Does liver detox help lower blood cholesterol?

Read to know how the liver helps you to control cholesterol levels in the body.

When you say cholesterol, the first thing that comes to the mind is heart disease. It is known that accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries can block the blood supply and put you at risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease. But what many people do not know is the fact that liver plays a key role in controlling cholesterol level in the body. Hence, if you want to lower your risk for heart disease and reduce cholesterol levels, the best approach is to keep your liver healthy. Dr Reena Rawat, Senior Ayurvedic Doctor, Dr Shikha's NutriHealth explains the role of the liver to maintain cholesterol in the body. Here are 8 natural remedies that can help lower cholesterol levels.

Does liver detox help lower blood cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that circulates in the bloodstream and is required in the production of bile acids and steroid hormones. But it is very important to note that liver is not only responsible for the production of cholesterol in the body, it also plays an important role to remove cholesterol from the body. The liver is responsible for regulating up to 80% of cholesterol levels while rest 20% is regulated by food. Here's more on HDL & LDL cholesterol what do they mean?

In Ayurveda, there is a concept of cleansing and detoxifying the liver to improve its efficiency and functioning. Liver detox helps you to prevent high levels of cholesterol in the blood. The liver is an important part of the digestive system. Liver is the seat of pitta (fire, or the trans-formative element) dosha which is responsible for the digestion of fat. If the liver is overloaded with too many toxins, it loses its ability to eliminate the toxins. Hence to lower the cholesterol level in blood it is important to improve the functioning of liver so that the bad cholesterol can also be removed from the body.

To do so, lower the intake of foods such as saturated fats derived from meat and dairy products that raise the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in the blood. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats like vegetable oils (Canola oil, Olive oil) can lower the LDL cholesterol, so up the intake of these foods. Also, herbs such as aloe vera, guduchi, punarnava, shudh guggul help to flush accumulated fats and cholesterol from the liver. However, consult an Ayurvedic expert before you take any Ayurvedic herbs for the liver detox. Here are 6 expert diet tips to detox or cleanse the liver naturally.

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