eat lean grass-fed meats, and free-range chicken and eat pasture-raised chicken eggs.  I have tried to cut out dairy as I am not that comfortable eating things from a lactating animal, but I do eat a bit of non-fat Greek yogurt now and then.  I am trying to avoid gluten since there seems to be a link to inflammation and my joints hurt enough from the AIs.  I think most of this has contributed to lowering my cholesterol enough to come off the statin even though I think some of my issue was also genetic.  I ate a fairly healthy low-fat diet prior to BC because I had reflux surgery in '95 and I can't tolerate high-fat food.  I naturally gravitate to fruits and vegetables and grew up eating them.  I am not much of a sweet eater and gave up soda a long time ago, and I don't drink (also because of the reflux surgery - it gives me a stomach ache) - I have no probably resisting dessert, and usually only partake on birthdays or special occasions.  Dessert for me as a child was fruit so I still have that.  Interesting about the low-dose aspirin and the slo-niacin.  I have esophageal pain with daily 81mg aspirin (again, the reflux surgery) so I take it every other day.