Herbal Remedies for High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a real problem for many people. There are two types of cholesterol, good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. For people suffering from too much bad cholesterol, there may be serious health risks like heart disease. If your doctor has informed you that your reading is a problem, he or she may recommend some lifestyle changes. A healthier diet and more exercise are two common things most doctors recommend for problem cholesterol. There are also herbal remedies for high cholesterol which may prove beneficial.
Alfalfa is a great natural remedy for high cholesterol levels. Alfalfa contains compounds called saponins which may block the formation of dangerous plaque in the arteries caused by high levels of harmful cholesterol. Alfalfa actually wages war on LDL, or bad cholesterol and replaces it with HDL, or good cholesterol. Alfalfa can be found in supplement form or used as a tincture or tea. You can often find alfalfa included with other multipurpose herbal supplements.
Garlic is another very beneficial herb that may work to lower high cholesterol. For ages, this pungent herb was used strictly for cooking, at least in the Western world. Today, many experts agree that garlic can help lower high cholesterol and may even reduce the risk of heart disease. Garlic contains sulphur, as does produce like onion, broccoli and cauliflower. However, the level of beneficial sulphur in garlic is much higher. You can add fresh cloves of garlic to recipes, or take garlic capsules, some of which come in odorless varieties.
Other spices like capsicum, cayenne and turmeric may also prove beneficial for a variety of purposes including high cholesterol. You can find herbal blends at specialty stores and online designed especially for lowering high cholesterol. You may also want to investigate homeopathic remedies as well, which work a bit differently than herbal remedies. Basically any health food store or vitamin store is going to carry a large number of herbal supplements for a variety of purposes.
Before using any herbal remedies for high cholesterol, ask your doctor. More doctors these days are becoming educated on the use of herbs for medicinal purposes. Some doctors may even recommend herbal remedies before turning to prescription drugs. Speaking of prescription drugs, some herbs may interact with other medications. This is another reason why consulting with your doctor is so important. You might also want to talk to a dietician, herbalist, holistic healer or naturopath.
