Taking statin drugs is an effective way to reduce cholesterol, but it does have a price attached to it: serious and sometimes permanent side effects. This is why dietary changes and lifestyle changes are a far better natural alternative to reduce cholesterol effectively and safely.

A recent study conducted by Professor David Jenkins from the University of Toronto, shows that lowering cholesterol foods and the right combination of lowering cholesterol foods can reduce cholesterol naturally, safely, just as effectively as statin drugs, that works for the long run, making dietary changes a better long-term alternative method to lower cholesterol. The reason why changes to your diet often have a more long-tern effect than statin drugs is that most patients who take lowering cholesterol drugs seem to believe that the pill is so effective it can work by its own to reduce cholesterol without the need to combine the drug with other lifestyle changes.

Fifty-five participants in the Toronto University study were placed on a seven-day low cholesterol diet containing foods specifically known for their ability to reduce cholesterol for more than a year. After following this low cholesterol diet for 12 months, more than one third of the participants had lowered their overall cholesterol by 20 percent. This is usually the result when patients take statin drugs to reduce cholesterol. The only different is that dietary changes have no side effects but clear benefits.

The transition to a low cholesterol dietary regime was easier for the participants when it was gradually introduced into their daily routine. When the change was drastic, especially if the participants were used very few of these lowering cholesterol foods, most of the participants had found it very difficult to adopt the dietary change to reduce cholesterol.

Consistency in eating lowering cholesterol foods, especially fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy fats and proteins had showed the greatest benefits for the participants, in reducing their overall cholesterol levels. The main conclusion from the study was that dietary changes, even if introduced gradually, can be highly effective in reducing cholesterol levels and improving overall health, naturally and without side effects.