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