Many people experience a high level of cholesterol in their blood, also known as Hyperlipidemia. Cholesterol is a yellowish fatty substance, produced in the liver and is essential to the body. Anyone with high cholesterol is a potential victim of heart attack and stroke. Though the liver produces cholesterol, much of it comes from the various foods we consume. The normal level is around 150-200 mg per 100 ml of blood. Cholesterol is always found in combination with fats or lipids called lipoproteins.
Who Requires Lowering Cholesterol?
Both LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels along with any other factors that may pose a risk to heart diseases are taken into account when treating high cholesterol. The list of factors include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, any previous history of heart attack, family history of early heart disease, those over the ages of 45 in men and 55 in women. Those people who satisfy all these requirements are prone to high cholesterol and need to definitely take measures to lower the same immediately to save themselves.
How Naturopathy Helps in Lowering Cholesterol?
Naturopathic medicine is entirely safe and chemical free and has no side effects on the human body. It is drug free and helps to bring the mind, body and spirit back to its natural state, bringing about a state of harmony and balance.
Naturopathic treatments include herbs and supplements, emotional support, diet and healthy nutrition, exercises and massages and stress reduction. In naturopathy, everything is taken into account which includes family history, the patient’s lifestyle and habits, and medical history. In the treatment of high cholesterol many naturopathic remedies are used.
- Soy and Beta Sitosterol: It is a plant compound from soybeans, corn oil and wheat germ and it helps in preventing the absorption of cholesterol by the body. Polyunsaturated fats and oils like sesame, corn oil, soybean and safflower help lower bad LDL cholesterol.
- Guggul Extract: It is an Indian herb that helps lower triglycerides, without any side effects.
- Red Yeast Rice: This is got from fermenting red yeast over rice. Lovastatin is present in Red yeast rice, that helps inhibit the enzyme that produces cholesterol.
- Garlic: This vegetable is a wonder cure for lowering high cholesterol. It has many characteristics like anti bacterial, antioxidant and antifungal properties. It helps dissolve blood clots and lowers cholesterol.
- Policosanol: It is an extract of sugar cane wax. It helps lower bad LDL cholesterol and raises good HDL cholesterol without any side effects.
- Coenzyme Q10: CoQ10 helps produce energy in the body cells and helps strengthen the heart. CoQ10 supplements increase energy levels in the heart muscles, lower total cholesterol serum levels and improves heart function.
- Green Tea Extracts, Ginger, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Grape Seed Extract and Fiber are also known to lower high cholesterol.
- Lecithin: this is a fatty food substance and helps to lower high cholesterol; it is high in phospholipids which can break up cholesterol easily into smaller particles. When sufficient qualities of lecithin are consumed, cholesterol cannot build up in the arteries and veins. Lecithin is found in abundance in egg yolk, soya beans, whole grain cereals, and unpasteurized milk.
- Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds are valuable in lowering cholesterol. Linoleic acid is found in large quantities in sunflower seeds and is a healthy fat that lowers high cholesterol.
- Coriander Seeds: Drinking a decoction of coriander seed helps to lower high cholesterol. It's an excellent diuretic and a great stimulant for the kidneys. Preparation is simple. Just boil two tablespoons of coriander seeds in a glass of water. Strain and drink after cooling. It requires to be consumed twice a day.
- Isabagul: Isabagul is found in the herb Psyllium husk and is more potent than sunflower seeds in lowering high cholesterol. There is 50 percent of linoleic acid in Isabagul. Take a teaspoon twice a day for good results.
- Soluble Fibers: The inclusion of soluble fibers in your diet is guaranteed to lower high cholesterol. Include foods like oats, barley, legumes, rye, and fruits like apples, berries, prunes and vegetables like broccoli, yams, carrots and brussels sprouts in your daily diet.
With no side effects on the human body, it’s very safe to consume all these naturopathic medications to lower high cholesterol in the blood.
