Alternative Treatment for Cholesterol
July 3, 2008
Some of the herbal and nutritional supplements available include:
· Garlic: According to some studies, garlic may decrease blood levels of total cholesterol by a few percentage points.
Other studies, however, suggest that it may not be as beneficial as once thought. It may also have significant side effects and/or interactions with certain medications. Garlic may prolong bleeding and blood clotting time, so garlic and garlic supplements should not be consumed prior to surgery and should not be taken with blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin (warfarin).
· Guggulipid: Guggulipid is the gum resin of the mukul myrrh tree. In clinical studies performed in India, guggulipid significantly reduced blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The enthusiasm for using guggulipid as a cholesterol-lowering herbal agent, however, diminished after the publication of negative results from a clinical trial in the U.S. Further research is necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of this herb.
· Red Yeast Rice: Red yeast rice has been found to lower cholesterol in studies and was previously found in the over-the-counter supplement Cholestin. However, in 2001, FDA took Cholestin off the shelf because it contained lovastatin, a compound found in the cholesterol prescription medication Mevacor. Reformulated “Cholestin” no longer contains red yeast rice. Other red yeast rice-containing supplements currently available in U.S. contain very small amounts of lovastatin. Their effectiveness is questionable.
Instead of avoiding high cholesterol foods completely, a better alternative for your cholesterol treatment plan is to eat foods that lower cholesterol. Certain foods, such as soluble fiber, have properties that have been proven to increase your HDL cholesterol and also lower your LDL cholesterol. For example, I recently ran across a fiber supplement that has been clinically trialed and proven to lower LDL cholesterol twice as effectively as oat fiber (25 mg / dL vs. 11 mg / dL).
It also helped control blood sugar spikes in Type 2 diabetes patients. If you do nothing else recommended on this page, Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, has been long know to be as effective as many prescribed drugs used in the treatment of high cholesterol levels. However, there is a problem with straight niacin. If used at a high enough dosage to reduce cholesterol, there is a very real statistical chance of causing damage to the liver in addition to the well-known effect of skin flushing. These side effects make niacin unacceptable as a cholesterol-lowering supplement. Fortunately, Inositol Hexanicotinate, which is chemically similar to niacin, provides the cholesterol lowering benefits of niacin without the risk of liver damage or flushing. In fact long-term studies indicate that Inisotol Hexanicotinate is free of any serious side effects other than the occasional individual suffering from mild gastrointestinal upset.
Natural Remedies for High Cholesterol
Arjuna is the best herb that helps maintaining healthy heart and it also helps in relieving mental stress and nervousness.
* Lowers beta-lipoprotein lipids and the recovery of HDL components in hyperlipidemia
* Promotes effective cardiac functioning by regulating blood pressure and cholesterol
* Relieves hypertension
Guggul is a resin known to increase white blood cell counts and possess strong disinfecting properties. It has long been known to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintain or improve the HDL to LDL ratio.
Guggul can be taken by practically everyone, regardless of age and gender. Guggul can be taken by people for:
- Weight Management
- Lowering Cholesterol
- Improving Circulation
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