Both nontreponemal tests, Rapid Plasma Reagin test (RPR) and Venereal Disease Laboratory test (VDRL), are not definitive tests for syphilis and may have a false positive result due to other medical conditions such as viral infections (measles, hepatitis), pregnancy, and some autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Crandall recommends the following steps to lower cholesterol without drugs: 1. Change your diet. A plant-based diet, which includes large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with meat substitutes like beans, lowers cholesterol naturally. 2. Take a plant sterols supplement.
Thankfully you can easily decrease your cholesterol level by making a few not-so-painful diet adjustments. High cholesterol is caused by the build up of low density lipoproteins in the walls of your arteries, according to the Mayo Clinic. Foods high in fiber and omega 3s reduce this fatty buildup. Harvard Medical School's publication, HEALTHbeat, has recently compiled a list of five foods that help lower your cholesterol.