High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases in the UK, which occurs when an excess of cholesterol, a type of fatty-lipid substance, accumulates in the arteries. This accumulation leads to hypertension and high blood pressure, heightening the risk of heart attacks or strokes significantly.

Maintaining low cholesterol levels is crucial for preventing harmful cardiovascular incidents, but some remedies exist for those with high cholesterol levels. Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine examined how an everyday herb, garlic (sold for 24p at Sainsbury’s), affects cholesterol management.

A meta-analysis examines pooled data from multiple independent studies addressing the same issue, aiming to identify consistent outcomes across research findings, reports the Express.

The university’s scrutiny revealed that “the effects of garlic intake on lowering total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein are more noticeable with lower dosage and longer duration, especially in patients with cardiovascular disease”.

From analysing 22 different studies, it was determined that garlic effectively reduces overall cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of two main types of cholesterol, the other being high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Each has distinctive effects on health.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is crucial for maintaining overall health, whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) accumulates as plaque within arteries, leading to increased blood pressure.

Therefore, it is paramount for health to maintain a higher level of “good” cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the “bad” cholesterol (LDL).

Regular exercise, smoking cessation, and moderate alcohol intake are key lifestyle changes that help manage cholesterol levels effectively. A healthy lifestyle is also pivotal to warrant noticeable results from consuming cholesterol-fighting foods like garlic.

Should lifestyle measures prove insufficient, healthcare professionals may prescribe statins as a next step. Statins are specifically formulated to decrease the amount of cholesterol the liver produces.

Typically, once an individual commences a statin regimen, it becomes a lifelong commitment. Depending on the severity of their condition, patients have access to a range of different statins.

However, they don’t come without side effects. The potential ramifications for statin users include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, flatulence, myalgia, and insomnia.