| Guggul is gum resin that can be used to lower | | | | products made from hydrogenated margarines |
| cholesterol and boost your liver function, | | | | and oils widely used in the bakery industry. |
| though it has been used for thousands of | | | | Also from rapeseed and palm oils and |
| years in India to treat a number of diseases | | | | coconuts. Saturated fats are also contained |
| and conditions. However, its mode of action | | | | in French fries and similar fried foods using |
| is completely different to that of most other | | | | certain vegetable oils, and also potato |
| cholesterol lowering agents. The active | | | | chips. Even vegetarians and vegans can suffer |
| ingredient is known as guggulsterone, which | | | | from high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is |
| is a plant sterol that increases the amount | | | | manufactured in the liver and taken up by LDL |
| of body cholesterol into bile acids by the | | | | for distribution by the blood. However, a |
| liver. Bile acids are an essential part of | | | | large proportion of that cholesterol is used |
| our digestion system, working to emulsify the | | | | by the liver to manufacture bile, essential |
| oils and fats we eat and covert them into a | | | | for digestion of fats. This bile is stored in |
| form suitable for transferring to the blood | | | | the gall bladder, and released into the upper |
| and use elsewhere in the body. They also help | | | | intestine on the ingestion of fatty food. The |
| the body make use of fat soluble vitamins | | | | bile acids and fats pass down the intestine, |
| such as vitamins A and E. The resin used in | | | | where the fats are emulsified into a form |
| this Ayurvedic remedy comes from the stem of | | | | suitable for absorption by the body. The bile |
| a tree called Mukul myrrh that grows | | | | acids are then absorbed in the final part of |
| throughout India. Ayurvedic medicine is said | | | | the ileum by proteins that carry them back to |
| to have originated from ancient Hindu texts, | | | | the liver where they are recirculated into |
| but is now thought to have evolved over | | | | the bile. Once the level of bile acids in the |
| thousands of years. The basis of the medicine | | | | body reaches a certain level, a chemical |
| is contained in two Sanskrit texts written on | | | | known as the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) stops |
| palm leaves and form the basis of modern | | | | the liver from converting cholesterol into |
| Ayurvedic training. Guggul has been used for | | | | bile. Although only 5% of the bile is |
| millennia in the treatment of skin | | | | excreted from the body and needs replaced, |
| conditions, rheumatism, arthritis, | | | | this still accounts for 50% of the body's |
| cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol. | | | | usage of cholesterol. The production of bile |
| Being an oily fat, cholesterol is not soluble | | | | from cholesterol operates on a closed loop |
| in blood plasma and hence cannot be carried | | | | system, with a feedback that maintains a |
| around the body without a carrier. These | | | | constant level of bile acids. The feedback is |
| carriers are known as low density | | | | controlled by FXR that detects the current |
| lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. | | | | level of bile acids and represses the enzyme |
| The LDL carries cholesterol to where it is | | | | (CYP7A1) that stimulates bile manufacture |
| needed by the body, and is a sticky substance | | | | until a minimum level has been reached when |
| that can also deposit cholesterol in the | | | | the CYP7A1 is re-activated. By blocking the |
| arteries that are carrying it. This can form | | | | action of FXR, the guggulsterone in guggul |
| a hard coating on the inside of the arteries | | | | continues the conversion of cholesterol to |
| called plaque, and effectively narrow them | | | | bile acids by the liver without interruption. |
| and harden them up. This atherosclerosis, as | | | | The liver has to use more LDL cholesterol for |
| it is called, is a dangerous condition, and | | | | this and so reduces the overall amount of |
| if a blood clot encounters the narrow part of | | | | cholesterol in the body, specifically the LDL |
| an artery so affected it can be blocked. If | | | | type. A double blind study in India showed a |
| in the heart, then this can cause a heart | | | | total cholesterol reduction of 11.7%, |
| attack, and if in the brain it can give rise | | | | including a 12.7% reduction in LDL and a 12% |
| to a stroke, both potentially fatal | | | | reduction in blood fat (triglyceride) levels, |
| conditions. HDL, on the other hand, carries | | | | and other studies have indicated a total |
| excess cholesterol back to the liver for | | | | cholesterol reduction of up to 27% and |
| destruction or conversion to bile, and is a | | | | triglycerides of up to 30%. The Indians |
| free flowing liquid material known as 'good | | | | believe guggul to be so effective that is has |
| cholesterol'. Cholesterol is needed by the | | | | been approved as a treatment for high |
| body and so cannot be eliminated completely. | | | | cholesterol by the Indian government. The |
| That would be even more dangerous. One of the | | | | connection with FXR has been confirmed by |
| major functions of cholesterol in the liver | | | | testing with mice with and without FXR. |
| is in the production of bile that is used by | | | | Another factor in high cholesterol levels is |
| your digestive process to emulsify fats. Any | | | | that an under-active thyroid can interfere |
| compound that could also carry out this vital | | | | with the liver's ability to process |
| function would mean that liver would have | | | | cholesterol. Guggul stimulates then |
| less cholesterol to manufacture. Your body | | | | production of thyroid hormones, and so can |
| receives a dietary supply of cholesterol from | | | | help to reduce excessive LDL cholesterol in |
| fatty animal sources such as meat, fats, eggs | | | | the blood cause through a low level of |
| and dairy products such as cheese and butter. | | | | thyroid hormone production. Overall, then, |
| There is no cholesterol in purely vegetable | | | | this Ayurvedic remedy for many ills can help |
| foods. However, that does not mean that | | | | anyone who needs to reduce the level of |
| vegans have no cholesterol, since as stated | | | | cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. |
| earlier, it is an essential substance in the | | | | Recommended dosages are about 1500 mg twice |
| body's metabolism. In fact, the liver is able | | | | daily, though if you are also taking statins |
| to generate all the cholesterol you need, and | | | | or are under treatment for cancer you should |
| that which is taken in your diet is | | | | first consult your doctor, as you should with |
| superfluous. The liver can manufacture | | | | all natural remedies that are new to you. |
| cholesterol from the trans and saturated fats | | | | |
| in your diet, and there are several sources | | | | More information can be found at where a |
| of these. Included among them are popcorn, | | | | large selection of Ayurvedic remedies like |
| vegetable shortening such as found in cookies | | | | guggul are available. |
| and donuts and other manufactured bakery | | | | |