Hyperlipidemia means your blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides. One type of hyperlipidemia , hypercholesterolemia, means there’s too much LDL (bad) cholesterol in your blood. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries and the risk of blockages.
How to treat and manage hyperlipidemia at home?
- Lifestyle changes are the key to managing hyperlipidemia at home. Even if your hyperlipidemia is inherited (familial combined hyperlipidemia), lifestyle changes are still an essential part of treatment. These changes alone may be enough to reduce your risk of complications like heart disease and stroke. If you’re already taking medications, lifestyle changes can improve their cholesterol-lowering effects.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Making changes to your diet can lower your “bad” cholesterol levels and increase your “good” cholesterol levels. Here are a few changes you can make:
- Choose healthy fats. Avoid saturated fats that are found primarily in red meat, bacon, sausage, and full-fat dairy products. Choose lean proteins like chicken, turkey, and fish when possible. Switch to low-fat or fat-free dairy. And use monounsaturated fats like olive and canola oil for cooking.
- Cut out the trans fats. Trans fats are found in fried food and processed foods, like cookies, crackers, and other snacks. Check the ingredients on product labels. Skip any product that lists “partially hydrogenated oil.”
- Eat more omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids have many heart benefits. You can find them in some types of fish, including salmon, mackerel, and herring. They can also be found in some nuts and seeds, like walnuts and flax seeds.
- Increase your fiber intake. All fiber is heart-healthy, but soluble fiber, which is found in oats, brain, fruits, beans, and vegetables, can lower your LDL cholesterol levels.
- Learn heart-healthy recipes.
- Eat more fruits and veggies. They’re high in fiber and vitamins and low in saturated fat.
