Yoga For Cholesterol And It's Health Benefits
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2025
Benefits of yoga for cholesterol
When someone hears about cholesterol the only things which comes to mind are strokes, diabetes, and heart attack. If anyone has high cholesterol then the occurrence of any of the above disease is possible. Doctors usually recommend oral medications for lowering cholesterol level however, yoga is the best and the most natural form of reducing high cholesterol level. There have been several studies which have indicated positive effects of yoga on lowering the cholesterol level.
Yoga works on reducing the cholesterol level by addressing the various issues associated with it. There are several asanas in yoga that may help in the reduction of cholesterol. These yoga poses and asanas remove the waste and toxins from the body making one feel healthy from inside. This reduction in toxin and waste is helpful in the reduction of cholesterol. Yoga helps in losing weight which in turn stimulates the endocrine system and the cholesterol level becomes normal. Yoga asanas massage and stretch the muscles of the abdomen which improves their functioning thereby reducing bad cholesterol. Given below are some of the asanas that may provide help to a person who is looking to reduce cholesterol level naturally.
Yoga asanas for cholesterol
Skull Shining Breathing Technique
Wheel Pose
Locust Pose
Shoulder Stand
Conclusion
Doing yoga alone regularly is not sufficient in reducing the cholesterol level. A person needs to take a sensible diet as well. Consumption of a healthy diet leads to lowering of the bad cholesterol and rising of good cholesterol. For a person suffering from high cholesterol, foods with trans-fats, excessive sugar, and increased salt intake is like poison. Fast food is on top of the list which a person must avoid at any cost. Replacing these unhealthy foods with healthy foods should be the topmost priority of a person suffering from cholesterol. Fruits such as prunes, apple, banana, and pears must be incorporated into the diet. Foods rich in high fiber content like oat bran and oatmeal must be added to the diet.
This fiber-rich diet prevents the digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol. Cooking food in small quantity of olive oil helps in improving good cholesterol level. Legumes must be incorporated in the diet as they have sterols and stanols which restrict the cholesterol from being absorbed in the small intestine. Medicine for reducing the high cholesterol must be taken as advised by the doctor as it plays a pivotal role in improving the health of a person. However, combining yoga with healthy diet and medicine, positive effects would be observed at a much quicker pace.
References
- Gokal R, Shillito L, Maharaj SR. Positive impact of yoga and pranayam on obesity, hypertension, blood sugar, and cholesterol: a pilot assessment. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2007 Dec 1;13(10):1056-8. [Cited 23 April 2020]. Available from:
- Yang K. A review of yoga programs for four leading risk factors of chronic diseases. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2007;4(4):487-91. [Cited 23 April 2020]. Available from:
- Prasad KV, Sunita M, Raju PS, Reddy MV, Sahay BK, Murthy KJ. IMPACT OF PRANAYAMA AND YOGA ON LIPID PROFILE IN NORMAL HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. 2006 Feb 1;9(1). [Cited 23 April 2020]. Available from:
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