Let's Troll that Cholesterol

So a few days ago.....

I’m sitting opposite two gulab jamuns and a plate full of French fries and someone mentions the bad guy - “cholesterol”!?So I sigh and push them away to opt for some nuts and fresh fruit instead.?Sad story of our lives especially if one features in the “heavy” category.

But I’ve been thinking you know,?why can’t I enjoy an occasional treat if I’m eating healthy most of the times?!?So I got down to researching how I could make my every day meals healthier to dilute the guilt of treating myself to something not-so-healthy once in a while.

Before I tell you how to hack it, I will share an Ayurvedic view of Cholesterol. First of all, it is important to understand that cholesterol is not mentioned in the Ayurvedic tradition. Rather, the Ayurvedic texts discuss?meda dhatu?(lipid tissue) and explain how to maintain a healthy quantity and quality of fat tissue in the body. When meda dhatu is balanced and healthy, that subsequently helps to maintain balanced cholesterol.

It’s important to understand that cholesterol in itself is not bad and is actually essential for the body to function properly. So, in the Ayurvedic perspective, the production of cholesterol does not necessarily need to be lessened, but it needs to be balanced. When the digestion is balanced and healthy, then the body produces the right amount of cholesterol, in the right proportion to nourish the body.

Here’s what I came up with – a list on how to tweak your everyday diet and cut down your risk of shooting cholesterol.?

If you follow these 6 rules along with a reasonably active lifestyle and regular workouts you can actually go ahead and have that occasional treat to celebrate your success of keeping cholesterol at bay J.

So here goes a list of the top foods to keep your cholesterol down.?

1. Non salted, non sugared nuts.?Almonds and walnuts especially contain high polyunsaturated fatty acids and help the body get rid of newly formed cholesterol deposits.?Replace saturated fats in your snacks and meals with nuts and it’ll help you prevent weight gain too.?
2. Psyllium Husk - Not many people know this but if you soak 1 tbsp of Psyllium Husk in a glass of lemonade or Lemon water, and keep it for an hour, it will blow up into a gel-like substance. Add some flavor or drink it just like that. Psyllium husk also helps lower LDL cholesterol levels as well as two other lipid markers for heart disease, according to a study in the Sept. 15, 2018,?American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
3. Omega 3 fatty acids. Our body makes this polyunsaturated fat on its own.?But to get enough you can try fish like Mackerel, Salmon, Halibut, Sardines, Herring, etc. which are all very high in Omega 3.?Two servings of baked or grilled fish with very little oil will protect your heart like nothing else does. And if you are vegetarian, then Chia, Hemp or Flax seeds supply you with enough Omega-3.?
4. Oatmeal. Full of soluble dietary fibre, manganese, selenium, magnesium, beta glucan (a polysaccharide) - you can’t beat oatmeal when it comes to fighting the bad cholesterol.?One and a half cups of cooked oatmeal gives you fibre equal to 6 grams.?Binge on oatmeal to beat the bad guys. Fibre is your buddy when it comes to cholesterol.
5. Raw onions and garlic. If you’re fond of eating raw onions with your food then you’re doing a great job thinning your blood and lowering LDL levels.?Raw garlic is equally effective and if you regularly include both in your meals it will serve to bring down your risk of clogged arteries which often lead to heart disease.?
6. What else??All kinds of veggies and fruits are your friends for life if your goal is to look after your cholesterol.?Your worst enemies are sweets, oil, coconut, meats, egg yolks and even coffee.?If you like chicken, make sure it is cooked without the skin and fat.?

A great way to avoid allopathic medication is to substitute it with Shudh Guggulu which is an Ayurvedic medicinal herb that helps reduce the bad cholesterol and triglycerides.?Rich in antioxidants, this formula regulates cholesterol levels to prevent heart disease.?

Someone said “though you can’t go back and start again, you can start from now and have a brand new end”.?Start with a new morning tomorrow, a healthy one.?

Will be back with more soon, till then take care and keep smiling.

Puneet Aggarwal

Disclaimer : I am not a doctor. This email is only meant for educational purposes. This is not intended to serve as medical advice. For medical advice, please contact a certified and registered Physician/ Ayurvedic doctor.