Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Herbs and Aging Baby Boomers

Cholesterol is a fat like substance that is made in the liver. However, it is also a substance that collects in our arteries and tends to plug them up. If the body makes the cholesterol then it must be a needed substance. It is; it is necessary for proper body functions. We could not live without it.

It helps form and is part of the outer layer of the cells, the cell membrane. Part of the cell membrane, called phospholipids, is responsible for forming the different types of cell membrane layers. This in turn aids in the proper communication between the cells and enables us to function properly. Needless to say, the cells would not repair and replace properly without the cholesterol.

Normally the excess cholesterol that our bodies produce is converted to bile acid and excreted from the body. There are two simple possibilities here. One is that we continuously eat the wrong foods and over produce and exceed the accepted levels of cholesterol. The second is that we do not eat enough nutrients to allow our bodies to properly take care of the excess. In either case, elevated levels of cholesterol are then found in our blood.

A Few Facts

I want to point out again that the body NEEDS cholesterol. It is a major factor in allowing the cells to communicate together. Bile acids, helping in digestion, are produced in the liver by its action. Steroids that help control many body functions are produced because of cholesterol and myelin sheaths, responsible for making sure electrical impulses are properly routed in the brain, are actually made of high levels of layered cholesterol.

In addition, the immune system is strengthened. Higher levels of cholesterol have been shown to increase the number of lymphocytes and T-cell. Lastly, it is that which gives stability to the repair and rebuilding of our body's cells. Without this stability, our body's tissues and functions would quickly begin to deteriorate.

Now, with the above being said, there are many people who indeed have high levels that are not acceptable. The American Heart Organization states that an estimated 106 million Americans have low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels over 200. I will also note here that there are many that say that number is much too low to be a standard. There is an additional note to be made here. Proper nutrition, the major issue concerning heart disease, must also be maintained.

The following herbs are listed for the purpose to show that the body can maintain, through their use, the correct levels of cholesterol, no matter what the lipid number is.

Note: While not an herb, I would be amiss if in this discussion I failed to mention that Vitamin C is one of the best regulators for the body's maintenance of cholesterol.

TRIGLYCERIDES

Much like cholesterol, triglycerides are also a form of lipid (fat). They are derived from the fat out of meat and diary products. The triglycerides also have a very special role in our life cycle. They are the energy source for our cells.

They are formed in chains of fatty acids which supply the needed energy. The triglycerides may also be over abundant in the body and show up as a surplus in the blood stream. When they do, there may be the danger of accumulation in the blood vessels.

The following herbs have all been found to help in maintaining the balance of both cholesterol and triglycerides. While there are many others that are reported to help lower lipid levels, these seem to be the more prominent ones found in my research.

This information is meant only as a starting point for your further research and no specific claims for effectiveness or healing are being made.

Guggulipid

Guggulipid is derived from the resin of a small, thorny plant from India. Studies have been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The study at the University of Texas and Baylor University shows that it accomplishes this by affecting its metabolism in the liver.

Notes: There have been a few studies that have shown Guggulipid to be ineffective in lowering lipid levels. There is also a caution that people who use thyroid medication or high blood pressure medicine should avoid this herbal supplement.

Green Tea

Green Tea has many benefits and among them is the ability to lower the amount of LDL's in the blood stream. It is able to accomplish this by preventing absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.

Ginger

Ginger contains active ingredients known as phenol compounds. It is these compounds that helps in reducing low density lipoprotein, LDL. The Lipid Research Laboratory produced a study that showed this was accomplished in two ways. One was that the ginger prevented the body from absorbing cholesterol produced in the liver. Secondly, it increased the amount that was turned into bile salts in the liver and eliminated from the body.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains an ingredient called curcumin. Many studies have been done in the past few years and have shown several benefits. Polyphenols and curcuminoids are the main active compounds in curcumin. They help in preventing oxidative damage to cells, preventing the plaques associated with Alzheimer's Disease and among other benefits helps to lower cholesterol.

One study showed that when curcumin was given at a dose of 1.66mg/kg body weight orally to rabbits that were fed a high fat and cholesterol diet resulted in a significant decrease in oxidized-LDL levels after 7 weeks of treatment.

Red Rice Yeast

Red rice yeast commonly used for flavoring and coloring was primarily used in Asian cultures. Its value comes from having a statin type substance, monacolin K, which is nearly identical to lovastatin. It is this statin ability that enables it to lower the lipid count in the body.

Olive Leaf

olive Leaf contains a substance known as Oleuropein. It is a phytochemical and is the dominant compound that is contained in the extract. The different constituents of the olive leaf have been tested and found to be extremely beneficial against such ailments as viral infections, bacterial infections, yeast and fungal infections. But, for our discussion, it has been studied and shown to lower bad cholesterol up to 30 percent

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