Home Remedies for High Blood Cholesterol.
Cholesterol, a yellowish fatty substance, is one of the essential ingredients of the body. Although
it is essential to life, it has a bad reputation, being a major villain in heart disease. Every person
with high blood cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attack or a stroke. Most
of the cholesterol found in the body is produced in the liver. However, about twenty to thirty
percent generally comes from the foods we eat.
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per 100 millimeters of blood. The normal level of cholesterol
varies between 150 — 200 mg per 100 ml. In blood, cholesterol occurs in combination with certain
lipids (fats), hence, known as lipoproteins. There are two main types of lipoproteins: a low density
one (LDL) and a high density one (HDL). The low density lipoprotein is the one which is considered
harmful and is associated with cholesterol deposit in blood vessels. The higher the ratio of LDL to
the total cholesterol, the greater will be the risk of arterial damage and heart disease. HDL, on the
other hand, plays a salutary role by helping remove cholesterol from circulation and thereby
reducing the risk of heart disease.
Hypercholesterolemia or increase in cholesterol is mainly a hereditary disorder. It is also caused by
taking rich foods and fried foods; excessive consumption of milk and its products like ghee, butter,
and cream; white flour, sugar, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, and ice cream; and non-vegetarian
foods like meat, fish, and eggs. Other causes of increase in cholesterol are irregularity in habits,
smoking, and drinking alcohol. Stress has also been found to be a major cause of increased level
of cholesterol.