The Truth about Cholesterol

A myth exists that cholesterol causes heart attacks, hardening of the arteries and strokes. This is taught to Doctors and Nutritionists in Universities and is frequently sighted in the media.

To say that cholesterol causes heart attacks is a bit like saying that Band Aids cause cuts.

The theory called the lipid hypothesis suggests there is a direct link between the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet and the incidence of heart disease. This was originally proposed by Ancel Keys in the late 1950s. Numerous researchers since then have pointed out the flaws in his data and conclusions.

The combination of inflammation and cholesterol is what can be dangerous.

Prior to 1920 coronary heart disease was very rare, but by the 1950s heart disease was the biggest killer in the USA and today 40% of the population die from heart disease.

Interestingly, in the period from 1910 to 1970 the proportion of animal fat in the diet declined from 83% to 62%, whilst butter consumption reduced from 18 to 4 pounds per year. During the last 80 years dietary cholesterol has gone up by 1%. During the same time the percentage of dietary vegetable oils have increased by about 400% and the consumption of sugar and processed foods by about 60%.

The Framingham Heart study in 1948 showed that the more saturated fat, cholesterol and calories one ate, the lower the serum cholesterol levels and the less they weighed. This is very different from what we are told today!

And many studies could be listed!

Cholesterol is essential to human health. Cholesterol is used in the body to make ALL our hormones. Indeed, people on lowering cholesterol drugs find it difficult to deal with stress, have poor sex hormone function and can suffer from chronic fatigue.

Mother’s milk provides over 50% of its calories as fat, most of it saturated and provides the highest level of cholesterol than any other food. If cholesterol is so bad, why would Mother Nature do this? If cholesterol is so bad, why don’t babies get clogged arteries? If cholesterol is so bad, how have we survived as a species for millions of years?

In France, where they eat large amounts of saturated fat in the form of butter, eggs, cheese, liver, cream and paté 145 out of every 100,000 men die of heart attacks compared to 315 in the USA.

Our blood vessels can become damaged in a number of ways. This includes irritations by free radicals or viruses or when they become structurally weak. When this damage happens cholesterol is sent from the liver (where it is produced) to repair the tissue.

What else does Cholesterol do?

• Gives our cell membranes stiffness and stability
  
• Is a precursor to vital corticosteroids which helps us deal with stress and protects us from heart disease and cancer.
  
• Is a precursor to the sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone
  
• Is a precursor to vitamin D, vital for healthy bones, nervous system, growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone, insulin production, reproduction and immune function.
  
• Bile Salts are made from cholesterol which is essential for the digestion and assimilation of dietary fats.
  
• Cholesterol has been shown to be an antioxidant protecting us from free radical damage which can cause heart disease and cancer.
  
• Cholesterol is required for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Low cholesterol has been linked to aggressive and violent behaviour, depression and suicide.
  
• Mother’s milk contains cholesterol which helps to ensure proper growth and development of the brain and nervous system.
  
• It helps to maintain the health of the intestinal wall which protects it from leaky gut syndrome.

Cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, but a powerful antioxidant which helps to eradicate the free radicals in the blood and repair damaged tissues.

However, when cholesterol is damaged by heat and oxygen it seems to promote injury to the arterial cells as build up of plaque in the arteries. Damaged cholesterol can be found in powdered milk and eggs and meats that have been heated to high temperatures such as frying and barbecuing.

When high serum cholesterol levels are found, it indicates that there is much damage in the body that requires repair. It doesn’t mean that cholesterol is the bad guy.

Imagine a friend of yours has just been seriously injured and you call for an ambulance. As the ambulance approaches a group of people hijack the ambulance so your friend can not receive any help. This is analogous to taking Statin drugs to lower your cholesterol which is just trying to help.

This doesn’t mean that if you are taking medication that you should stop or change your dose. You should only ever do this under the supervision of your Doctor. There are some good Doctors out there who know this, but they are few and far between. It is frustrating because there are many research papers showing this. Unfortunately, these papers get less publicity as the pharmaceutical cartels don’t want the public to know the truth as it would affect their profit margins.

Hypothyroidism often results in high cholesterol levels. In these situations, usually due to a diet high in sugar and low in useable Iodine, fat soluble vitamins and other nutrients, the liver releases cholesterol to provide healing and produce protective steroids. Hypothyroid individuals are susceptible to infections, heart disease and cancer.

The cause of heart disease is not animal fats and cholesterol, it is due to:

• Excess consumption of vegetable oils
  
• Hydrogenated fats
  
• Excess consumption of refined carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour
  
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  
• Low levels of magnesium and iodine
  
• A lack of anti-microbial fats such as animal fats and tropical oils, especially coconut oil.

Whilst high levels of cholesterol are not a good indication of future heart disease, a high level of a substance called homocysteine is. Homocysteine has been correlated with pathological build up of plaque in the arteries and the tendency to form clots which is a deadly combination.

Nutrients that lower homocysteine levels are folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 and choline which are found mostly in animal foods.

So what can we do prevent heart disease?

• Consume a diet high in organic animal foods which are rich in protective fats, such as Omega 3 Fish Oils (not plant Omega 3) and B vitamins
  
• Eat right for your metabolic type.
  
• Include anti-microbial fats (A cold pressed organic extra virgin Coconut Oil is particularly good).
  
• Use a good organic non-processed sea salt to boost iodine levels
  
• Use of garlic, cinnamon, niacin, lecithin and cayenne pepper.
  
• If you must have dairy, find a local farm that produces raw (unpasteurised) dairy.
  
• Avoid processed foods that make the artery walls more prone to ruptures and plaque build up.
  
• Avoid any hydrogenised oils such as spreads that are soft straight from the fridge.
  
• Avoid dairy products that have been homogenised.
  
• Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, bread and pasta and most vegetable oils (especially polyunsaturated oils) that cause the body to need constant repair.
  
• Exercise regularly, 5-7 times per week. Choose activities that you will enjoy. Just 15-30minutes per day will leave less glucose available to be stores as cholesterol. If you can exercise for longer it will be more beneficial.

Now I’m off to eat 3 Wild Salmon Fillets covered in herbs, cooked in Coconut Oil with a few veggies sautéed in butter!

In health and happiness,

Leigh Brandon

Disclaimer
No person should rely on the contents of this article. We expressly disclaim all and any liability and responsibility to any person in respect of anything contained in this article. It is advised that you always follow the advice of your Doctor.

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