Lipids are some of the things you can’t live without, inasmuch as they play an indispensable role in keeping your body tissues functional. At the molecular level they take on varied jobs, from covering the interior of every cell in the body from the outside environment to keeping a network of messengers between organs and systems to supervise coordinated body functions. But a few of these lipids bring more harm in large numbers, and are thus dubbed bad cholesterol. The good news is that you can do something about it since their numbers are proportional to the foods you eat, saturated fats in particular. In addition, we have a wide array of supplements that decrease cholesterol levels today, Guggul being one of the naturally occurring cholesterol-lowering substances.

Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Chemical reactions in the human body require the use of the lipids cholesterol and triglycerides. They are released into the bloodstream by the liver and distributed to parts of the body that need them. Some of the processes cholesterol takes part in are the productions of bile acids, which are secreted into the intestines to aid the digestion process, and fat-soluble substances known as vitamins, which of course are nutrients of high significance to healthy life. Triglycerides, on the other hand, are energy sources that give off twice as much caloric content as carbohydrates in addition to being the primary form of transport of fatty acids in the bloodstream. However, these lipids don’t get anywhere without LDL, low-density lipoproteins.

Low-density Lipoproteins

Remember that the lipids cholesterol and triglycerides are incapable of getting dissolved in water. With that, low-density lipoproteins serve as transport shells for these lipids all the way from the liver, through the water-based bloodstream, and into each cell, which makes use of them primarily as part of the lipid layers of cell membranes. Now as they travel inside the blood vessels low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides leave behind fatty deposits, which contributes to the formation of plaques stuck to the walls of arteries. As the fatty materials build up within the walls, the plaques thicken, and result in the subsequent inflammatory reaction characteristic of the medical condition called atherosclerosis.

Guggul and Cholesterol Synthesis

There are continued studies focused on the correlation between high levels of bad cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases, but there’s a reason why it’s called bad cholesterol in the first place. In addition, the recent trend on the regular intake of cholesterol-lowering drugs point to patients at risk for heart diseases consequently having better quality of life, including those who take advantage of the medicinal benefits of guggul. The herb’s active ingredient called guggulsterone has been linked to the production of cholesterol in the liver, targeting the synthesis by which the liver manufactures cholesterol. Guggul has in fact been in use for over 3000 years in Ayurvedic medicine and noted for its substance that lowers cholesterol.

Guggul and other wonderful herbs like guggul are available at your local or internet vitamin store in capsule or tablet forms. Always choose name brands to ensure quality and purity of the product you purchase for better health.