Mastic May Lower Cholesterol

Mastic is effective for stabilizing cholesterol levels, so it reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and helps prevent myocardial heart attacks, strokes and other serious diseases. However, for the mastic to be properly effective, the right choice of the right product and the right dosage is essential.

The key to good effectiveness of mastic for lowering cholesterol is the selection of the right form and the correct dosage. We've summarized all the essential information for you:

• What is cholesterol and why we should care about it?
  
• How mastic works in lowering cholesterol?
• Which kind of mastic to choose? Is mastic tears powder or mastic oil more effective for treating high cholesterol?
• How to dose mastic for lowering blood cholesterol?

What is cholesterol and why we care?

Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to function properly. Too much bad cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other problems. The medical term for high cholesterol is lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia.

Cholesterol is carried in the blood and is bound to proteins. This combination of protein and cholesterol is called lipoprotein. Depending on what the lipoprotein carries, there are different types of cholesterol. They are:

Bad LDL cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, carries cholesterol particles throughout the body. LDL cholesterol deposits in the walls of the arteries, which then become hard and narrow.

Good HDL cholesterol

High-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL, the "good" cholesterol captures excess cholesterol and carries it back to the liver.

The risk of high cholesterol

When cholesterol levels are high, fatty deposits can form in the blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits enlarge and make it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. Sometimes these deposits can suddenly break up and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

How does mastic affect cholesterol?

Does mastic lower cholesterol? The following benefits of mastic are supported only by clinical studies. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking mastic.

High LDL cholesterol is a critical risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Because of its cholesterol-lowering properties, mastic may be a good choice for those who want to improve their cardiovascular health.

The study found that high consumption of mastic leads to lower serum total cholesterol, LDL, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A-1, and apolipoprotein B. 1 It also lowers ALT, AST, and GGT (signs of liver damage).

Although research is still ongoing, current findings have shown that the mastic can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. This has to do with improving the number of certain proteins that carry cholesterol in the body, which helps prevent it from blocking the cardiovascular system. In humans, mastic has been found to lower cholesterol levels, which may play a role in heart disease. 2

Summary of studies on the use of mastic in the therapy of high cholesterol

Mastic could be used to lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. People who consumed mastic for eight weeks saw reductions in cholesterol and blood sugar levels, with more significant reductions seen in overweight people. The most effective form of mastic for lowering blood cholesterol is essential mastic oil.

The use of mastic for lowering cholesterol

How many grams of mastic or mastic oil should you take to lower your cholesterol? The study reports that those tested who experienced improvements in cholesterol and blood sugar levels took one of these treatments:

• Mastic essential oil 10 mg twice a day for 3 months. A total of 20 mg per day for two months.
• Mastic powder (crushed mastic tears, pure, without additives) 330 mg three times a day for 3 months. Total of at least 1 g and in case up to 2.8 g per day.

With the above treatment, there was a significant reduction in cholesterol levels by 12% - 20%. Better results were achieved by users of mastic oil.

Choosing the right mastic product

Given the established effectiveness of mastic, you can choose between dietary supplements based on mastic oil or powder made from crushed mastic tears.

• Always check that you are buying a dietary supplement with original Chios mastic.
• Study the packaging carefully to find out the grammage of the mastic or other substances in the supplement. Only count on the pure mastic ingredient.
• Follow the recommended dosage for high cholesterol levels.
• Respect the time, duration and method of use.
• You also have chosen mastic because it is a purely natural substance. So make sure that any other ingredients in the supplement you are taking are also of natural plant origin.

Mastic oil

According to studies, mastic oil is the most suitable form of mastic for lowering cholesterol.

To be able to lower cholesterol, take about 20 mg of essential mastic oil.

How to dose mastic oil

If you buy mastic oil in a bottle, it will probably come with a simple dropper. One drop (Masticlife) has a weight of about 10 - 14 mg.

1. In the morning and evening, take at least 1 drop of essential mastic oil on a teaspoon.
2. Swallow the mastic oil with water or other liquid.
3. Use for at least two months.

Mastic powder

Mastic powder is used as a dietary supplement. It is also available in capsules for accurate dosage. If you are buying capsules, check the ingredients in the capsule and only count on the pure mastic gum content when dosing. (Each dietary supplement must have a label and the ingredients will be listed in it.)

Dosage of mastic powder in capsules

1. Choose a dietary supplement from a range of mastic dietary supplements.
2. Take 350 mg of mastic 3 times a day. Always choose your dose based on the pure mastic gum content of the specific product. In the case of Mastic Strong&Pure Capsules, the contents are only pure mastic, so you take 3 x 1 capsule.
3. Take for at least 2 months.

The largest range of powder and mastic capsules is on Masticlife.com.

Recommendations

If you suffer from higher cholesterol levels, be sure to keep in mind the general recommendations and guidelines:

1. Follow appropriate dietary measures. Your doctor will give you a clear description of suitable and unsuitable foods.
2. Get plenty of exercise.
3. When buying mastic, follow the rules of use. Be careful with mastic oil. It must always be mastic essential oil. They also sell mastic flavors and mastic water (which is the name for the water produced when the oil is distilled), which have no potency and are really only suitable as flavors.

 Studies:

1. Kartalis A, Didagelos M, Georgiadis I, Benetos G, Smyrnioudis N, Marmaras H, Voutas P, Zotika C, Garoufalis S, Andrikopoulos G. Effects of Chios mastic gum on cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study (CHIOS-MASTIHA). Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2015 Aug 26. pii: 2047487315603186. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26311707.
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26311707/