Natural ways to feel great

Simple tricks to lower cholesterol|Bye-bye, sugar cravings!|Speedy relief from the stomach flu

- Melissa Gotthardt, Ann Green & Alex Fulton

Simple tricks to lower cholesterol

Good news! Keeping levels of LDL ('bad') cholesterol below 100 mg/dl lowers the risk of heart disease by 48% and stroke by 68%. And while research reveals hormonal changes that occur after menopause increase the odds of high LDL by 81%, the following natural strategies make lowering easy without meds

Enjoy oatmeal this way 

Stir diced apples and cinnamon into your morning oatmeal or spoon up apple crisp. The fruit's polyphenols curb inflammation that causes LDL to climb. That's why an Ohio State University study found that eating an apple a day cuts LDL by 40%. And cinnamon's cinnemaldybyde smooths blood-sugar spikes that trigger LDL elevations. In an Annals of Family Medicine study, eating ½ tsp. of cinnamon daily lowered LDL by nearly 10 points in 18 weeks!

Swap in sesame oil 

Nutty-tasting sesame oil tastes great in chicken, veggie and noodle dishes. Plus, it lowers LDL levels by 600% more than olive oil does. So say researchers reporting in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, who found the benefits after comparing folks who enjoyed 4 Tbs. of either oil daily. Sesame's sesamin blocks absorption of LDL in the intestines.

Reorganize your fridge

Or refill your bird feeders! These little bursts of exercise activate enzymes that lower LDL by converting it into "good" HDL cholesterol. In fact, Australian scientists found that folks who got 15 to 20 minutes of exercise daily had LDL levels 25% lower than their less-active counterparts. You can also hit your daily exercise target by heading up and down the stairs or marching in place while waiting for the teakettle to boil.

Take a 'royal' supplement