Milk thistle can help lower cholesterol naturally
Q: My husband and I suffered from terrible muscle cramps while taking statins to lower cholesterol. I have a family history of high cholesterol, so when I read that milk thistle prevents the liver from making cholesterol, I tried it. It worked so well my doctor was shocked! My cholesterol is now well under control and I have not had any more muscle cramping.
A: We were surprised to learn that silymarin, the active ingredient in the botanical medicine milk thistle, has been studied as a lipid-lowering agent. One systematic review found that this natural product can contribute to lowering total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides. It raised the so-called good HDL cholesterol (Phytotherapy Research, April 2019).
Silymarin works in part by inhibiting the same enzyme that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs block. Side effects may include stomachache and diarrhea.
Q: I suffered from terrible body odor and horrible bad breath. Then I was diagnosed with an enzyme deficiency for sulfur; my body is unable to process sulfur compounds normally. In my case, these sulfurs were excreted as breath, body and foot odor. I now avoid garlic, onion, egg yolks and other sulfurcontaining foods, and the problem has stopped.
A: Some people are susceptible to bad breath and body odor resulting from sulfur-containing foods. Even for people who do not have an enzyme deficiency, the bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract may also contribute to body odor (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, April
2020).
Q: I started drinking three cups of red hibiscus tea daily for blood pressure and also because I really like the taste. I was also using the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which, as you know, involves daily consumption of
8-10 servings of veggies and fruits, and a couple of servings of low-fat dairy. This is a large intake of potassium, which is probably one of reasons that the DASH diet lowers BP.
When I began having severe muscle cramps, I re-read info about hibiscus. It was the only new addition to my
regimen. I learned that hibiscus acts as an ACE inhibitor. These drugs can cause potassium overload, and muscle cramps may be a symptom of elevated potassium.
Since I have used the DASH diet successfully for years to control my BP, I chose to stop the hibiscus tea. The muscle cramps resolved. I occasionally drink a cup of hibiscus tea at night when I want a caffeinefree warm beverage, but I rely on my DASH diet for BP control.
A: Hibiscus tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) does contain compounds that inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (Molecules, May 2020). Popular blood-pressurelowering drugs like captopril, enalapril and lisinopril also work by blocking the action of ACE. A study that compared hibiscus and captopril found that the herb worked about as well as the prescription drug (Phytotherapy Research, online, July 29, 2020).
People who are interested in a variety of strategies for blood pressure management may want to consult our eGuide to Blood Pressure Solutions. This online resource is available in the Health eGuides section at PeoplesPharmacy.com.