Cholesterol

High cholesterol means increased lipids (fats) in the blood. It is essentially a metabolic disorder. People having low liver function or diminished thyroid activity, who have taken steroids in the past, or whose diet is very kaphagenic, seem most prone to develop high cholesterol.

Your cholesterol level should be below 200. About 160 to 190 is normal, but a cholesterol reading of 200 or above is worrisome, as a high cholesterol level in the blood tends to create plaque on the artery walls, resulting in atherosclerotic changes, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, stroke, and heart problems.

There are two kinds of cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is the “good” cholesterol, and LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is the “bad” cholesterol. Researchers these days are saying that what is more important than the total level of cholesterol, as a predictive factor for cardiovascular and other health problems, is the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL.

To reduce high cholesterol levels, and to prevent cholesterol from building up any higher, follow these guidelines.

WATCH YOUR DIET. Stick to a kapha-pacifying diet (chapter 8). No fatty fried food. No cheese. No high-fat milk or yogurt. Minimize sweets and cold food and drinks. Use garlic and onion in cooking.

GET REGULAR EXERCISE. Each day from Monday to Friday, walk for at least half an hour. Go swimming or participate in some other aerobic exercise at least three times each week.

Just by regulating diet and exercise, you can control cholesterol. But

there is much more that you can do.

HERBS TO COMBAT CHOLESTEROL. Garlic is effective against high cholesterol. Mix together 1 clove of fresh garlic chopped fine, ½ teaspoon grated ginger root, and ½ teaspoon lime juice; eat before each meal.

• Drink a tea made of 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of the herbal mixture trikatu. Steep it for 10 minutes in a cupful of water, add 1 teaspoon honey, and drink. Take it twice a day.
• Taking ½ teaspoon trikatu with 1 teaspoon honey 2 or 3 times a day is good for burning ama and excess kapha and helps to regulate cholesterol.
• This herbal mixture can help control high cholesterol levels:

kutki 3 parts
chitrak 3 parts
shilajit ¼ part

Take ½ teaspoon twice a day, with honey and hot water.

• Take one 200-mg. tablet of triphala guggulu 3 times a day.
• Another herb that has been remarkably effective in bringing down cholesterol levels is chitrak-adhivati. Taking 1 200-mg. tablet twice a day, after lunch and dinner, will help bring cholesterol back to normal.

HOT WATER AND HONEY. Early in the morning, drink 1 cup of hot water into which you add 1 teaspoon of honey. This will help to “scrape” fat from your system and reduce cholesterol. Adding 1 teaspoon of lime juice or 10 drops of apple cider vinegar will make the drink more effective.

FOODS THAT REDUCE CHOLESTEROL. In addition to avoiding high-fat foods, you can eat certain foods that in themselves help to reduce cholesterol. These include blue corn, quinoa, millet, and oatmeal. Some research suggests that apples, grapefruit, and almonds can also help reduce cholesterol.

YOGA POSTURES. Yoga postures that are good for controlling cholesterol include the Sun Salutation, Shoulder Stand, Peacock, Cobra, Spinal Twist, Locust, and Lotus.

BREATHING
EXERCISE. The breathing exercise known as Breath of Fire

(bhastrika) is also helpful. (See chapter 6 for instructions.)