Alternative Health Blog

Cholesterol drugs are about as common as aspirin these days. There are even a significant number of medical and physician organizations that suggest cholesterol-lowering medications might be primary treatment for America’s most obese children—as young as 8 to 10 years old, if you can believe it.

There are a number of natural ways to help an adult or child body. Reducing saturated fats and trans fats in daily meals and snacks is an effective step. This translates to less foods high in animal fat (opt for nonfat dairy products and lean meats). On the plus side, certain plant foods can reduce cholesterol, including oats, beans, peas, fruits, vegetables, flax meal and fiber supplements such as psyllium.

 A near-daily exercise habit will do wonders to help you shed extra pounds and regulate cholesterol to healthy levels. You can start by walking or jogging, then work your way to more brisk and intense workouts. Always consult your health practitioner before starting a vigorous exercise program.

Another option is to use an herbal therapy to help cut down or eliminate cholesterol drugs. Alternative Health Blog has covered one promising remedy, artichoke leaf, in a previous post. It is widely popular in Europe and standardized for the consistent dose needed to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. It specifically acts to remove LDL or bad cholesterol from the body through the waste system.

In India, another herb is highly regarded for lowering blood cholesterol. It’s called gugulipid and has prescription status because of its effectiveness. Indian researchers have proved gugulipid’s worth in scientific clinical trials, even when compared to widely prescribed statin drugs. Better yet, gugulipd accomplishes the result without any potential liver damage.

Gugulipid (also known as gum guggul) originates form the mukul myrrh tree that is prevalent in India. When the tree is “injured” or scraped, it oozes the gum or resin that is in turn developed into a concentrated extract. Gugulipid has been approved and used in India for more than two decades. Studies shows regular daily doses of the extract will lower LDL or bad cholesterol while raising the healthy HDL cholesterol.

In fact, research shows gugulipd can reduce cholesterol by 14 to 27 percent, on average, after just one to three months. All that with no side effects or toxic overtones for the liver.  

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Blog every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.