July 25, 2016
Cholesterol has been unfairly blamed for heart disease, but it really is not the foe that it has been made out to be. In fact, it is very important to have adequate cholesterol to be healthy as well as for brain function. Here are some Cholesterol myths debunked.
Myth: Cholesterol Is Bad. Cholesterol is in the bloodstream, and in every cell of our body. It helps to produce cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help digest fat. It is also vital for brain function, neurotransmitters, and neurological function. In fact, the brain contains about 25% of the cholesterol in the body.
Myth: What We Eat Causes High Cholesterol. According to Dr. Mercola, the biggest factor in cholesterol is not what we eat, but genetics or heredity. Eating healthy high quality cholesterol rich foods, such as butter, eggs, coconut, or avocados, is not the problem, as it is estimated that only 20 percent of the blood cholesterol levels come from our diet. What we should be concerned about is WHY our cholesterol is abnormally high. There are different factors that should be considers, one being liver function. The liver plays a vital role in removing excess cholesterol and regulating it.
Myth: Lowering High Cholesterol is Important. Increased levels of cholesterol is, in part, because of increased inflammation, and the cholesterol is there to help the body heal and repair. We must remember that no cell can form without it, so when there are damaged cells, that need to be replaced, the liver will make more cholesterol, which is released into the bloodstream. Dr. Rosedale, who is considered to be the leading anti-aging doctor in the United States, stated, “If excessive damage is occurring such that it is necessary to distribute extra cholesterol through the bloodstream, it would not seem very wise to merely lower the cholesterol and forget about why it is there in the first place. It would seem much smarter to reduce the extra need for the cholesterol — the excessive damage that is occurring, the reason for the chronic inflammation.”[1]
WARNING
According to Dr. Mercola, lowering cholesterol with statin drugs is not necessary and should only be done as a last resort. There are just too many side effects, and they are not effective for over-all health and prevention of heart-attacks. Here are some of the side-effects:
- increased risk of polyneuropathy
- dizziness
- cognitive impairment
- memory loss
- increased risk of cancer
- decreased function of the immune system
- depression
- liver problems
- increased risk of Lou Gehrig’s disease
- muscle pain and weakness
I trust this has been helpful to you. Remember you cannot have true and lasting health and still take drugs.
Check out the Healthy Tidbit: Liver Lift for a recipe to help maintain your cholesterol.
We’re here to help you!
Amy Willis,
Your Local Herbalist
Resources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/04/20/cholesterol-myths.aspx