Lowering Cholesterol with Guggulipid

It may have a funny-sounding name, but Guggulipid is nothing to laugh at: it’s a seriously effective cholesterol-lowering supplement. Best of all, it’s 100% natural. Guggulipid, whose Latin name is Commiphora mukul, is a substance with origins to northern India where it is extracted from the gummy resin of the thorny mukul myrrh tree. Its use has been widespread and dates back at least 2,000 years, for various ailments from arthritis to hemorrhoids.

It was animal studies that initially recognized Guggulipid’s cholesterol-lowering properties. It was also found to protect the arteries against atherosclerosis, the hardening that leads to heart attacks. This prompted further studies, on humans, specifically to deduce what benefits Guggulipid had on cholesterol levels.

So how does it work? Guggulipid blocks the activity of a receptor that slows down the elimination of excess cholesterol. When the receptor is inhibited, the “flushing out” of cholesterol can continue. In addition, Guggulipid has been found to possess blood thinning and antioxidant properties as well, which also aid in the treatment and prevention of heart disease and elevated cholesterol levels.

If you would like to add Guggulipid to your health care regimen, be sure you’re choosing the proper supplement; not all are created equal. Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Beware of fillers and additives such as starch, gluten, silica, or artificial colors and flavors.

• Choose only a supplement that comes from a standardized extract. The resin that Guggulipid comes from contains several toxic substances, and only supplements from standardized extracts have had these removed.

• The nutritional supplement industry is largely unregulated, so do your homework on the manufacturing facility, its product standards, and quality control.

Though it is considered safe and effective, consult your physician if you are considering the replacement of your cholesterol-lowering drugs with Guggulipid.