natural foods cholesterol experts! ? Update

[Bubblingbrooks]

First off, I have adrenal fatigue. Tests just showed my cholesterol numbers to be 253 and 153.

NP wants them lowered asap.

What to do? Its not my food, I know that. Its because I have endocrine issues.
And how do I tell her the high cholesterol is NOT indicative of heart disease? Statistics prove that!

 

[Wifezilla]

Demand the cholesterol test that measures particle size. Large fluffy LDL is not dangerous. Small dense LDL is, but a standard test won't tell you what you are dealing with. Also print out some of the most recent studies. When I am on a real computer later I will see if I can find links.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

This is my neighbor that is watching the NT seminar right now, so I hope we can come to an understanding.

I have the following, and I would say I am super low risk as well.

Total Cholesterol

No risk: less than 150
Low risk: 150 - 200
Medium risk: 200 - 250
High risk: greater than 250

Your patient's level of 290 would put her in the "high risk" category. Please remember, though, that having a total cholesterol of less than 150 puts you in the highest risk category for cancer and early death and lots of people with cholesterol levels over 250 live long healthy lives. This is an extremely insensitive test.

The next, slightly more specific test is for total Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL, the so-called "bad" cholesterol. This type of lipid is thought to be made in your liver and to contribute to the development of coronary artery disease. Here, we have the following:

LDL Cholesterol

No risk: less than 100
Low risk: 100 -130
Medium risk: 130 - 160
High risk: greater than 160

Your patient's level of 200 again puts her in the highest risk category. What this probably means is that her liver senses a need for a lot of this type of lipid in her system. Sometimes, this can arise from a liver imbalance or some sort of chronic oxidative stress.

The third way of evaluating lipids are the levels of High Density Lipoproteins or HDLs, the so-called good guys. These compounds are said to direct supposedly atherogenic fats away from the blood vessels and to the liver for processing. It is generally conceded that the HDLs are more specific for risk assessment than the above two values. Here we see the following:

HDL Cholesterol

No risk: greater than 75
Low risk: 60 -75
Medium risk: 40 - 60
High risk: less than 40

Here we find that your patient's level of 79 puts her in the lowest risk category. The final and by far the most sensitive way of assessing these numbers is the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL. This gives you a sense of how much of a contribution the good HDL is to the total. This is considered the gold standard of evaluating lipid levels. Here we have the following:

Total Cholesterol/HDL

No risk: less than 3.5
Low risk: 3.5 - 4.5
Medium risk: 4.5 - 5.5
High risk: greater than 5.5

Your patient's ratio is 290/79 or 3.7. Thus, the best test that we have for assessing your patient's risk puts her in the low risk category even on her supposedly high-fat, atherogenic diet. In other words, your patient is fine, and, in fact, has an enviable lipid profile. I find this again and again with my patients. This dietary approach seems to put their physiology in balance, leading to true robust health.

Just a final few words on lipid levels and their "management." The most important thing for your patient and many others is their positive protective HDL levels. It is known and has been repeatedly borne out in my personal experience that the HDL level is inversely related to the triglyceride level. For me, the triglyceride level is a key indicator because it is directly related to the amount of carbohydrates consumed as a function of exercise. The more carbohydrates, of any kind, the patient consumes, the higher the triglyceride levels and the lower the HDL. So, I use lipid panels to tell me whether my patients are consuming too many carbohydrates for their activity level. If they are, the total cholesterol level will be more than double the triglycerides and the HDL will be low. I vigorously correct this by suggesting lower carbohydrate intake (yes, even grains and fruit) and encouraging more exercise or physical activity.

Finally, while I am not convinced this is related to coronary artery disease, very high LDL levels often tell me there is oxidative stress or a liver imbalance in the patient. For this condition I give 1 capsule per day of OPC synergy, a food-based antioxidant, from Standard Process and 1 teaspoon/day of an herbal bitter tonic, the best being Globe Artichoke Extract from MediHerb. This intervention will usually lower the LDL by 10-20 percent.

 

[sunsaver]

Interesting stuff. I have no idea what my cholesterol is. But i'm one of those people who won't go to the doctor unless both hands are broke so i can't sew my own leg back on.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Here are some interesting tidbits for you all.
I had not looked at this stuff in along while, so had forgotten them. Hence my moment of panic, as noted above

People with high cholesterol live the longest. This statement seems so incredible that it takes a long time to clear ones brainwashed mind to fully understand its importance. Yet the fact that people with high cholesterol live the longest emerges clearly from many scientific papers. Consider the finding of Dr. Harlan Krumholz of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale University, who reported in 1994 that old people with low cholesterol died twice as often from a heart attack as did old people with a high cholesterol.1 Supporters of the cholesterol campaign consistently ignore his observation, or consider it as a rare exception, produced by chance among a huge number of studies finding the opposite.

But it is not an exception; there are now a large number of findings that contradict the lipid hypothesis. To be more specific, most studies of old people have shown that high cholesterol is not a risk factor for coronary heart disease. This was the result of my search in the Medline database for studies addressing that question.2 Eleven studies of old people came up with that result, and a further seven studies found that high cholesterol did not predict all-cause mortality either.

Now consider that more than 90 % of all cardiovascular disease is seen in people above age 60 also and that almost all studies have found that high cholesterol is not a risk factor for women.2 This means that high cholesterol is only a risk factor for less than 5 % of those who die from a heart attack.

But there is more comfort for those who have high cholesterol; six of the studies found that total mortality was inversely associated with either total or LDL-cholesterol, or both. This means that it is actually much better to have high than to have low cholesterol if you want to live to be very old.

http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/cardiovascular-disease/537-benefits-of-high-cholesterol

I wish I could open the link to the reason behind numbers jumping up when on real food, but the link is dead

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Interesting stuff. I have no idea what my cholesterol is. But i'm one of those people who won't go to the doctor unless both hands are broke so i can't sew my own leg back on.

Cholesterol is our first aid kit, to put it as simply as possible.
If numbers are super high, that means that there is inflammation in the body, and the Red Cross has been called in to deal with it.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

I am so printing off this brochure for her!

NOTE: This information is provided on our Cholesterol trifold brochure (PDF). You may print this at home or at a copy store for mass distribution. If you wish, you can order quantities of professionally printed two-color trifold brochures for 25 cents each via our online Store.
Myths & Truths

MYTH: People with high cholesterol are more prone to heart attacks.
TRUTH: Young and middle-aged men with cholesterol levels over 350 are slightly more at risk for heart attacks. Those who have cholesterol levels just below 350 are at no greater risk than those whose cholesterol is very low. For elderly men and for women of all ages, high cholesterol is associated with a longer lifespan.

MYTH: Cholesterol & saturated fat clog arteries.
TRUTH: There is very little cholesterol or saturated fat in the arterial plaque or clogs. Most of the material is a calcium deposit akin to lime and most of the fatty acids are unsaturated.

MYTH: Eating saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods will cause cholesterol levels to rise and make people more susceptible to heart disease.
TRUTH: Many studies show no relationship between diet and cholesterol levels; there is no evidence that saturated fat and cholesterol-rich food contribute to heart disease. As Americans have cut back on saturated fat and cholesterol-rich foods, rates of heart disease have gone up.

MYTH: Cholesterol-lowering drugs have saved many lives.
TRUTH: In the two most recent trials, involving over 10,000 subjects, cholesterol-lowering did not result in any improvement in outcome.

MYTH: Countries that have a high consumption of animal fat and cholesterol have higher rates of heart disease.
TRUTH: There are many exceptions to this observation, such as France and Spain. Furthermore, an association (called a risk factor) is not the same as a cause. In wealthy countries where people eat a lot of animal foods, many other factors exist that can contribute to heart disease.
Dangers of Statin Drugs

Modern cholesterol-lowering drugs act by inhibiting an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) needed for the formation of cholesterol in the liver. These HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, called statins, are sold as Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravacol, Zocor, etc.

WEAKNESS and MUSCLE WASTING: This is the most common side effect of statin drugs, occurring in as many as one in three users. Muscle aches and pains, back pain, heel pain, weakness and slurring of speech result from statin interference with the production of Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10), needed for the muscles to function.These side effects are more common in active people and may not show up until three years after commencement of treatment.

HEART FAILURE: Rates of heart failure have doubled since the advent of statin drugs. The heart is a muscle that depends on a plentiful supply
of Co-Q10.

POLYNEYNEYNEUROPATHYHY: Tingling and pain in the hands and feet as well as difficulty walking occur frequently in those taking statins, conditions often blamed on old age rather than on the drug.

COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: Many patients have reported memory loss and brain fog, including total global amnesia (episodes of complete memory loss). The implications for pilots and those driving cars and trucks are profound.

CANCER: In every study with rodents to date, statins have caused cancer. Most human trials are not carried out long enough to detect any increase in cancer rates, but in one trial, breast cancer rates of those taking a statin were 1500 percent higher than those of controls.
DEPRESSIONON: Numerous studies have linked low cholesterol with depression.
If It Isnt Cholesterol, What Causes Heart Disease?

Many scientists have put forth valid theories for the epidemic of heart disease in western societies. They include:

DEFICIENCY OF VITAMINS a and d: Back in the 1930s, Weston A. Price, DDS, observed that rates of heart attack rose during periods of the year when levels of these fat-soluble vitamins in local butter went down.

DEFICIENCIES OF VITAMINS B6, B12 and FOLIC ACID: Kilmer McCully, MD, PhD, demonstrated that these deficiencies lead to elevated levels of homocysteine, a marker for heart disease.

TRANS FATTY ACIDS: Fred Kummerow, PhD, and many others have linked heart disease to the replacement of saturated fats with trans fatty acids; saturated fats actually protect against heart disease in many ways.

MINERAL DEFICIENCIES: Deficiencies of magnesium, copper and vanadium have been linked to heart disease.

MILK PASTEURIZATIONON: J.C. Annand, a British researcher, observed an increase in heart disease in districts that implemented pasteurization
compared to those where milk was still sold unpasteurized.

STRESS: Heart attacks often occur after a period of stress, which depletes the body of many nutrients.

Unfortunately, little research money is available for researchers to study these theories; most research on heart disease is funded through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which is firmly committed to the flawed hypothesis that cholesterol and saturated fat cause heart disease.
The Many Vital Roles of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is produced by almost every cell in the body.
Cholesterol in cell membranes makes cells waterproof so there can be a different chemistry on the inside and the outside of the cell.
Cholesterol is natures repair substance, used to repair wounds, including tears and irritations in the arteries.
Many important hormones are made of cholesterol, including hormones that regulate mineral metabolism and blood sugar, hormones that help us deal with stress, and all the sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.
Cholesterol is vital to the function of the brain and nervous system.
Cholesterol protects us against depression; it plays a role in the utilization of seratonin, the bodys feel-good chemical.
The bile salts, needed for the digestion of fats, are made from cholesterol.
Cholesterol is the precursor of vitamin D, which is formed by the action of ultra-violet (UV-B) light on cholesterol in the skin.
Cholesterol is a powerful antioxidant that protects us against free radicals and therefore against cancer.
Cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol), helps fight infection.

How to Avoid Heart Disease

Dont worry about your cholesterolthe stress of unnecessary worry can contribute to heart disease.
Do not take cholesterol-lowering drugsthey contribute to heart failure.
Avoid processed food, especially foods containing processed vegetable oils and trans fats.
Eat the meat, fat and organ meats of grass-fed animals.
Eat plenty of wild-caught seafood.
Do not consume protein powders, lean meat, egg whites without the yolks or skim milk. High-protein diets lacking the nutrients supplied by animal fats can deplete vitamin A, leading to heart disease.
Eat liver at least once a week to ensure adequate levels of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron and copper.
Take cod liver oil and consume plenty of butter from grass-fed cows to ensure adequate levels of vitamins A, D and K.
Maintain a healthy weightneither too heavy nor too thin.
Engage in moderate exercise outdoors.
Do not smoke; avoid exposure to environmental toxins.

 

[sunsaver]

Hey BB, i heard that there is a link between sugar and flour and bad teeth, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and diabetes. I heard this so long ago, that i cut out all sugar about 10 years ago, and haven't got a new cavity since. Do you have any thoughts or have heard about this? by the way, I love all the health and dietary stuff.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Hey BB, i heard that there is a link between sugar and flour and bad teeth, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and diabetes. I heard this so long ago, that i cut out all sugar about 10 years ago, and haven't got a new cavity since. Do you have any thoughts or have heard about this? by the way, I love all the health and dietary stuff.

Sugar causes immune issues and things like diabetes.
Improperly prepared grains cause issues with cavities, and sugar is partly indicated as well, but by no means is it the true culprit. Phytic Acid is the main root of dental issues.
Used to be, that grains were naturally sprouted in the fields after it was cut and stooked.
Then things like sourdough were usually made.

Here is an interesting link to read through.
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html
The pics alone are worth their weight in gold.

Teeth on real food.

Teeth bred on processed food.

 

[Wifezilla]

Science keeps finding more and more evidence that flours and sugar cause all kinds of damage. The evidence keeps getting ignored. Weston Price documented the effects in the 30's. Recent studies back up his evidence. Yet billion dollar companies work daily to promote their carb Ladened junk and infiltrate medical schools to spread the word that refined foods are fine. People are just lazy gluttons and that is why they get fat and sick even though science and history show it is the carbohydrates at fault.