65 million Americans have high cholesterol, but almost none of them experience symptoms. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the fats in your blood. Though cholesterol is necessary to continue building healthy cells in the body, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries). Implementing acupuncture alongside lifestyle changes can lower cholesterol naturally and safely and reduce risk of heart disease.
Acupuncture for Lowering Cholesterol
As levels of LDL cholesterol rise, it can oxidize and create inflammation in the veins. While immune system cells called macrophages attempt to attack and "eat" the cholesterol, they can be caught up in and damaged by the excess fatty material and cholesterol. The damaged macrophage cell is known as a foam cell. The presence of foam cells indicate atherosclerosis beginning in the arteries and veins.
Acupuncture has been proven in clinical studies to increase the rate of cholesterol efflux from macrophage cells. Cholesterol efflux is a cholesterol-eliminating process that is regulated by intercellular transporters. By eliminating cholesterol rapidly and safely from cells in a way that doesn't cause toxicity, acupuncture lowers high cholesterol and reduces chances of heart disease and dangerous plaque buildup.
Acupuncture also improves blood flow and increases microcirculation to decrease inflammation in the veins caused by LDL cholesterol. In studies, electroacupuncture (where a light electric current is passed into the needles) effectively stimulated cholesterol efflux. Electroacupuncture also induced expression of nitric oxide in the body to further lower cholesterol levels.
Lifestyle Changes for Lowering Cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol levels are most commonly accompanied by a diet high in saturated fats and a sedentary lifestyle. Reducing processed, fatty foods and refined sugars in the diet will help lower cholesterol and keep it low.
Foods to include in your diet are:
Leafy green vegetables
Fruits
Soy
Garlic
Onions
Avocados
Salmon
Nuts (almonds and walnuts)
Green tea
Copper and chromium as well as Omega-3 oils (such as flax seed or fish oil) have also been shown to help reduce cholesterol. Consult with a functional medicine practitioner before taking any supplements to lower cholesterol.
An acupuncture treatment regimen along with lifestyle changes can naturally lower high cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease!
If you or a loved one have high cholesterol, let us help you today! Call us at (321) 972-2940 to schedule your initial health consultation.
Sources:
HealthCMI. "Acupuncture Lowers High Cholesterol." (December 24, 2014). Retrieved from http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1413-acupuncture-lowers-high-cholesterol
HealthCMI. "Acupuncture Reverses High Cholesterol Cell Fat." (July 23, 2014). Retrieved from http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1344-acupuncture-reverses-high-cholesterol-cell-fat
Joswick, D. "Acupuncture for Cholesterol Management." (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+for+Cholesterol+Management