Cholesterol is a steroid normally found in all body cells and plasma.
It is the most abundant steroid in the body.
Gonadal and adrenal hormones are produced from cholesterol.
Do you know the function of cholesterol in your body? What can you do to lower cholesterol naturally? Are we a society deficient in statin drugs? Why is your cholesterol high OR low in the first place? Statins are now the number one selling class of drugs in the nation and new cholesterol medications are produced every day.
Heart disease is not a Lipitor or Crestor deficiency.
Drugs don't treat the underlying causes of chronic illness.
The causes of chronic disease are rooted in what we eat, how much we move, how we face stress, how connected we are to our communities and toxic chemicals and metals in our environment.
If your cholesterol is too high (a total cholesterol >240), the problem is not the cholesterol.
Your body has raised its levels in order to play some type of ESSENTIAL role(s) for your survival.
The cause of high cholesterol is often due to an overconsumption of starchy carbohydrates, sugars, alcohol, hydrogenated trans fats and hormone imbalances such as hypothyroid.
Emotional and physical stress can also influence cholesterol levels.
In general, cholesterol is increased in most endocrine or organ hypofunction, and decreased in most endocrine and organ hyperfunction.
The cause of high cholesterol is often due to an overconsumption of starchy carbohydrates, hydrogenated trans fats and hormone imbalances such as low thyroid function.
Emotional and physical stress can also influence cholesterol levels.
In general, cholesterol is increased in most endocrine or organ hypofunction and decreased in most endocrine and organ hyperfunction.
If a person has elevated cholesterol levels, it is a sign that their body, emotions or intellect are subject to excessive stress.
The majority of excess cholesterol is manufactured in times of psychological stress and dehydration.
Elevated LDL can be caused from the body attempting to produce hormones as cholesterol is a precursor to hormone production.
In addition, those with low thyroid suffer high cholesterol.
Remember that cholesterol is necessary and healthy because it is involved in cellular repair and reducing inflammation.
It is OXIDIZED cholesterol that is unhealthy.
Increased triglycerides, in conjunction with decreased HDL, is a more significant factor for coronary artery disease than elevated cholesterol by itself.
In 1990, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that normal cholesterol was considered to be around 200.
Today, normal is considered 160! Individuals with cholesterol <160 cannot manufacture sex hormones.
So much has been written concerning the evils of increased cholesterol, however very little has been reported concerning decreased cholesterol.
Decreased cholesterol can be normal for a vegetarian and some people with a genetic predisposition.
However, cholesterol levels <160 are associated with a compromised immune system, an increased risk of depression, anxiety, respiratory illness, stroke and brain-related deaths such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.
A total cholesterol <140 is one of the red flags of cancer (JAMA, Dec 1980).
Myths: **Cholesterol causes heart disease **Cholesterol is bad **Eating fat is unhealthy **High cholesterol is caused only from eating unhealthy foods **High cholesterol means you're unhealthy **Lowering your cholesterol is healthy Cholesterol Tips: Every hormone in your body requires cholesterol as a precursor Approximately 80-90% of all cholesterol is made inside your body and does NOT come from the foods you eat.
Elevated cholesterol may be caused from: * Consumption of too many refined carbohydrates/sugars.
* Congested liver * Excess amounts of stress either physical, emotional, chemical, electromagnetic, psychological * Hormonal imbalances * Inflammation Cholesterol is vital for: * A precursor to sex hormones, vitamin D, and bile production * A repair substance - repair molecule * Cell membrane integrity helping maintain proper permeability * Child development in mother's milk * Controlling free radical damage * Digesting the fats you eat * Female hormones.
Women with higher cholesterol live longer.
* Helping your cells receive serotonin Side effects from statin drugs include: * Cataracts * Cognitive loss, dementia and memory loss * Deficiencies in fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K * Diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea * Difficulty breathing or swallowing * Dizziness, fuzzy thinking * Elevation of liver enzymes - Liver damage * Headaches * Increased risk of cancer * Increased risk of suicide * Lack of energy * Muscle weakness * Pain and tenderness in muscles or joints * Rhabdomyolisis (serious degenerative muscle tissue breakdown) * Rashes, hives itching * Robs your body of CoQ10 enzyme which can increase your risk for heart disease * Suppressed immune system What can you do to lower your cholesterol naturally? * Consume plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef and free-range poultry * Consider supplementing with: o Biotics Beta-TCP to lower bile viscosity.
This is one of the most important steps to take in high cholesterol.
o Biotics LipidSirt o Omega-3 fish oil - Biotics EFA Sirt Supreme o Pantethine, the coenzymatic form of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and cysteamine o Reservertrol, an antioxidant found in red wine o Tocotrienols - Delta and gamma tocotrienol were found to possess the greatest ability to inhibit cholesterol synthesis o Vitamins C and E o Vitamin D - BioD Mulsion Forte * Decrease the amount of refined grains, sugar, dairy, fast food and alcohol.
These increase inflammation in excess = elevated triglycerides which = high cholesterol.
To reduce inflammation: eliminate trans fats, sugars, grains, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, stress, overcooked foods, excessive cardiovascular exercise and excessive alcohol consumption * Drink plenty of water.
Bodyweight x.
7 = the number of daily ounces to be consumed.
* Natural products such as plant sterols and green tea extract can be used to prevent the absorption of cholesterol from the intestinal tract.
Green tea extracts have a cholesterol lowering effect.
* Eat moregood quality fats (raw butter, coconut oil, avocados, extra virgin olive oil and wild salmon).
* Implement one change at a time.
Gradual, consistent progress over time.
* Lab testing to see where there may be hidden inflammation, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) and homocysteine.
CRP is a protein that circulates in the blood, especially when there is inflammation in the body, including inflammation of the coronary arteries.
CRP is a biomarker for systemic inflammation and a confirmed risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Homocysteine is an excellent predictor of cardiovascular disease.
An elevated homocysteine level is also a risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease.
Doctors are finding that CRP is a far more accurate indicator of a future problem with heart disease than cholesterol levels alone.
The simplest way to lower the CRP level is to reduce inflammation in the body.
* Turn the lights out by 10pm.
Turn the television and computer off by 8pm.
Get restful sleep.
Copyright © 2007-2011 Paula Owens Sources Cholesterolmyths.
com naturalnews.
com/025866.
html Westonaprice.
org Anderson RF, et al.
Green tea catechins partially protect DNA from hyrdroxyl radical induced strand breaks and base damage through fast chemical repair of DNA radicals.
Carcinogenesis, vol 22, no.
8, pp 1189-1193, 2001 Skogsberg J, Dicker A, Ryden M, Astrom G, Nilsson R, et al.
2008 ApoB100-LDL Acts as a Metabolic Signal from Liver to Peripheral Fat Causing Inhibition of Lipolysis in Adipocytes.
PLoS ONE.
2008;3(11): e3771 doi:10.
1371/journal.
pone.
0003771