Herbal Medicine | Cholesterol Issues | Ask an Expert

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Submitted on: 25-08-2012; Answers: 4; Tagged under: Herbal Medicine Cholesterol Issues       ✘ Report abuse
Q What is the best advise to lower my Cholesterol just found out its high Thanks Di

A Mercola.com has some great articles on the latest research.
Good luck
Answered by: Release Body Therapy and NLP Coaching;
Answered on: 30-08-2012;
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A There are 2 sources of cholesterol in the body; some from food sources ( dairy, meat etc, but most is made in the liver. Food from plants do not contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is a type of fat present in all animal cells and has some important functions: to build cell membranes, make hormones such as testosterone, oestrogen and adrenal hormones, production of bile acids to help the digestion of fats and to absorb important nutrients,helps the metabolism and production of Vitamin D. 80% is made in the body by the liver, so having a healthy liver is important. High cholesterol can be a sign of an inflammatory condition in the body as cholesterol is used to repair damage to the arteries ( like a bandaid).
Increasing fibre, cutting back on sugars and refined carbohydrates,flour increasing essential fatty acids ( Omega3's- good fats), more plant based diet, flaxseeds, coconut oil ( a saturated fat but plant based not animal based) and adequate liver herbs will assist with lowering cholesterol much safer than medications.
Milk thistle, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger and coriander reduces inflammation and assists with keeping cholesterol down. A gentle liver detox under the guidance of a naturopath would be beneficial too.
All the best, Donna
Answered by: Donna's Wellness Centre;
Answered on: 27-08-2012;
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A It all depends! if you are woman, and in middle age, there is no research evidence that "high" cholesterol is harmful. There is evidence, however, that low cholesterol in these people is correlated with more illness. The other thing to remember, is that cholesterol is produced by your body, and not by your food. Cholesterol is an amazingly useful and important substance in the body. As suggested below, rather than worrying about your cholesterol levels, you would benefit more from managing stress, getting good sleep, and eating foods that reduce excess inflammation, such as omega-3 fats. Useful herbs are ginger, turmeric, cumin, and coriander.
Answered by: Science of Life;
Answered on: 26-08-2012;
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A Hi Di, stress raises cholesterol, so you should try to avoid excess stress.

Cholesterol is also produced to help repair damage to arteries so if your cholesterol is high it could be a sign that your arteries are suffering. Avoid trans fatty acids (mostly in hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are in many processed foods including margarine) and damaged fats (e.g. fried foods, especially deep fried). If you do use oil in cooking, extra virgin olive oil is usually a good choice but don't overheat it - cook at the lowest temperature possible.

Make sure you eat plenty of antioxidants as these help to prevent further damage. The most important antioxidants are selenium (in Brazil nuts, sea food and liver - two or three Brazil nuts a day is enough) and zinc (in red meat, pumpkin seeds and oysters). Other important antioxidants are in fresh fruit and vegetables, especially organic ones - the ones with the brightest colour and strongest flavour usually have the most antioxidants. Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants.

Ensuring adequate vitamin C (kiwifruit, citrus and raw cabbage are good sources) along with healthy omega 3 fats from oily fish (e.g. salmon) or a high quality fish oil may lower cholesterol as well as having other heart-healthy benefits. Fish oil needs to be used with caution if you are on some medications (mainly blood thinners) - ask your doctor if you're not sure. Make sure to get a high quality fish oil such as Nordic Naturals (Red Seal is a good, inexpensive second choice if you can't afford Nordic Naturals) as 2/3 of fish oils sold in New Zealand are rancid and may do more harm than good.

There are also some herbs you can take that can lower cholesterol and have other benefits, however you should consult a naturopath or medical herbalist first as most of them are contraindicated for some (rare) medical conditions or if you are on certain medications.
Answered by: West Auckland Massage & Natural Health;
Answered on: 25-08-2012;
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