High cholesterol can lead to calcification, a process in which calcium builds up within artery walls that in time transform into hard and brittle plaque. Calcification can also likely to occur in the surrounding of the heart valve. This condition that can cause the valve to become narrow is called calcific aortic valve stenosis.

Calcification is, in fact, a progressive phase in which plague as a result of calcium deposits gets hardened and narrows the coronary arteries. The calcium plaque build up on top of cholesterol deposits and as a result worsen an already dangerous condition called atherosclerosis (the narrowing and hardening of the arteries). Whether athersclerosis is mostly the result of cholesterol build up or calcium build-up (calcification), has not been decided yet by scientists, nevertheless, the lowering of cholesterol levels can significantly reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis and the risk involved of developing heart disease or stroke as a result.

Additionally, it has been studied that if there is low amounts of plague in the arteries as a result of effectively managing cholesterol levels, the process of calcification tends to slow down. If cholesterol levels are monitored regularly and low fat and low in cholesterol diet is adapted along with regular physical activity, overall cholesterol levels will reduce, there will be no excess cholesterol to deposit within artery walls, and so calcification will slow. This is true even if one suffers from hereditary high cholesterol levels or diabetics. Controlling blood pressure can also help in preventing or significantly slowing down calcification with the arteries.

Lowering cholesterol doesn’t have to be achieved with the help of statin drugs, which are effective but come with serious side effects. The natural alternative to lowering cholesterol (diet, the intake of vitamins and minerals, regular exercise and meditation) is not less effective, safer and healthy solution to reducing high cholesterol levels and for the prevention of calcification.