Cholesterol and Meditation – Lower High Cholesterol

Meditation for Cholesterol

The risks of high cholesterol are serious and affect many people. However, research shows that incorporating the simple technique of Transcendental Meditation (TM) into your daily routine can have a positive and significant impact on high cholesterol levels. Read on to learn more.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

Although the causes can be hereditary or age-related, the most common reason for high cholesterol is an unhealthy lifestyle:

• Unhealthy eating habits: Eating a lot of unhealthy fats (fried, baked, and processed fatty foods) raises LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol.”
• Lack of exercise: Sitting for long periods and getting little physical activity lowers HDL cholesterol, also known as “good cholesterol.”
• Smoking: This lowers HDL (good cholesterol) and raises LDL (bad cholesterol).

The best way to prevent high cholesterol is by making healthy lifestyle choices. Finding a form of meditation that you can practice regularly and that reduces stress, such as Transcendental Meditation, is one of them.

The Risks of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is necessary for the production of vitamin D, hormones, and for digestion. It is produced in the liver and distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream.

However, when there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances to form plaque. This plaque can build up and stick to the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to:

• Coronary heart disease: In which the arteries become narrowed or even blocked.
• Blood clots: Which block blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of a heart attack.
• Other conditions: Such as strokes, carotid artery disease, and peripheral arterial disease.

However, the TM technique has been shown to lower cholesterol and improve overall heart health. Let’s take a look at how this works and what scientific research says about it.

How does TM lower bad cholesterol?

Several scientific studies show that practicing TM leads to significant improvements in heart health.

• A study published in *Circulation* (2012): Researchers found a 48% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and mortality among people who practiced the TM technique.¹
• Research in the Journal of Human Stress: People with high cholesterol who practiced TM showed a significant decrease in their cholesterol levels compared to a control group.²

The researchers concluded that:
“The TM technique significantly reduced the risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with coronary heart disease. These changes were associated with lower blood pressure and fewer psychosocial stressors.”

Why does TM work?

During TM, you enter a state of deep rest. This deep relaxation allows the nervous system to heal itself from within. As a result, the body can recover from daily stress and even from more severe mental and physical trauma.

Specific effects of TM on cholesterol:

• Reduced adrenergic activity: These are processes triggered by adrenaline, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate. TM reduces this activity, leading to lower cholesterol levels.
• Lower cortisol levels: TM reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which plays a key role in regulating stress and improving overall health.
• Deep rest: The TM technique offers a unique state of deep rest that goes beyond ordinary relaxation. This rest helps calm the sympathetic nervous system and eliminates unnecessary “fight-or-flight” responses.

TM and a Healthier Lifestyle

Another important aspect of TM is that it addresses the underlying causes of high cholesterol. People who practice TM regularly experience less stress and are therefore more likely to:

• Quit smoking.
• Eat healthier.
• Have more energy for physical activity.
• Take better care of themselves.

“My cholesterol was very high a year ago. I’m amazed that my cholesterol has improved so much in such a short time thanks to this meditation.”
– Becky, May 2022, Trustpilot

Conclusion

If you want to lead a healthier lifestyle and lower your cholesterol levels, consider adding the Transcendental Meditation technique to your routine. TM not only offers benefits for your heart health but also helps reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

“Practicing TM gives me more energy and happiness throughout the day. I look forward to my daily meditation sessions. Best decision ever!”
– Deborah, March 2024, Trustpilot