GUGULIPID:

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GUGULIPID

 

Beyond Statin Drugs with Gugulipid

If statin drugs are causing side effects in persons who need to lower

their cholesterol, gugulipid may be an appropriate alternative. In

addition, this traditionally used herbal healer from the Ayurvedic

tradition may also be important for diabetes control and weight loss.

 

The power of nature should never be underestimated. Take the country's

current war against cholesterol. We may have a new weapon-thanks to the

hidden powers of nature.

 

In early May, we received a report from Science Express, the electronic

version of the journal Science, that a tree resin long used in India

(for over 2,000 years) as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments has

been found by modern researchers to be effective in controlling high

cholesterol.

 

The real news here is that nature has devised an ingenious way by which

the resin works, thus giving us another weapon against cholesterol-a

potentially very important weapon.

 

" The sap from a tree known in India as guggul contains a compound that

blocks the action of a cell receptor, called FXR, that helps regulate

the level of cholesterol in the body, " says study co-author David D.

Moore, a molecular biologist at the Baylor School of Medicine in

Houston.

Perhaps of most note, " This mechanism is completely different from the

action of statin drugs, " he says.

 

This is important. " We need to have multiple ways to lower lipids

(cholesterol), " adds Dr. Mitchell A. Lazar, an endocrinologist at the

University of Pennsylvania.

 

The FXR receptor regulates a number of genes and we are not sure which

are the primary targets for cholesterol control. But the key here is

that we now have a new mechanism to reduce cholesterol, which could be

very important for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects some

people experience with statin drugs.

 

Guggul Background

 

Also known as Commiphora mukul, gugulipid is harvested from the mukul

tree. The extract of the oleoresin (gum guggul) contains many active

components, including guggulsterones, which have been shown in several

experimental and clinical studies to have the ability to lower both

cholesterol and triglyceride levels by increasing the liver's metabolism

of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, thus limiting its

accumulation in the blood stream.

 

In a recent clinical study, effects of the administration of gugulipid

(a source of gugglesterones) or placebo capsules taken twice daily for

24 weeks were compared as adjuncts to a fruit- and vegetable-enriched

prudent diet in the management of 61 patients with hypercholesterolemia

(31 in the gugulipid group and 30 in the placebo group).

 

Gugulipid decreased the total cholesterol level by 11.7 percent,

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 12.5 percent, triglycerides by

12.0 percent, and the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (HDL)

cholesterol ratio by 11.1 percent, whereas the levels were unchanged in

the placebo group. Lipid peroxides, indicating oxidative stress,

declined 33.3 percent in the gugulipid group without any decrease in the

placebo group.

 

" The combined effect of diet and gugulipid at 36 weeks was as great as

the reported lipid-lowering effect of modern drugs, " noted the

researchers.

 

Multiple Benefits

 

Besides its cholesterol-lowering benefits, gugulipid also has mild

thyroid stimulating properties and has been shown to be useful in

preventing or reversing atherosclerosis and impaired circulation,

reducing inflammation, and for obesity and psoriasis. Its cholesterol-

and triglyceride-lowering properties make it ideal to include in herbal

formulas for diabetics.

 

The Doctors' Prescription:

Dosage

 

The usual dosage is 25 milligrams of guggulsterone three times per day.

Side effects are generally transient and include, most notably, some

cases of nausea.

 

Availability

 

Many companies offer quality gugulipid formulations. But in our quest to

provide readers with complete assurance that they are receiving the

highest quality, we recommend gugulipid-based formulas from Himalaya

USA, of Houston, Texas, a partner of The Himalaya Drug Company.

The parent company, located in Bangalore, India, with a work force of

2,200 persons, has been formulating clinically validated modern herbal

formulations since 1930. The company has demonstrated a commitment to

primary research; rigid adherence to current Good Manufacturing

Practices (cGMPs); and the application of chromatographic fingerprinting

techniques to ensure quality consistency.

We are fully confident that with Himalaya USA formulations consumers are

receiving both an extremely high quality herbal product with substantial

clinical validation.

 

Gugulipid is available in a wide range of Himalaya USA formulas, all

with scientific studies to support their use-most notably HeartCare®,

GlucoCare®, and LeanCare®. To locate Himalaya USA formulas

containing gugulipid, call the company toll-free at (800) 869-4640 or

use their health food store locator service at www.himalayausa.com.

Himalaya USA Formulas with Gugulipid-

ClinicallyValidated to Deliver Results

All of these formulas contain gugulipid as a key ingredient. They truly

deliver clinically validated results.

HeartCare® is a wonderful, clinically proven formula for addressing

all facets of cardiovascular health. We highly recommend HeartCare®

for anyone wishing to safely and effectively lower their heart disease

risk factors.

GlucoCare® is well documented to help persons with diabetes normalize

their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes-related

complications.