Cholesterol Levels: How Can I Reduce Them Naturally with Ayurveda? - #14819
I recently got my blood work done, and my doctor said my cholesterol levels are too high. They want me to start medication, but I really want to try a natural approach first. I’m not overweight, but my diet isn’t great—I eat a lot of fried food and sweets. Could that be the main reason my cholesterol levels are high? I also don’t exercise much, so maybe that’s playing a role too. I’m not sure if genetics has anything to do with it, but my father also has high cholesterol levels. I’ve been reading about Ayurveda and how it focuses on balancing the body through diet and herbs. Are there Ayurvedic herbs that actually help lower cholesterol levels? What foods should I eat more of, and which ones should I completely avoid? I heard that certain oils are better than others—is ghee safe to eat if I already have high cholesterol levels? If anyone has successfully lowered their cholesterol levels using Ayurveda, how long did it take? And what lifestyle changes made the biggest difference?
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Doctors’ responses
Your high cholesterol is likely due to excess Kapha and Ama (toxins) accumulation, aggravated by a diet rich in fried foods, sweets, and lack of exercise. Ayurveda focuses on improving digestion, balancing fat metabolism, and cleansing the body naturally. Avoid heavy, oily, processed, and dairy-rich foods, and favor light, warm meals with whole grains, green leafy vegetables, garlic, flaxseeds, and turmeric. Healthy fats like small amounts of ghee are beneficial as they improve digestion and don’t clog arteries like processed oils. Triphala, Arjuna, and Guggulu (especially Medohar Guggulu) help regulate cholesterol levels and cleanse excess fat from the body. Drinking warm water with honey and lemon in the morning helps break down toxins. Daily exercise, including brisk walking and yoga, improves circulation and lipid metabolism. Regular use of herbal teas with cinnamon, ginger, and fenugreek also supports heart health. With consistent diet and lifestyle changes, noticeable improvements can be seen within a few months.
High cholesterol, that’s a tricky one but let’s try tackle it from a natural angle! The fried foods and sweets, yep, they can definitely hike up those cholesterol levels. Ayurveda, good choice, it’s all about balancing those doshas, you know? And when it comes to cholesterol, we often look at kapha imbalance – the heavy, oily qualities they love to throw at us.
Now, on to herbs! Arjuna is pretty top-notch in Ayurveda for cardiovascular health – not just a hype. You could look into having 1 teaspoon of Arjuna powder mixed with warm water every morning. Another hero is Guggul, known for clearing out those stubborn lipid molecules. You can get it in tablet form, and taking 1-2 tablets daily can be super beneficial.
Diet-wise, more veggies, less fried, you get the drift, right? Focus on whole grains like barley and quinoa, as they are pretty light on kapha. Leafy greens, and cucumbers have a cooling effect which may help too.
Curious about oils? Mustard oil or sesame oil are better than palm or coconut oil if you have high cholesterol. Ghee, yeah it’s often confused but a little bit’s actually okay as it enhances digestion. Just don’t go overboard.
For your exercise lapse, a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily can do wonders – try to sweat out those bad cholesterols. Genetics, well, they do play a part, but they’re not the whole picture. Yoga and pranayama could also help manage stress-related impacts on your body.
People have seen changes within 3-6 months, but it’s individual, you know? Even just a few small tweaks can snowball into major differences. Keep it consistent, small steps. Trust the process, and if at any point it feels overwhelming or you’re not sure, checking in with a healthcare professional is absolutely the way to go!

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