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