High cholesterol: Drink this herbal tea for six weeks to reduce ‘bad’ LDL levels

HIGH cholesterol is a precursor to heart disease so it is imperative to keep it in check. An herbal tea has been shown to perform this function in six weeks.

Dr Chris reveals the three numbers that are ‘vital’ to know

High cholesterol means you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. There are different types of cholesterol but the two types you should care about are low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol. Why? They play a role in either reducing or raising your risk of heart disease.

LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow, thereby raising your risk of heart disease.

HDL, or "good" cholesterol, picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to your liver, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease.

Luckily, you can decrease your LDL levels and increase your HDL levels by making healthy lifestyle choices.

Diet offers the most efficient means of achieving this and there are particular items that have been shown to produce this effect.

READ MORE: How to live longer: The herbal tea that may play a role in preventing and treating cancer

Rooibos tea has been shown to reduce 'bad' levels

How to lower high cholesterol: Rooibos tea has been shown to reduce 'bad' levels (Image: Getty Images)

One is rooibos tea, also known as red tea or red bush tea, which is made using leaves from a shrub called Aspalathus linearis, usually grown on the western coast of South Africa.

In a study in 40 overweight adults at high risk of heart disease, six cups of rooibos tea daily for six weeks decreased “bad” LDL cholesterol while boosting “good” HDL cholesterol.

However, the same effect was not seen in healthy people.

The herbal tea has also shown promise at keeping other precursors of heart disease at bay.

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Drinking rooibos tea may have beneficial effects on blood pressure by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme, research suggests.

ACE indirectly increases blood pressure by causing your blood vessels to contract.

In a study in 17 people, drinking rooibos tea inhibited ACE activity 30–60 minutes after ingestion.

General tips to for lowering high cholesterol

A surefire way to reduce your cholesterol is to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat.

The herbal tea may also keep blood pressure under control, another heart disease marker

Rooibos tea: The herbal tea may also keep blood pressure under control, another heart disease marker (Image: Getty Images)

According to the NHS, foods high in saturated fat include:

  • Meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
  • Butter, lard and ghee
  • Cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
  • Cakes and biscuits
  • Food that contains coconut oil or palm oil.

As the health body points out, you can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat.

In fact, many unsaturated fats can be found in the Mediterranean diet, which has been consistently linked to heart health.

Mediterranean diet is typically high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and olive oil.

Shun saturated fats, such as cakes and biscuits

What to avoid: Shun saturated fats, such as cakes and biscuits (Image: Getty Images)

The diet also includes oily fish – such as salmon and sardines - which are linked to improved heart health.

Oily fish are particularly high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to keep your heart healthy, says the NHS.

The other effective way to reduce your cholesterol is to engage in regular exercise.

It can also help you to control your weight, reduce blood pressure and and improve your mental health - factors that offer protection against heart disease.

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