Reducing cholesterol can make a significant difference to your cardiovascular health. If you are concerned about what elevated blood levels could mean for you, there is important information you need to know.

You may be aware that there are two common forms of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good because it travels around in the bloodstream picking up excess cholesterol and transporting it to the liver for reprocessing, whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the "bad guy," contributing to plaque build-up, blockages, and potentially fatal consequences.

Your body produces three to four times more cholesterol than you eat.

Many people wonder how to lower cholesterol. Are drugs the answer? Statin drugs work by blocking the action of an enzyme in the liver, thereby decreasing production of cholesterol.

However, reducing cholesterol via use of a statin drug can be risky. A drug can force your levels down to potentially dangerous levels. Artificially induced low levels can interfere with critical bodily functioning.

Cholesterol is an essential precursor to your hormonal cascade (particularly your sex hormones) and is important to brain health; conversely, excessively low levels can weaken your immune system. It can be seen, then, why it is important to balance the "good" against the "bad."

If you are wondering how to lower cholesterol safely, there are a number of natural substances that can normalize and bring levels into desired ranges. Plant-derived compounds can be as effective as statin drugs but without unwanted side effects and depletion of the body's CoQ10 reserves.

One substance, derived from beeswax and sugar cane has eclipsed a statin drug in trials. Policosanol can be effective in reducing cholesterol, significantly lowering LDL while increasing heart-friendly HDL. Policosanol inhibits hepatic cholesterol synthesis.

Green tea is another substance that contains catechins. These reduce proliferation of vascular smooth muscle that occurs with high concentrations of LDL. Indeed, flavonoids found in green tea may reduce lipoprotein oxidation. In considering how to lower cholesterol, drinking green tea not only makes for an enjoyable change from other beverages but is also a wise choice because of the many health benefits it provides.

D-limonene is a compound found in orange peel oil. It is a natural solvent that successfully dissolves cholesterol gallstones. In reducing cholesterol, it acts in a manner similar to tocotrienols. Tocotrienols are found in oryzanol rice bran oil and these reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Lowest fat foods of all are vegetables, fruits, grains (rice, barley and pasta), beans and legumes. Try substituting some of these for meat and high fat dairy products. Don't douse your pasta with butter or your potato with sour cream. Use tomato base sauces instead of cream base. Use lemon juice, low sodium soy sauce or herbs to season vegetables. Make chili with extra beans and seasonings while leaving out the meat.

It can be seen then, when considering how to lower cholesterol, that natural substances offer tangible benefits.

Reducing cholesterol can be accomplished safely and with minimal risk using plant-derived compounds that decrease circulating blood fats and prevent cholesterol from hardening in your arteries.

In uncovering answers about how to lower cholesterol, it has been clinically demonstrated that natural substances can reduce production, while increasing excretion of bile acids, which carry cholesterol.

It is always important to consult a qualified health professional before embarking on any program or using any substance, when you are adjusting or reducing cholesterol levels.

There are many natural supplements available that can help fight high cholesterol. They include: guggul, pantethine, fish oil, and garlic among others.