Cholesterol Lowering Herbs

There are two kinds of fats, saturated fats and also unsaturated fats. Then together with carbohydrates in the body, these compounds will be processed into acetyl coenzyme-A. From acetyl coenzyme-A was formed several important substances, such as fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol.

 

In addition to the process of metabolism, cholesterol is useful to wrap the nerve tissue (myelin), lining the cell membrane, and solvent vitamins. In children, cholesterol is needed to develop the brain tissue.

Cholesterol which is essentially derived from fat is a substance that is useful to perform bodily functions. As a source of energy, fat provides the highest calories. One gram of fat can converted into  9 calories, while carbohydrates can converted only 4 calories.

The most of the cholesterol produced by the body, the remaining produced from high cholesterol foods, such as flesh or meat, poultry skin, egg yolks and cooking oil. These food can give rise to saturated fats or bad cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein). Contrary, unsaturated fats (High Density Lipoprotein) derived from plants, such as soybean oil, not much effect on increasing cholesterol in the blood.

Cholesterol increases when we over-eat foods that contain saturated fats, both vegetable and animal sources. Increased cholesterol also occur due to decreased expenses (excretion) of cholesterol to the intestine via the bile acids or cholesterol in the liver to increase production.

Cholesterol tends to increase in people who are overweight, lack of exercise, stress, and heavy smokers. Cholesterol is known as the main cause of the atherosclerotic process, namely the process of calcification and hardening of artery walls, especially in the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. As a result of that process, blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries, become narrow and block blood flow in it. The situation above may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

There are many medicinal plants that proven as cholesterol lowering herbs. The below herbs are included of them:

1. Avocados (Persea americana)
This fruit is one of cholesterol lowering herbs because contain several vitamin, mineral and also rich in fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids. This componen that is capable to lowering levels of triglycerides and blood cholesterol.

2. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitate) 
This vegetable contain compounds like : Cyanohydroxybutene (CHB), sulforafan and iberin that can support the formation of glutathione which can lower cholesterol level. Cabbage also contains water, fiber, mineral, tinamide and beta-carotene.  

3. Onion (Cepae bulbus), containing flavonoids which can acts as antioxidants and also can lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar level. While Garlic (Allii bulbus) has the active ingredient like s-allyl cysteine​​, a component that has thioallyl hypolipidemic and antithrombotic properties.

4. Bastard Cadar (Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk.) is useful to reduce levels of fat and cholesterol content of blood through the mucus, tannins and alkaloid. All three substances that despite having a different mechanism of action, mutual support in lowering cholesterol and blood fat levels. When used orally, mucus of Bastard Cadar leaves will expand in the stomach. This will cause depressed appetite, thereby reducing the amino group. Dietary fiber that binds to the amino group is more effective than chitin or ordinary dietary fiber. These fibers can absorb fats and cholesterol are generally have negatively charged because these fibers have a positively charged amino groups.

5. Turmeric (Curcumae domesticae rhizoma) was included as cholesterol lowering herbs because its capable to launched of blood and also can remove the blockages.

6. Wild Ginger (Curcumae rhizoma) has colagoga activity (expedite expenses of bile to the intestines).

7. Celery ( Apii graveolentis radix) as cholesterol lowering herbs, can help increases bile acid secretion when cholesterol was broken down in the liver then to be removed from the body.

8. Red yeast rice, is often called the red rice Chinese, red yeast rice is a kind of fungus (Monascus purpureus). Angkak can be used to make red wine made ​​from rice, as a food preservative, and for medicine. Based on the study, red yeast rice can lower blood cholesterol levels.