Yoga Treatment of High Cholesterol

MEANING
Cholesterol is the steroid lipid found in the outer cell membranes of all body tissues. Cholesterol is sometimes known as sterol, which is a high combination of alcohol and steroid. A person can face health problem with the rise of the cholesterol level. High cholesterol level in the body can cause arterial disease or coronary heart disease.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major clinical symptoms for cholesterol. In this condition, the cholesterol level increases and it can cause several heart and cardiovascular diseases.
• Hypocholesterolemia is also another symptom which is caused when the cholesterol level falls abnormally low.

CAUSES
It is said that the cholesterol level of the body is dependent on the food a person consumes. Certain foods which affect the cholesterol level include:

• Shellfish
• Eggs
• Red meat
• Foods that contain saturated fat

YOGIC MANAGEMENT
Yoga is highly beneficial for the treatment of high cholesterol. Some important asanas for cholesterol management include:

• Vajrasana.
• Padmasana.
• Shalabhasana.
• Ardhyamatsyendrasana.
• Kapalbhati Pranayama is considered the best practice to reduce the cholesterol level.
• Meditation and breathing exercises also help.

HOME REMEDIES

• One can regularly drink coriander with water to reduce the cholesterol levels. This also improves the functioning of kidneys. Positive changes can be seen after a month.
• Boiled milk with one piece of garlic helps in lowering the level of cholesterol. It is also recommended for people who have cardiac pains.
• One can eat a piece of garlic every morning.
• Regular consumption of walnuts and almonds can also help in lowering the cholesterol level.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

• Arjuna is an effective herb that allows one to achieve proper balance in the level of cholesterol. One can consume it as Arjuna Ghritam and Arjunarishtha.
• Prabhakara Vati and Hridayarnava Rasa are also popular Ayurvedic treatments for cholesterol problems.
• Mrigamadasava can be prescribed if a person has a high level of cholesterol.
• Alfalfa is useful to clear cholesterol congestion from the arteries.
• Guggulu, a traditional herb of India, has been identified as an important medicine for the treatment of heart and cholesterol problems. The Guggulsterones contained in this herb can reduces cholesterol.
• Holy Basil can dissolve accumulated cholesterol from a person’s arteries and carry it to the bloodstream. This ultimately gets eliminated through the kidneys.

CONCLUSION
The cholesterol level of a person depends on the food consumes. One should make a chart of calorie intake. A person should avoid those foods which have high calorie count, such as red meat, ice creams and chocolates. Fried food should also be avoided. One should also refrain from the consumption of groundnut oil. Butter, ghee and cow’s milk are recommended, but buffalo dairy products should not be consumed. Consumption of fruits, fresh green leafy vegetables can help balance the cholesterol level of a person. Drinking large quantities of water can also help drain the toxins from the body and checks the level of cholesterol.

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Kapalbhati Pranayama

Kapalbhati Pranayama , another type of breathe control exercise, if practiced regularly, helps to get cure various ailments better than medicines or other therapies.
As the name suggests, "Kapal" means forehead and "bhati" means shining. As a result of Kapabhati Pranayama, a glow appears on the forehead of the person performing it.

How to do it?

• Kapalabhati is done in a sitting posture. The thumb rule is that the concentration must be on "exhaling". Inhaling does not need attention, must be as usual.
• Exhale and make sure that the abdominal muscles are contracted with each exhalation.
• Exhaling must be continued without paying any attention to inhaling all the time.
• Exhale as long as you can.
• Kapalbhati pranayama is recommended to be practiced for about 5 minutes. If one feels comfortable then the duration can be increased to a maximum of 10 minutes.
• Short breaks can be taken for a while at the beginning of Kapalbhati pranayama till one gets habitual of it.
• Kapalabhati helps control obesity, diabetes, kidney and prostate diseases, heart, brain and lung problems and many other diseases

Benefits: cleansing, invigorating, warming, prevents illness and allergies

This breath control is a series of rapid, forced exhales followed by passive inhales. Yoga experts suggest doing it at the beginning of a yoga session. In Kundalini practice, Kapalabhati breath is sometimes done while holding poses.

• Choose a cross-legged position for sitting and make sure that you feel comfortable.
• Start with deep inhaling 2 or 3 times and exhale through the nose.
• Inhale till you feel comfortable followed by sharp and forceful exhalations through the nose.
• Make sure that the belly goes in with each exhalation.
• Concentration must be on passive inhalations, and the cycle of forceful exhales and passive inhales must be continued at a fast pace, so that the belly is pumping continuously.
• Do three rounds of thirty breaths each, coming back to deep inhales and exhales between each round.
• Come back to normal breathing if you feel lightheaded at any time.