Cholesterol levels are undoubtedly a concern for people who care about their health status. High cholesterol levels are a primary risk factor for many chronic diseases, including heart diseases, hypertension, angina, strokes, and peripheral vascular diseases. Therefore, cholesterol levels should be carefully controlled. Luckily, there are some herbs that can help keep your cholesterol levels under control.

Herbs to Lower Cholesterol

1. Coriander Seeds

Total cholesterol levels is made up of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride levels. LDL is considered as the bad cholesterol and high levels of LDL are undesirable. You can use coriander seeds to lower LDL and triglycerides levels by the following steps:

• Take two tablespoons of coriander seeds powder and mix them in one cup of boiling water.
• Boil and strain it.
• Drink once or twice a day.

2. Onions

Onions can help lower bad cholesterol levels while at the same time maintain good cholesterol levels. The quercetin, an antioxidant found in onions, is what gives onion this ability. Do as the following:

• Use it as a garnish in the diet together with garlic and ginger.
• Extract onion juice, and add one teaspoon of the juice to one teaspoon of honey. Drink the mixture once daily.
• Make a mixture of finely chopped onion, a tablespoon of pepper and a cup of buttermilk. Drink it daily.

3. Indian Gooseberry

Also known as amla, it is an effective herb to lower cholesterol levels. It works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA that promotes the formation of cholesterol. Besides, the consumption of it can also raise the good cholesterol levels. Do as the following:

• Extract gooseberry powder by grinding, and add one teaspoon of the powder in a cup of warm water.
• Add a tablespoon of honey to the mixture and drink this mixture daily on an empty stomach.

4. Garlic

When it comes to herbs to lower cholesterol, you should not forget garlic. It contains high concentrations of allicin and sulphur. At low levels, allicin can inhibits the synthesis of the enzyme HMG-CoA which is responsible for the formation of cholesterol. At high levels, it also inhibits synthesis of other precursors of cholesterol. You may use garlic as a regular garnish in soups or consume it in its raw form as a salad dressing.

5. Turmeric

This is also a highly effective herb to lower cholesterol levels. Curcumin is the effective ingredient in turmeric, and it works by increasing the number of receptors of the bad cholesterol, which can help prevent cholesterol from building up. Besides, turmeric can also prevent the oxidation of  the bad cholesterol. Oxidized cholesterol can build up as plagues in blood vessels, causing narrowing of arteries that leads to cardiovascular diseases. You can add some turmeric powders in dishes to get the benefits of this herb.

6. Brinjal

Brinjal contains chlorogenic acid which is a kind of antioxidant that can prevent cholesterol from increasing. Besides, it also contains high levels of potassium, vitamins B1 and B6, manganese, niacin, folate, copper that aid in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. You can bake brinjal, and use it as a meat substitute. Alternatively, you can marinate, roast, fry or grill it to consume.

7. Green Tea

Green tea can help lower cholesterol levels. It contains epigallocatechin gallate which is the major catechin compound in tea. This compound is a very strong antioxidant which can help to reduce cholesterol levels. Take 3-4 cups of green tea daily to get the benefits.

8. Artichoke Leaf

The widely consumed vegetable is one of these effective herbs to lower cholesterol levels. The leaves contain a primary compound known as cynarin which can boost the production of bile in the liver, therefore aid in the excreting of cholesterol. Simply incorporating artichoke leaf in your diet or having it as a salad can help.

9. Alfalfa

Alfalfa supplements have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels by blocking the absorption of bad cholesterol. Besides, the chemicals and fiber in alfalfa can stick to bad cholesterol, thus prevent its attachment to artery walls. If taken as alfalfa seeds, the recommended dose is 40 mg a day and if in capsule form, the dosage is 1 g and three times a day. However, its supplements should not be taken by people with lupus.

10. Evening Primrose Oil

This is one of the effective herbs to lower cholesterol. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), the active ingredient in evening primrose oil, can promote the production of prostaglandins which is an effective substance that fights against high cholesterol. Adults should take 6 to 8 grams of this supplement every day to get its effects. However, this supplement must not be taken by people suffering from seizures or who are having antidepressants.