by If you have high cholesterol, your doctor must have told you to avoid unhealthy foods. This means you need to have some control over fried foods, red meat, and desserts. Moving, exercising and doing yoga can also help. A 2014 study published in Sage Journals found that yoga is highly effective at improving LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol compared to no exercise. So how about trying yoga asanas to control cholesterol?
Yoga to control cholesterol
It seems that women have more cholesterol problems than men. In 2008, the global prevalence of high cholesterol among adults was 39 percent (40 percent for women and 37 percent for men), according to the World Health Organization. High cholesterol should not be taken lightly, as it increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the WHO, it is responsible for 2.6 million deaths worldwide. It is therefore essential to make the right food choices and incorporate exercises to reduce cholesterol levels. You can also do yoga to control cholesterol.
Here are some yoga poses that can help you manage your cholesterol levels:
1. Tadasana
Stretch your entire body upward while standing with your feet together and your palms facing forward.
This pose helps improve posture and digestion, indirectly helping in cholesterol control, says Dr. Mickey Mehta, a global holistic health guru and corporate life coach.
2. Trikonasana
Stand with your feet wide apart and raise your arm while reaching one hand to touch your toes on the other side.
This pose improves digestion, stretches the sides of the body and can lower cholesterol levels.
3. Paschimottanasana
Sit with your legs in front of you, lean forward to touch your toes while keeping your spine straight.
This Asana stretches the hamstrings and could stimulate the digestive system, which could help control cholesterol, the expert tells Health Shots.
4. Bhujangasana
Lie on your stomach with your palms next to your chest and lift your upper body off the floor.
Cobra pose helps strengthen the spine and can improve blood circulation.
This is important because high cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in your blood vessels. After a while, these deposits grow and make it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries, causing health problems.
5. Ardha Matsyendrasana
Sit with one leg bent and the other leg crossed over it, turn your upper body to the side.
This asana can improve digestion and improve the functioning of the liver and pancreas, which could impact cholesterol levels, says the expert.
6. Sarvangasana
While supporting your lower back with your hands, elevate your legs and body while lying on your back.
This inversion position can activate the thyroid, which is involved in controlling cholesterol metabolism.
7. Setu Bandhasana
Lie on your back with your legs bent and lift your hips and chest off the floor.
Bridge pose helps build strength in your back and can improve blood circulation.
8. Viparita Karani
To do this asana, sit with your legs against a wall and your torso at a 90-degree angle.
Stress, associated with high cholesterol, can be alleviated with this restorative pose, says Dr. Mehta.
When trying these yoga asanas to control cholesterol, don’t forget to also try walking, cycling, or swimming. It is also important to follow your regular medications recommended by your doctor to control your cholesterol levels.
