A high cholesterol level can be harmful in the long run. Also known as hypercholesterolemia, it is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
They do not know that our body needs cholesterol because it is needed in optimal quantities. Because you need to be aware of the good and bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. With our lifestyles and eating habits, the abnormal spikes in bad cholesterol can really damage blood vessels and overall heart health, so it’s important to get this situation under control as soon as possible.
If you’ve had a test for your lipid profile and find that your bad cholesterol levels are well above the stated limits, your doctor may prescribe medication for you. There would also be instructions from him to follow a heart-friendly diet and engage in some form of physical activity.
The necessary lifestyle changes will surely help you. But do you know that there are certain herbs and recipes in Ayurveda that can also help lower the cholesterol level in the most natural way possible? These herbs have minimal side effects. So they are safe to use.
Some tips and home remedies you can follow to lower your cholesterol levels
You need to avoid fried and fatty foods and increase your fiber intake. These can be taken in the form of fruits, beans, fruits, flax and oats, etc. Eating more plant-based foods also helps in lowering LDL levels. You should also stay away from saturated fats like lard, butter, hard cheese, cream, ice cream, beef, pork, skin-on poultry, palm oil, and coconut oil.
It turns out that obese people are much more likely to store bad cholesterol in their bodies. Losing just a few pounds, which is 5-10% by weight, improves the condition significantly. With weight loss, the level of LDL in the blood decreases.
- Increasing physical activity
Exercise or any form of physical activity helps lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Avoid processed foods and added sugar
Eating processed foods, junk foods, and added sugar is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and related risk factors like high LDL (bad) cholesterol. You will need to change your diet and eat freshly made home cooking with less processed oils.
Ayurveda’s view of high cholesterol
In Ayurveda, an imbalance in cholesterol is caused by an imbalance in the digestive, assimilation and excretion processes. The production of cholesterol does not necessarily have to be reduced, but it does need to be balanced. It is said that when the digestive process is balanced, the body produces the optimal amount of cholesterol that the body needs.
The imbalances in Meda Dhatu lead to the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the body. So Meda Dhatu must be in balance.
Also, we cannot ignore the liver’s role in treating cholesterol, since the liver not only produces cholesterol but is also part of the digestive system.
The liver does the main test of toxins before they can get into the bloodstream. It should be noted that if the liver is overloaded with toxins (Ama), the 13 types of digestive fires (Agni) are also disturbed.
In conclusion, the mixing of Ama with adipose tissue is the main cause of imbalanced cholesterol levels and the imbalance in liver function results in the deterioration in the quality and purity of adipose tissue.
Some herbs are potentially powerful in balancing the Medha Dhatu. The most commonly used herbs are garlic, guggul (Commiphora mukul) and Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna).
Other herbs that have shown significant benefits include turmeric, ginger, shilajit, licorice, pushkarmool (Inula racemosa), Cyperus rotundus, Tribulus terrestris,punarnava (Boerhaavia diffuse), Nigella sativa, Garcinia, Triphala and),Terminalia chebula (haritaki),Emblica officinalis (Amalaki), Shilajit (Silajatu-Suddha) and Terminalia bellerica (Bibhitaki)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is another Ayurvedic herb that can help lower bad cholesterol.
One of the best Ayurvedic medicines for cholesterol made in India is Lipomap.
It is an effective Ayurvedic formulation that maintains cholesterol levels, lowers triglycerides, increases HDL (High Density Lipids) and reduces VLDL (Very Low Density Lipids) and LDL (Low Density Lipids).
To sum up
Controlling your cholesterol levels can be quite difficult at times, but it can be easily achieved through diet and lifestyle changes. Regular checks and controls are also important. I also explained the Ayurvedic herbs that can help you control LDL levels. These herbs have minimal or no side effects, but it is recommended that you speak to your Vaidya or doctor for the maximum health benefit.
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Reference: maharishiayurvedaindia.com