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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

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Skull Shining Breathing Technique

This pose helps to increase the metabolic rate and also reduces the fatty deposits in the body. The LDL content in the body also gets dissipated through this pose. To do this yoga, sit straight and place the ankles of each foot on the thigh of the other leg. Make sure that your spine is straight. Now breathe in through the nose and let it out with force, so that your stomach goes in. Continue doing this for a minute or two.
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Wheel Pose

This yoga exercise helps tone the abdomen and improves liver functionality, which also reduces the risk of high cholesterol. Lie on you back and bring the knees closer to your body, while keeping the legs planted to the ground. Now, place your hands on the ground above your head in such a manner that the fingers face toward the shoulder. The elbows of both hands should be shoulder width apart. Now push your body up while supporting it with the hands and legs.
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Locust Pose

This pose helps reduce constipation and enhances liver function. Lie on you stomach and place your hands beside the body in such a way that the palm rests on the ground. Now raise your legs and lower body off the surface of the ground, while keeping your chest planted.
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Shoulder Stand

This yoga pose helps improve abdominal organ functions and digestion. Lie on your back and place your hands on the hips. Now raise your legs without bending the knees. With your elbows planted to the ground, support the hip and raise it off the ground as well. If you succeed, only your head will remain horizontal in the ground, while your remaining body will be vertical. Hold this pose for some time and, again go back to the initial pose.

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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    Written ByDr. Jyoti MongaBachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)Ayurveda
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    Reviewed ByDr. Bhupindera Jaswant SinghMD - Consultant PhysicianGeneral Physician
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