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[H317]High Cholesterol Natural Treatment

by Marcia Henin, Mar

Cholesterol is a lipid that is present in the cell membranes of all animal tissues. Scientists also consider it as sterol, a combination of steroid and alcohol. Eukaryotes synthesize cholesterol in the cells of the body. Hence, small amount of cholesterol is also present in membranes of plants and fungi.

Cholesterol aids the body to develop new cells, produce hormones and protect nerves.

Cholesterol medication is necessary along with a low-fat and high-fiber diet to reduce cholesterol levels. Usually, treatment for extreme cholesterol levels start with fiber diets along with exercise routines. However, some patients might require a along with dietary changes to reduce their cholesterol levels.

Below listed are certain cholesterol medications to reduce cholesterol levels:

1. Niacin

2. Statins

3. Fibric acid derivatives

4. Bile-acid resins

High Cholesterol Treatment:

Hypercholesterolemia shows high blood cholesterol. To understand the causes of levels, it is very crucial to understand that high level of cholesterol in the blood is not a disorder.

Instead, this particular medical phenomenon is similar to a metabolic unbalance and may contribute to specific types of disorders such as cardiovascular diseases. Doctors closely link high cholesterol with the following medical terms:

1. Hyperlipoproteinemia (high levels of lipoproteins), and

2. Hyperlipidemia (advanced levels of lipids).

The level of blood cholesterol increases in the body without any previous indications. Although, it is serious threat as it leads to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke, affected people still feel healthy and do not take the disease seriously.

Harmful levels of cholesterol always relate to bad diets, obesity, excessive alcohol intake, stress, age, smoking, physical lethargy and heredity. Doctors may prescribe specific diet plans and weight loss advice for patients diagnosed with high blood cholesterol levels.

Usually, doctors recommend a systematic diet to reduce dietary fat, particularly saturated fat. Several patients following such diets end with reduced blood cholesterol levels.

However, sometimes, exercise and diet are not sufficient to lower cholesterol levels. In such cases, doctors often suggest medications. Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, and Lescol are certain prominent medications that help to reduce high cholesterol level in the body.

Some medications that lower cholesterol(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html) are found by testing in a laboratory while others are discovered and perfected over 5000 years of use. Some natural remedies for high cholesterol however, have the stamp of approval from both the scientific and naturopathic communities. Ayurvedic herbs have been used for millennia, and refer to a huge number of leaves, extracts, and roots from the Indian sub-continent. However, it is only relatively recently that these herbs were introduced to the Western world, and since then the true potential of these herbs has not yet been fully realized.

Traditionally, high cholesterol was not a big problem in India, so there was no ayurvedic herb specifically used to lower cholesterol. However, the fact that few practitioners of ayurvedic medicine suffered from high cholesterol led many people to believe that one or more of the herbs could be an effective treatment. That’s when the properties of guggul were first investigated.

What is Guggul?

The mukul myrrh (Commiphora mukul) tree is a small, thorny plant distributed throughout India. Guggul and gum guggulu are the names given to a yellowish resin produced by the stem of the plant. This resin has been used historically and is also the source of modern extracts of guggul and is the most popular herb used in ayurvedic medicine. The plant can also be found in North America and Central Asia. Guggul has been used in India for more than 2000 years to treat variety of disorders such as skin disorders, obesity, rheumatism, bronchitis, inflammation, sores, and hysteria. In addition, it is also used in weight management, dermatitis, improving circulation, treating boils, and menstrual pain. Guggul is also used to treat heart ailments and has been found to lower high cholesterol in the blood. Guggul is very effective in the prevention and treatment of congestive heart failure and related diseases and is a natural remedy for high cholesterol. So how does guggul lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease? Much research has been done into this question, and the herb from India has not been found lacking.

Role of Guggul in the Treatment of High Cholesterol(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html)

Studies have shown that Guggul can lower cholesterol levels in the blood by 14-27 %. So how does guggul do this?

1.Guggul Lowers Triglycerides: Guggul is a natural remedy for high cholesterol because it can lower triglycerides and improve the ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol levels in blood. LDL is the low density lipoprotein known as bad cholesterol, and HDL is high density lipoprotein known as good cholesterol. Studies show that within 4 to 12 weeks guggul can increase good cholesterol by approximately 16%, and lower bad cholesterol (triglycerides) by 22-30%.

2.Guggul stops cholesterol production: Guggul can lower high cholesterol levels by blocking the activity of a protein receptor in the liver cell that metabolizes cholesterol. Stopping this process prevents the production of more bad cholesterol, and allows the excess to be converted to bile, thus lowering overall cholesterol levels. Guggul also reduces the blood level lipids effectively and quickly without any side effects.

Besides this, Guggul is also considered a natural remedy for high cholesterol because it strengthens the heart and works as a blood detoxifier. It can prevent narrowing of the arteries, improve cardiac muscle functioning, and heart activity. Not only does it lower cholesterol, but it can keep levels low. It has even been found to lower cholesterol in people who have proven unresponsive to other high cholesterol medications. That is why many naturopaths and holistic health practitioners often recommend Guggul for the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol.

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Both Marcia Henin & Mitamins Team are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Marcia Henin has sinced written about articles on various topics from LASIK Surgery, Environment and Anti Oxidant. Submitted by Content Editor at Inter-dev - . Marcia Henin's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.

Mitamins Team has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management, Soccer and Stress Management. Author Bio: Mitamins teamTargeted: High Cholesterol; Safety: Avoid Vitamins Overdose, Supplement Drug Interactions;. Mitamins Team's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.