Reduce LDL with These Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements

Trying to lose weight to get your cholesterol down? Excellent. Turbocharge your efforts with this combo supplement: calcium plus vitamin D.

A study suggests the two may boost the cholesterol-lowering benefits of weight loss, especially in people who don't get enough calcium.

Weight Loss with Extra Benefits
Overweight women with low calcium intakes had bigger improvements in cholesterol when they added a calcium+D supplement to their low-cal diets -- regardless of how little or how much body fat they shed. Why? It's possible that calcium helps curb the body's absorption of saturated fat, which in turn may help lower both total and LDL (bad) cholesterol. (Diet smart, not hard. Use this doctor plan that stops cravings and can help you drop 2 inches in 2 weeks.)

Kudos for Calcium
Do you routinely get enough of this mighty-good-for-you mineral? Research suggests only half of women do. Figure out where you stand with calcium by following the links below:

• Use this tool to learn how much calcium and D you need daily.
• Learn the pros and cons of getting calcium and vitamin D from milk.

Falling short? Boost your calcium intake with this collection of calcium-rich recipes from EatingWell.

Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. Major, G. C. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 Jan;85(1):54-59.