Diet Management - Ayurveda's Take On Spiking Cholesterol Levels

From Ayurveda's perspective, cholesterol isn’t bad. However, it can have a harmful effect when ama is present in the body. Ama (bodily toxins) are basically metabolic left-overs that get accumulated in the fat tissue. It is sticky, heavy and foul smelling in nature and formed due to improper digestion that blocks the srotas (channels of the body), such as the arteries.

When cholesterol mixes with ama, it changes the quality of the medas dhatus (fat tissue), making it unhealthy rather than healthy. As you can see, mixing of ama with fat tissue is the primary cause of imbalanced cholesterol. Here’s how you can balance it.

Follow a light Kapha-pacifying diet that helps better your increase your metabolism. A Kapha-pacifying diet reduces the production of ama, favors bitter, astringent, and pungent foods. Since Kapha is dense, thick and heavy in nature, a kapha pacifying diet includes foods like dried beans, lentils, split moong dal, etc.
Avoid indulging in sweet, savory, or tart foods. And by sweet foods, we don’t just mean sugary treats. Even rice, wheat, pasta, bread etc. contain sugar in it. Same is the case with sour foods. It does not only include lemons or other citrus fruits. Foods like yoghurt, cheese, tomatoes and vinegar also fall under the sour category.
Avoid raw, cold food, as it would lead to aggravation of Kapha.
Consume ghee or olive oil in a small quantity is beneficial, but overdoing it can spike your cholesterol level.

To lower cholesterol naturally, Ayurveda does more than just recommend cholesterol-lowering foods. It insists on making certain dietary changes that will balance the body’s overall fat-burning metabolism. So incorporate these recommendations in your diet and lifestyle to alleviate the symptoms of high cholesterol.

For more advice on how to keep your cholesterol in check, talk to a Jiva doctor today. Dial 0129-4040404 or click on ‘Speak to a Doctor’ under the CONNECT tab in Jiva Health App.