Diatomaceous earth is a type of powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. Because the cells of these algae were high in a compound called silica, the dried powder produced from these fossils are about 80% to 90% silica. Early clinical research suggests that taking diatomaceous earth 250 mg three times daily for eight weeks reduces total cholesterol by up to 13.2% compared with baseline, and also reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in people with moderately high cholesterol.
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