Understanding & Managing high cholesterol with Ayurveda

Cholesterol, a waxy substance found in your body’s cells, is essential for producing hormones and substances that help you digest foods. However, an imbalance in cholesterol levels can pose serious health risks, including heart disease and stroke. While allopathic medicine offers various treatments to manage cholesterol, Ayurveda provides a holistic approach emphasizing balance and natural remedies. This ancient Indian system of medicine focuses on dietary adjustments, herbal supplements, and lifestyle changes to help regulate cholesterol levels effectively. let's explore the role of cholesterol in the body for understanding & managing high cholesterol with Ayurveda.

Role of cholesterol in the body! 

Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the body- 

• Maintains the structure and function of cell membranes

• Serves as a precursor for the synthesis of essential hormones, including sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone

• Cholesterol is necessary for the production of bile in the liver, which aids in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins. 

• Facilitates the synthesis of vitamin D upon exposure to sunlight, supporting bone health and immune function.

•  Helps insulate and protect nerve cells by forming a myelin sheath, enabling efficient transmission of nerve impulses. 

While cholesterol is vital for these bodily processes, maintaining a balance between HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol is essential for cardiovascular health.

What are the reasons for high cholesterol in the body? 

While you may think cholesterol is solely related to the food you consume, there's much more to it than just diet. Several factors can contribute to rising cholesterol levels in the body, including:

Unhealthy Diet: Consuming foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol, such as fast food, processed snacks, and sugary treats, can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity can contribute to weight gain and higher levels of bad cholesterol while lowering good cholesterol.

Obesity: Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, is linked to higher cholesterol levels and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels, reduces good cholesterol, and increases bad cholesterol, leading to an increased risk of heart disease.

Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol intake increases cholesterol levels and leads to other health issues such as liver disease and hypertension.

Stress: Chronic stress influences cholesterol levels indirectly through stress-eating and poor lifestyle choices.

Here is how Ayurveda helps lower cholesterol levels! 

Ayurvedic writings do not address cholesterol by name. The Ayurveda books discuss Meda Dhatu (lipid tissue) and describe how to keep this fat or lipid tissue in the body in a healthy quantity and quality. When Meda Dhatu is balanced and healthy, it helps to keep cholesterol in check.

Ayurvedic Diet to Lower the Cholesterol!

• Maintain a Kapha-balancing diet:  Avoid fatty, cheese, processed foods, yogurt, and high-fat milk. Reduce your intake of cold drinks, meals, and sweets.

• Use of garlic and ginger: Allicin, an active component found in garlic, helps to decrease cholesterol levels. Garlic should be combined with one fresh garlic clove, ginger root, and lime juice. This drink should be consumed before eating. It can be taken as many times as an Ayurvedic Doctor recommends.

• Tea with trikatu and cinnamon: Make tea with one-fourth teaspoon of the herbal mixture of trikatu and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Steep it in a cup of water for ten minutes, then add one teaspoon of honey and drink. It should be taken twice a day.

• 'Trikatu' with honey: For burning, take half a teaspoon of 'Trikatu' with one teaspoon of honey 2-3 times a day. Aama (digestive fire) and excess Kapha can also aid in cholesterol regulation.

• Warm water and Triphala: Drink one teaspoon of Triphala Churna with a glass of warm water. This will aid in the removal of fat from your system and the reduction of cholesterol levels.

 Ayurvedic lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol!

• Drink green tea- Green tea is rich in polyphenols, which help control blood pressure, maintain blood vessel health and flexibility, and promote proper blood flow. Drinking green tea twice a day can lower bad cholesterol and increase good levels, providing significant benefits.

• Regular Exercise- Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, or any other form of exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to improve metabolism and manage cholesterol levels. 
  

• Stress Management- Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga to lower stress levels, which can contribute to high cholesterol. 

• Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight as excess weight can contribute to high cholesterol levels.

Foods to avoid if you have high cholesterol! 

Avoid eating the following foods to help manage your cholesterol:

• Processed or deli-style meats (such as gammon, bacon, and salami)
• Foods that have been deep-fried.
• Foods that have been processed (such as biscuits and pastries).
• Pizzas and burgers are examples of fast food/junk food.
• Meat fats and chicken skin.
• Ghee and lard.
• Oil from palm trees.

Conclusion 

Managing cholesterol levels is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing cardiovascular diseases. While cholesterol plays an essential role in bodily functions, an imbalance can lead to serious health issues. Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to managing cholesterol by emphasizing dietary adjustments, herbal remedies, and lifestyle changes. By incorporating Ayurvedic practices such as a Kapha-balancing diet, regular exercise, stress management, and specific herbal treatments, individuals can effectively regulate cholesterol levels and promote long-term health. Adopting these natural and balanced strategies can help achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, ensuring a healthier and more vibrant life.

visit Smartveda.co for Ayurvedic solution for cholesterol!