From the Guidelines
A Mediterranean or DASH eating pattern, rich in fiber, n-3 fatty acids, and plant stanol/sterol, along with regular physical activity, is the most effective natural way to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as it improves insulin sensitivity, reduces the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and promotes healthy lipid profiles 1.
Key Components of a Healthy Diet
- A diet rich in fiber, such as oats, legumes, and citrus, can help lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar levels 1
- Increasing physical activity can improve insulin sensitivity and promote healthy cholesterol levels by increasing HDL (good) cholesterol and reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol 1
- Reducing saturated and trans fat intake, and increasing plant stanol/sterol and n-3 fatty acid intake, can also help improve lipid profiles and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease 1
Importance of Lifestyle Intervention
- Lifestyle intervention, including weight loss, increased physical activity, and medical nutrition therapy, can help reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and improve glycemic control 1
- A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle can support the natural regulatory mechanisms that maintain optimal blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality 1
Additional Considerations
- Certain foods, such as those rich in v-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, can confer cardioprotective effects beyond improving blood lipoprotein profiles 1
- Regular physical activity, such as aerobic exercise, can raise HDL levels, lower triglyceride levels, and improve insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 1
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Natural Regulation of Blood Sugar and Cholesterol
Several factors can help naturally regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels. These include:
- Physical activity: Regular exercise has been shown to improve both blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels 2
- Dietary changes: Minimizing saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, eliminating trans-fat, and increasing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and fish or other omega-3 fatty acids can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels 3
- Adhering to a Mediterranean diet: This diet has been associated with a wide range of benefits for health, including reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular outcomes, risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidaemia, and lower rates of incident diabetes 4
- Dietary composition: Understanding the effect of food on glycemic regulation and underlying metabolic derangements is essential for nutritional management of blood glucose levels 5
- Healthy dietary patterns: Certain regional diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, or constructed dietary patterns, like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) or Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets, can positively influence health and promote the prevention of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 6
Key Foods and Nutrients
Some key foods and nutrients that can help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Seeds and nuts
- Low-fat dairy
- Fish or other omega-3 fatty acids
- Healthy fats, such as those found in the Mediterranean diet
Lifestyle Changes
In addition to dietary changes, lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can also help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels 2, 5