REMINDING YOU ABOUT THE REAL CHOLESTEROL
1. Cholesterol is a fat
FALSE
Cholesterol is not used for energy like a fat
Cholesterol is not digested like a fat
Cholesterol does not have the nutritional value of a fat
Cholesterol is an alcohol molecule
(sterol family)
2. Oxidative stress and inflammation are the root cause of elevated LDL’s
TRUE
ØArtery walls must be damaged before arterial plaque is formed
ØLDL does not damage the endothelium (artery lining), oxidation does –
also chronic dehydration
ØLDL tries to repair the damage
3. High Cholesterol is a Disease
False
High cholesterol is not a disease
It is a symptom
Cholesterol raises as a response to inflammation to protect the nerves and brain against exposure to fat soluble toxins and heavy metals
Study showed
lHigh cholesterol can be protective against environmental toxins rather than harmful
lLow cholesterol is a risk factor for heart arrhythmias
ØHigh cholesterol readings are associated with protection from neurotoxins and heavy metals
Cholesterol facts
60% of Cholesterol used for production of bile salts
Cholesterol is precursor to hormone production
Cholesterol is used for repair in the body
Cholesterol acts as an anti-oxidant
Cholesterol plays a role with serotonin
Source of energy along with glucose
Production of cell membranes
Makes corneum of the skin to prevent water loss – converted by sunlight to produce Vitamin D
85% of breast milk is Cholesterol
4. The lower your cholesterol, the healthier you will be
FALSE
European Heart Journal
Published 3 year study 11,500 patients
Having low cholesterol –
lIncrease in lung cancer
lIncrease in other cancers
lHigher risk of cardiac death
lErectile dysfunction and infertility
lLoss of memory and mental focus
European Heart Journal 1997, 18, 52-59
4. The lower your cholesterol, the healthier you will be
Swedish Researcher
lIndividuals with low cholesterol suffer from frequent and severe infections
lIndividuals with high cholesterol had a lower mortality than the average population
Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, independent researcher
Magle Stora Kyrkogata 9, S-223250
5. Cholesterol less than 150 significantly reduces your risk of heart disease
FALSE
Journal of American Medical Association
30 years of follow-up from the Framingham Study
lNo correlation between high cholesterol and mortality, but correlation between low cholesterol and mortality
lCVD death rates increased 14% for every 1 mg/dl drop in total cholesterol per year
Anderson KM. Cholesterol and Mortality, 30 years of Follow-up from
5. Cholesterol less than 150 significantly reduces your risk of heart disease
Journal of Cardiac Failure
Paper on Low Cholesterol
lAnalysis of 1,134 patients with heart disease
lLow cholesterol was associated with worse outcomes in heart failure patients and impaired survival rates
lElevated cholesterol was not associated with hypertension, diabetes or coronary heart disease.
Horwich TB. Et.al. Low Serum Total Cholesterol is Associated with Marked Increase in Mortality in Advanced Heart Failure. J Card. Fail. 2002 Aug;8(4):216-214
5. Cholesterol less than 150 significantly reduces your risk of heart disease
Low cholesterol readings are associated with
lIncreased risk for cancer
lIncreased risk for stroke
lIncreased risk for depression and suicide
lIncreased risk for symptoms from exposure to:
•Neurotoxins
•Mercury and other heavy metals
•Cyclosporin
Cancer risk and cholesterol levels
lLowest risk >240
lAverage risk 195-230
lIncreased risk <195
lHigh < 165
lHighest < 140
6. The use of statin drugs lowers your risk of heart disease
FALSE
ØDespite successful attempts to lower cholesterol with statin drugs the mortality from heart disease is more than double what is was in 1996.
Horwich TB. Et.al. Low Serum Total Cholesterol is Associated with Marked Increase in Mortality in Advanced Heart Failure. J Card. Fail. 2002 Aug;8(4):216-214
Adverse Effects of Statins
lKnown carcinogens in experiments w/animals
l Increase risk of polyneuropathy 14 times
lDeplete CoQ10, lower antioxidant levels
lLiver dysfunction
lCauses inflammation – Muscle pain
lMemory loss, lack of concentration and amnesia
lInsomnia, weakness and fatigue
lErectile dysfunction
lDifficulty in managing diabetes, raises insulin levels
ØTotal annual sales of statins = $25 billion/year
7. Your risk of death is two times higher with low cholesterol than it is with high cholesterol
TRUE
ØStudy with 11,500 patients showed that the risk of death in the low cholesterol group (160mg/dl and below) was 2.27 times higher than those with high cholesterol.
ØMost common cause of death in low cholesterol patients was cancer.
European Heart Journal (1997) 18,52-59.
8. The optimal cholesterol level is around 225
TRUE
ØWholistic –
Ø“O” blood types are on higher end of spectrum
Cholesterol Facts
ØLiver does not use fats to make cholesterol
ØCholesterol is a by-product of protein metabolism
ØBody adjusts the ratio of HDL’s to LDL’s constantly to meet the needs of the body at any given time
Cholesterol Facts
ØHigh LDL and low HDL – good indicator of mercury or solvent toxicity and/or pesticide exposure
ØLow HDL – associated with increase risk of toxicity, constipation, lack of exercise and high sugar, carbohydrates and low fat diet
Balancing Cholesterol Naturally
ØRemove toxins from the body and environment avoid toxic chemicals – including chlorine,
bromides, fluorides, pesticides, solvents,
heavy metals, etc.
ØIncrease antioxidants
ØEat balanced diet – more colors
ØExercise
Raising Low Cholesterol
Where Does Cholesterol Come From?
ØFormed in the liver
ØByproduct of protein metabolism
If you have a cholesterol problem you have a protein digestion problem