Guggul cholesterol compound
This
natural ingredient is derived
from the mixture of plant
chemicals (ketonic steroids)
from the gum resin of Commiphora
mukul, called guggulipid, and is
an approved treatment of
hyperlipidemia in India. It has
been a mainstay of traditional
Indian herbal medicine (Ayurveda)
approaches in preventing high
cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
Clinical studies indicate it to
be effective in the treatment of
elevated cholesterol, elevated
triglyceride levels and elevated
LDL (bad cholesterol) levels.
Studies have also shown that LDL
oxidation, which is the main
cause of plaque build in the
arteries, can be prevented or at
least decreased by the
antioxidant activity of Guggul.
Clinical studies on Guggul
indicate that its hypolipidemic
activity (decreasing cholesterol
and other lipids) can be
attributed to more than one
mechanism. Three of the possible
mechanisms include inhibition of
cholesterol biosynthesis, enhancing the rate of excretion
of cholesterol and promoting
rapid degradation of
cholesterol.
Guggul is
typically manufactured in a
standardized form that provides
a fixed amount of guggulipid,
the presumed active ingredients
in Guggul. Guggul helps reduce
high cholesterol, because it
lowers harmful LDL (low-density
lipoproteins) while elevating
the beneficial HDL (high-density
lipoproteins). Guggul also has
anti-inflammatory activity and
reduces the levels of C-reactive
protein. It helps prevent blood
platelet aggregation and breaks
up blood clots. Thus, Guggul can
be used not only to lower bad
cholesterol but can be used as a
preventative against heart
disease and stroke.
