One of the greatest blunders nutrition science has made has to do with cholesterol. Once believed the king of all that is evil in relation to heart attacks and strokes, cholesterol is now known to be essential for the correct operation of our brains, steroid hormones (basically our sex hormones like testosterone and cortisol), bile acids, absorbing vitamin D and especially individual cell structure.

The word cholesterol breaks down into bile solid alcohol (-chole, -stereos, -ol). Its name comes from its discovery in gallstones. It is manufactured by all animals as it is essential for cell membrane structure and allows us to literally ‘move.’ Plants and many types of bacteria have a solid cell wall that prevents substantial movement. That is in part because plants and those bacteria do not contain cholesterol, but they do have small amounts of similar –sterol substances.
This explains why you are unable to get enough cholesterol from eating plants and, if vegetarian, must provide it in the diet somehow with dairy or fish. This is also one thing that vegans are often dangerously deficient in and why many feel fantastic after eating meat post a long time span without foods abundant in cholesterol.

Since cholesterol is the primary steroid synthesized by the body in animals, it is obvious that having your cholesterol in a balanced state is optimal.
The Western medical system recognizes this by keeping a close eye on levels, specifically HDL and LDL levels. This is part and parcel of the lipid hypothesis (notice it is not a theory…) that states high levels of LDL in relation to HDL has strong correlations and implications for cardiovascular vitality. The hypothesis claims that diets low in saturated fat will bring balance to the LDL numbers. Statins are the most used prescription medication used for lowering LDL numbers by slowing or shutting down the bodies ability to produce its own saturated fats. It seems obvious why side effects like myopathy (loss of control in muscle tissue not due to nerve failure) can occur from this when one knows how important cholesterol is to cell structure.

Cholesterol disease is relatively rare in young people. Why is this? What processes are slowing down or breaking down that allows the buildup of cholesterols that brings on atherosclerosis (arterial hardening), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), cerebrovascular insult (stroke) and peripheral vascular disease?
Research has shown that the body loses the ability to remove LDL cholesterol as one gets older. That results in a build-up and means the older we get, the more discipline we must foster in ourselves to keep everything balanced and running smoothly.
Table of Contents
Cholesterol Balancing Herbs and Foods
Herbs and foods that directly help with high cholesterol include:
- Oats
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Ashwagandha
- Guggal
- Green Tea
- Snow Fungus (Wood Ear Fungus)
- Zinc
- Eating healthy fats like Avocados; Coconut Oil; Pastured Meats, Eggs, and Dairy; and quality Wild-Caught Seafood
- Eating more vegetables (they are low in cholesterol)
One of the hallmarks of a vegetarian life is the much lower level of LDL cholesterol to HDL that results. This is primarily achieved by the consumption of plant foods that contain little-to-no cholesterol. The soluble fiber plants provide also plays a major role in helping the body stabilize its cholesterol levels as well.
Cholesterol Lowering Activities
And it’s not just about what you eat. Here are a few activities you can do or not do to help improve your cholesterol.
- Meditation
- Aerobic Activity
- Dealing with Personal Anger Issues
- Losing extra weight
- Not smoking
Liver Health
Cholesterol disease is ultimately about blood. Accumulated ‘bad’ fats in solution (blood) is what is viewed as its cause. Most westerners see the Heart as the King of the blood, for the organs primary purpose of regulating the flow of vital blood that keeps us alive.
While this view is the same in the Chinese medical system, they also view the Liver as the General of the Blood. This is because the liver is so important for the cleanliness of the blood. The Heart could not work properly with toxic blood coursing through it.
The liver actually produces 75% of the cholesterol the body needs. The rest comes from the foods you eat. Because of this, if the body is not getting that approximately 25% of cholesterols from foods, the liver will kick production into high gear. This will, in the long run, result in higher blood cholesterol levels. This is why low-fat or no-fat diets will in general lead to high cholesterol levels. Consumption of healthy cholesterol sources of food is important for the proper balancing of your body’s cholesterol levels.
Liver health is thus essential for healthy cholesterol levels. The liver detoxes the body in addition to its many other functions such as cholesterol production and bile secretion.
A buildup of toxins in the liver will impair its function, so the elimination of these toxins will only help your liver properly work better. Our environment is grossly oversaturated with chemicals and toxins nowadays, so it has become even more important to help the liver out.
Certain herbs that help detox the body of heavy metals, pesticides, and other aberrant chemicals will help all the entire bodies systems normalize functions by increasing the power of the liver. Some of these herbs (called hepatoprotectants) include:
- Shilajit
- Pine Pollen
- Schisandra
- Triphala
- Turmeric
- Yellow Dock Root
- Chicory Root
- Milk Thistle Seed (a note: this is a potent Western herb for regeneration of the liver as has been found in studies)
Bile Health
Another way to lower high cholesterol levels is to get the liver to produce more bile. Increased bile stimulation will pull off some of the build-up of cholesterol in the body much like opening a faucet on a sink to lower overall pressure will in a water system. On average, the colon will reabsorb half of the cholesterol secreted as bile. The rest becomes excrement. This mode of excretion is an important route of detoxification for the liver. Herbs that can stimulate the release of bile (called cholagogues) include:
- Coffee Beans
- Artichoke Leaf
- Dandelion Root
- Burdock Root
- Echinacea Root
- Eucommia Bark
- Lonicera Flowers
- Chrysanthemum Flowers
- Epimedium
- Peppermint

Chrysanthemum Flower
In the West, cholesterol health is a keystone health indicator. However, the evaluation of one standard health point cannot usually be treated with one method of attack as that one point is generally caused by a cosmology of environmental triggers, unresolved emotional issues, activity levels (or lack thereof), mental attitude, hydration, etc. This is perhaps best shown in many people’s inability to take prescription statin drugs because of the side effects involved.
Instead, the best way to change this one indicator is through a cosmology of sound lifestyle choices that will affect the whole being in the positive and help us become better able to adapt to life in general.

Zane Christopher

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Please give me idea how to cure naturally of a 45 years old man from bad cholesterol or what other way is there to cure
Herbs don’t seem to agree with my body.is it because of low quality herbs? Please explain . Desperate. Thxs.
George, its hard to say if its because of that. I certainly hope its not from taking low-quality herbs. What herbs in question were you taking? It could just be that those particular herbs don’t agree with you. I myself get some bad reactions when I take too much rhodiola no matter the quality (though higher quality does help here). So of course, it depends. Maybe email me and we can talk about it more: zane@lostempireherbs.com
Gentleman,
I am new to the herbs. I’m 47yrs old and I lead a very healthy lifestyle. I eat extremely well, exercise with weights and cardio and keep my body fat 10-13% all year. That’s the good stuff. My cholesterol is high , my bp is slightly elevated and it’s getting harder to keep an erection. I have been taking pine pollen and nettle root. Is there anything to truly help with cholesterol? If so, what and at what doses. My doctor just mentioned statins and I would like to go the natural route if I can
You should look into our Ashwagandha Tincture and see if 1-2 dropperfuls a day might drop your numbers some.
Hey everybody my cholesterol has been high for some time and a I refuse to go on statins. I would appreciate any advice on what herbs and doses might be useful in my quest to remain off the statins. Thanks Chris
Hey Chris, glad you are avoiding those meds! Of the stuff listed in the article that could help, definitely check out the Ashwagandha Tincture and look into supplementing garlic. I think the Kyoto brand is good for that. Another product that might be good to look into is Oregon Grape. We may be carrying this for a short time later this year, locally sourced and processed into a sprygic tincture by our friends that make our Ashwagandha.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
can take tongkit ali, while having high level of bad cholesterol?
Very good info. However, re herbs my understanding is that their effectiveness is reduced after about six months. Vitamins, enzymes, amino acids on the other hand can be taken long term. For example, if your homocysteine level is high it may indicate you are undermathylated and taking TMG (trimethylglycine) will correct the problem and your liver will thank you.
Why is it you say that herbs stop working after six months? Where did you get that idea from?
I do agree on the methylation. That is a very important part of being healthy.
So, soft boiled sounds best. What do you guys think about egg vs. whey in post workout shakes?
I like whey as long as it comes from quality cows and a person isn’t allergic to it.
Do you guys eat them raw? I use an egg powder protein in my post workout shake. I was thinking on just drinking them raw.
Yeah sometimes. The yolk is great raw. The white has some enzyme inhibitors when raw that get cooked out. Raw just means you digest a little less of the protein. Oddly enough it seems the yolk raw is best and the white cooked.
is the cholesterol we get from consuming egg god or bad.
is there a limit how many eggs to consume per week or is it ok to just dig in? my conumtion is 20-30 egg per week.
Generally good but it depends on how they’re cooked. Over cook the egg yolk and it can oxidize the cholesterol making it less easy for you body to handle. Best options are poached, soft boiled or fried sunny side up.
very good information .I am taking garlic, ginger and vinegar regularly and my cholesterol always remain normal though my age is 63.
I always enjoy reading what you send.Didn’t know epimedium stimulated bile production or that you were going to be selling it.I used to take it (along with Maca) and loved it.My doctor at the time told me it boosts estrogen so I stopped.Since then I’ve read everything I can on it looking for a definitive answer.Curious to see what info you have on it cause it gave me good energy and sex drive.Thanks for your input as always..
I wouldn’t worry about the estrogenic effects of epimedium. It does seem to raise estrogen in some female rats or in vitro studies but that seems to be about the extent of it. Raising estrogen in women can be good. Judging by the effects of horny goat weed I don’t see it doing the same in men.
Its amazing! I finally understand the mechanism behind cholesterol and why the low fat fad is killing us.
This is very good information. Thanks