With various cholesterol lowering herbs, you can easily control the levels of your cholesterol. It is essential to have your cholesterol levels in check in order to prevent different kinds of heart disease that affect more than sixty million Americans.
Utilizing certain herbs is a healthy choice when it comes to embracing a new lifestyle to avoid high cholesterol. These natural herbs do not contain cholesterol, and they are very low in fat content, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are considered healthy fats.
Cholesterol lowering herbs
• Capsicum – This spicy herb is usually used in salsa. The extract has invigorating properties and helps to increase blood circulation. It speeds up the slow circulation of the blood that accumulates harmful toxins. The blood also increases its flow to the body’s extremities which allows nutrients and oxygen to arrive in more abundance and increase the health of those cells. Researches show that this herb is effective in lowering the levels of high cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Alfalfa – According the studies, alfalfa seeds contain saponins that have the ability to block the cholesterol absorption and prevent the development of atherosclerotic plaques. It appears that the chemicals and the fibers in alfalfa attach to cholesterol, which keeps it from settling in the blood or accumulating in the blood vessels. While the harmful kinds of cholesterol leave the body, the healthy cholesterol, known as HDL (high-density lioprotein), is unaffected. However, it is important to note that taking huge amounts of alfalfa may cause harm to the red blood cells.
• Garlic – This herb is probably one of the most popular natural herbs with the ability to treat different kinds of illnesses. The most unique and vital characteristic of garlic is that it contains high organosulfur substances. In fact, it has at least 4 times more sulfur compared to the other vegetables with high sulfur content such as broccoli, onion and cauliflower. Garlic can help keep the levels of cholesterol in good balance by reducing the levels of serum cholesterol while increasing the levels of good cholesterol. In addition, garlic contains anti-clotting properties that can decrease the formation of plaque in blood clots and blood vessels, which causes stroke and heart disease.
• Psyllium – Studies have shown that using this herb is effective in reducing cholesterol levels and thus lowering the risk of heart disease. Due to its natural fiber, psyllium is also considered beneficial in colon cleansing and weight loss. In general, five to ten grams of psyllium should be added to your regular diet in order to effectively lower the levels of cholesterol.
• Fenugreek seeds – These herbs contain alkaloids, which is a protein that is high in lysine and L-tryptophan. It also contains steroidal saponins, which are known to reduce synthesis and cholesterol absorption. It is best to add one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to 1 cup of water and drink it 2 times every day (morning and night). This will effectively lower your high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, keep in mind that they have uterine stimulating effects that may cause a miscarriage, so pregnant women should avoid fenugreek seeds at all cost.
There are some other cholesterol lowering herbs such as turmeric, ginseng, aloe vera, cayenne, dandelion, thyme herb, true blue skullcap, saffron, gaurana, black cohash, burdock root, yellow dock, red clover blooms, Echinacea root and many others. However, make sure to consult your doctor before trying any of these cholesterol lowering herbs since doses of these herbal remedies should be administered carefully in order to prevent side effects.
