Cholesterol

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance circulating in the blood. There are two sources of cholesterol. Our body produces all the necessary cholesterol in the liver. The remaining cholesterol in the body is obtained from animal-based foods. The risk to the health grows as the blood's level of cholesterol increases. Heart disease and stroke are two cardiovascular diseases that are made more likely by high cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol, which is bad, and HDL cholesterol, which is good, are the two types of cholesterol. The risk of cholesterol slowly building up in the inner walls of the arteries that supply the heart and brain increases, if there is too much of the bad kind or not enough of the good kind. Hyperlipidemia is one such dietary condition that has been linked to a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and even hypertension.

Cholesterol as per Ayurveda

Hyperlipidemia is explained in bits and pieces in Ayurvedic literature under the general umbrella of Sthaulya-Medoroga. According to Ayurveda, one of the primary causes of all diseases is food. This is primarily due to Mandagni's effect on improper food digestion.

The term "cholesterol" is not used in Ayurveda. According to Acharya Charaka, continuous ingestion of causative factors aggravates Kapha dosha and Medodhatu due to similar properties, and this increased meda obstructs the srotas, causing vata to move in kostha to become hyperactive and stimulate agni. Agni digests food quickly, while vitiated or hyperactive vata absorbs it quickly. While there is no specific terminology for hyperlipidemia, it is pathophysiologically identical to Asthayi Medo Dhatu Vriddhi.

Cholesterol as per Ayurveda
  • 1. Genetics is the primary cause; a mutated gene is passed down from a parent, resulting in a missing or malfunctioning LDL receptor.
  • 2. Secondary causes include;
  • a. Dietary factors: Overeating, excessive consumption of heavy, unctuous, sweet, cold food, meat, milk & its preparations, fresh alcoholic preparations, untimely eating of curd, meat, rice, jaggery preparations, ghee etc.
  • b. Lifestyle-related factors: lack of physical exercise, smoking cigarettes, lack of sexual life, day sleeping, bathing after taking meals, sleeping after meals etc.
  • c. Mental health factors: lack of enthusiasm, anxiety, uninterrupted cheerfulness etc.
  • 3. Other common secondary causes include underlying pathologies such as diabetes, high BP, obesity, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and so on.

Excess fat in the blood accumulates over time, forming plaques on the artery and blood vessel walls. This will cause the openings to close, resulting in turbulent blood flow through the vessels. The heart has to work harder to pump blood through the constrictions. A person with hyperlipidemia usually exhibits no signs or symptoms.

The following signs are some warning points of impaired cholesterol levels in the body;

  • Yellowish fatty growths around the eyes or joints are common in familial hyperlipidemia.
  • The abdomen and bones are the chief depositories of fat, resulting in pendulous buttocks, abdomen and breasts.
  • Lack of enthusiasm, laziness
  • Unable to bear any physical exercise
  • Excessive hunger, thirst and sleeping
  • Sleeping problems
  • Regular headaches and a sluggish body
  • Lack of appetite but a strong desire to snack on unhealthy foods
  • Dry mouth or bad taste
  • Discomfort in the chest region after a strenuous workout or even climbing a staircase
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Bowel irregularities Stools that are mostly loose or even constipated

Hyperlipidemia is a common health problem that can lead to serious cardiovascular or heart disease; however, it can be avoided by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Yoga, breathing exercises, dietary restrictions, herbal supplements, and lifestyle changes are all part of Ayurvedic treatment for high cholesterol levels.

Managing cholesterol levels can be difficult at times, but it is simple to do with Ayurveda as it advocates correction of diet and lifestyle, with regular monitoring and examinations that can help you manage the LDL levels.

Eat food such that your body requires more energy to digest specifically follow Kapha pacifying diet;

  • 1. Sprouts, lentils, and vegetables with high water content, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, as well as fruits like apples and pears, can be consumed.
  • 2. Bitter gourd and other leafy vegetables, such as fenugreek, help to increase food weight while also aiding in bowel movement. This prevents fat deposition in the body.
  • 3. Whole grains have high fibre content and aid in fat metabolism.
  • 4. Consume more whole foods rather than processed foods. They will aid in increasing the amount of fibre in the digestive system, thus controlling hunger.
  • 5. Curds, milk and milk preparations, and jaggery/sugar puddings should be avoided in excess.
  • 6. Increase the fibre intake. Rice, barley, wheat, Kodrava (grain type), red, horse, and green gram, as well as bitter and astringent leafy vegetables, should all be consumed within 60 days.
  • 7. Foods high in insoluble fibre, such as pulses, legumes, root vegetables, leafy vegetables, and unprocessed cereals, aid in the reduction of circulating lipids.

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Natural ways to control Cholesterol levels

1. Take charge of your diet:

Take care of yourself by planning your meals, exercising daily, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and caring for your mental health.

2. Lahsun-ksheer paka:

Boil 3-4 fresh crushed garlic cloves in 1 cup milk and 1 cup water until reduced to 1 cup. Filter the mixture and consume it on an empty stomach every morning to improve the lipid profile to normal levels.

3. Stimulate the digestion:

Take 1/2 tsp trikatu powder with 1 tsp honey three times a day to stimulate digestive action and digest accumulated toxins, as well as to help regulate cholesterol.

4. Manage your Body Mass Index/ BMI:

Calorie-dense diets and fatty foods that raise body weight and lipid/cholesterol levels should be avoided.

5. Include Ayurvedic herbs in diet:

Ayurvedic nutritional supplements like Neem, Guggulu, Arjuna, Turmeric, Shilajit, Cinnamon, Guduchi, Amla, and others are especially beneficial in lowering blood sugar and insulin levels, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and blood pressure.

6. Bilva fruit detox drink:

To regulate bad cholesterol levels, mix 1-2 teaspoons of bilva fruit pulp into a cup of hot water and drink.

Herbs to control Cholesterol levels

Garlic, guggul, cinnamon, shilajit and arjuna are some of the most common herbs used in Ayurveda to lower cholesterol. They are potent herbs that can be used alone but are usually combined with ginger, turmeric, shilajit, liquorice, triphala, Sativa, and other ingredients.

Yoga to control Cholesterol level

Yoga is a proven way to improve physical and mental well-being, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduce stress. There are many different types of yoga poses that can be used to reduce cholesterol levels, such as the Sun Salutation, the Surya Namaskar, and the Tree Pose.

Conclusion

Nothing is worse than feeling as if your body is out of control. Fortunately, by being proactive in a few areas, one can reduce stress on the physical body and mental health. A healthy diet, regular exercise, a good sleep schedule, and an excellent support network can help balance cholesterol levels in the body, in addition to a proactive routine.