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Ashwagandha And Cholesterol

The links between ashwagandha and cholesterol are one of the newest benefits of this incredible natural compound to have come to light. This understandably means that the vast majority of people will still be in the dark about the potential benefits that ashwagandha supplementation could have in this area.

Fear not, though, we’ve got you covered, as in this article, we’ll detail exactly how ashwagandha can help manage your cholesterol. This will provide you with all the information you need to convince you to jump on the bandwagon, whether you have high cholesterol already or just want to maintain a healthy level.

Table of Contents

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb from the roots of an Asian evergreen shrub, also called the winter cherry, withania somnifera, and Indian ginseng. Used in Ayurvedic medicine and other Asian traditional medicines for centuries, it was long believed to benefit the human body in an incredible range of ways.

Recent clinical trials have proven many of these claims to be true, leading to it becoming a very popular health and fitness supplement for a variety of different people and goals.

Studies show it can do things like reduce anxiety, depression, stress, inflammation, arthritis, diseases, infections, and other health issues, and boost testosterone and energy levels and production, exercise performance, brain and heart health and functions, mood, sleep latency, cycle and quality, and blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels (1).

We previously examined all these benefits in two other articles we published. Anyone wanting to find out more details on any of them can read the said articles here and here.

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What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in every cell of your body. It is produced by your liver, and can also be obtained from certain foods, especially those made from animals like meat or dairy.

Some cholesterol is necessary to help form the structure of the membranes that protect and surround each cell, and it is required for various bodily functions to occur. This includes helping produce essential hormones like cortisol, oestrogen, and testosterone, vitamin D, and the bile required to digest fats.

Having too much cholesterol in your system can be harmful, but most people who eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise should not have to worry about their cholesterol levels.

The Different Types Of Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol, and they are Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), also known as “Bad” Cholesterol, and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), which is also known as “Good” Cholesterol.

LDL carries cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it, but if there’s too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can build up on the walls of the arteries, forming plaques. This narrows the arteries and causes a condition called atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.

HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it can be processed and eliminated from the body. High HDL levels are beneficial as they help reduce the risk of heart disease by removing excess cholesterol from the blood vessels.

However, having too much cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol, can put you at far greater risk of developing health issues like heart disease (2).

Ashwagandha And Cholesterol: How Does Ashwagandha Supplementation Improve Your Cholesterol Levels?

1. Lowers LDL (“Bad”) Cholesterol

Ashwagandha has been shown in several human and animal studies to significantly reduce a person’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It is thought to do this by reducing oxidative stress, which damages LDL particles and promotes plaque formation, making it harder to remove from the body (3).

2. Reduces Total Cholesterol

Supplementation with ashwagandha often leads to a drop in total cholesterol levels as well, especially in people who have high baseline levels or metabolic issues, such as obese people or those with diabetes.

This overall reduction is thought to be produced mainly through the same mechanisms as we looked at above, and it reduces the risk of health issues like atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (4).

3. Lowers Triglycerides

Triglycerides are another form of fat found in the blood that is similar to cholesterol but slightly different. These are produced primarily by a person having a high sugar intake and/or a sedentary lifestyle.

Studies show that high triglyceride levels can greatly increase a person’s risk of heart disease, especially when combined with high LDL or low HDL levels, and evidence shows it can raise your LDL levels itself.

Some trials have shown that ashwagandha supplementation may help to reduce circulating triglycerides in the blood, and it is believed to do this by improving insulin sensitivity, thereby making sugars in the blood easier to break down and use, enhancing fat metabolism, and reducing fat accumulation in the liver (5).

4. May Raise HDL (“Good”) Cholesterol

Some trials suggest that a modest increase in HDL cholesterol, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the blood and reduces arterial plaque buildup, is produced by ashwagandha supplementation. This occurs due to it improving liver function, as the liver regulates cholesterol synthesis and breakdown (6).

However, it must be noted that its potent effect on the liver means ashwagandha may not be suitable for use by people who are already suffering from liver damage or liver disease.

5. Helps Combat Stress

One of the most well-known and popular benefits associated with ashwagandha supplementation is its ability to prevent or treat stress and anxiety, which it achieves through many different mechanisms. In turn, it also reduces the body’s production of cortisol, which is better known as the stress hormone.

Ashwagandha lowers cortisol

One of the primary issues cortisol causes is a slowing of your body’s natural fat metabolism. By keeping your cortisol levels down, ashwagandha supplementation ensures your fat metabolism remains as high as possible, and this will enable fats like cholesterol to be processed as quickly and effectively as possible (7).