The Truth About Cholesterol
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Our Paranoia is Very Profitable
I did an Internet search for "cholesterol drugs" and came up with 31,300.000 pages. Worldwide sales of the cholesterol lowering drug, lipitor, hit 2.4 billion in 2007. That's just one of the many, many drugs on the market which promises to lower our cholesterol. But, the truth is, we don't need any of them.
Cholesterol is a vital part of human bodily function. It's converted into vitamin D by Sunlight and makes it possible for our bodies to produce the hormones testosterone and estrogen. The liver produces about 1,000 mg of cholesterol per day, all on it's own. 80% of that becomes bile salts which is necessary for proper digestion. The remaining 20% is used for other body functions.
When we ingest cholesterol through our diet, the liver makes a little less, and even if we ingest large amounts, very little of it is actually absorbed, about one third of dietary intake. If no cholesterol is ingested, the liver simply makes a little more.
So, what is the cause of 'high cholesterol'? It is not your cholesterol intake. Your body is an intelligent machine and monitors it's functions very closely. Most likely, it is that the manufactured cholesterol isn't being used. One mechanism that interferes with proper cholesterol use is a lack of sunlight. Yes, many of us aren't getting enough Sun! People were not designed to live their lives indoors. Many of us go from our homes, to our cars, to the office. And those few times we are outside, we slather ourselves with industrial-strength sunblock.
Getting out in the sun actually lowers cholesterol levels! Sunlight converts the cholesterol in your skin to hormone precursors like vitamin D and testosterone. The cholesterol in your bloodstream then migrates to your skin to replace what was used. Sunlight is like a vacuum that sucks the cholesterol from your bloodstream.
And you don't need to worry about skin cancer if you eat a healthy diet.
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What Are the Culprits of High Cholesterol?
- First; A lack of sunlight, which causes the manufacture of too much cholesterol.
- Second;The suppression of proper thyroid function. When this happens, the thyroid isn't able to convert cholesterol into hormones, and it has been shown that corn oil and soybean oil suppress proper thyroid function, and these oils produce oxidized fats which cause heart disease and raise cholesterol levels.
- Third; Partially hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn sweetener. Both suppress thyroid function and contain oxidized cholesterol. Oxidization occurs during exposure to heat - such as when oils are refined or partially hydrogenated.
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So, what's so bad about partially hydrogenated oils?
They interfere with the absorption of essential fatty acids, which in turn interferes with many of the body's functions:
- Brain cell function and nervous system activity.
- Hormones and intra-cellular messengers.
- Glandular function and immune system operation.
- Hemoglobin oxygen transport-system.
- Cell wall functions.
- Digestive tract operations.
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Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
These drugs (statins) do not address the problem of oxidized cholesterol in your system. They only lower it, by half at the most, which is not enough to significantly lower your risk of heart disease - and they only do that temporarily. But they do, however, inhibit natural cholesterol production in your body, leaving you with insufficient amounts of enzymes, vitamin D, CoQ10 and other substances your body needs to be healthy.
And, more importantly, these drugs produce a false sense of security. People who are taking a cholesterol-lowering drug believe they are doing something good for their body. But they're not. They are not eliminating -or even reducing- the processed, hydrogenated, refined and oxidized fats and oils which are the real problem. So they continue ingesting these poisons.
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In a Framingham Study, it was originally concluded that a level of 240 posed some risk. Years later a public relations campaign by drug companies -- not a scientific inquiry -- unilaterally changed the danger zone to 220. A few years later another PR campaign changed it again to 200, which significantly increased the number of people who are "at risk." If the number had remained at 240 the amount of money the pharmaceutical corporation would be making with statin drugs would drop more than 90%.
Beloved, iconic journalist Tim Russert -- as well as my own cousin's father-in-law -- are just two of many recent victims of the statin drug sham.
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What can we do?
In today's society it is very difficult to entirely avoid eating these things, unless we eat only foods grown ourselves or have purchased at a farmer's market. But, for most of us, that's simply not realistic. What we can do is pay attention to labels. There are now better choices in cooking oils, margarines, sandwich spreads, etc. which we can make. They are there - right next to the bad stuff. And we must accept that we cannot trust the FDA to make these choices for us. They clearly do not have our best interests in mind.
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How Gullible Are We?
Are we supposed to believe that our doctors are completely ignorant of all these facts after all those years of schooling? If I were prone to believe paranoid conspiracy theories, I would think the FDA deliberately approves these poisonous foods and processes knowing full well that they will make us sick, so they can later approve the plethora of worthless drugs to make us "better" (they are, after all, the Food & Drug Administration), while all the while we continue to ingest these harmful, poisonous foods, so we must continue to take these worthless -but expensive- drugs.
But no. They wouldn't do that just to make billions and billions of dollars. Would they? I prefer to think the FDA, and the entire extensively-educated medical community, are innocently unaware of these dangers to our health, and have only our best interests at heart...
Yeah.
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Comments
i'm not terribly health conscious, and i generally stay away from health remedies that i don't understand...
Cholesterol is one of those concepts that I just can't seem to get it through my thick head about and yet everyone seems to be talking about.
Uninvited Writer: For literature about suncreen and vitamin D, click here: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive
For info about a healthy diet and cancer prevention, click here: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_Midw
Dutch, your instincts have been correct all along. You don't get it because you're an intelligent woman and it doesn't make sense.
I've eaten eggs for breakfast for as long as I can remember, and was raised on the sunny beaches of Southern California. I don't have any skin or cholesterol problems - never have. But I DO eat with common sense and get a lot exercise - indoors and out. Uninvited Writer, if you prefer to believe what the media and the pharmaceutical corporations are telling you, that is entirely up to you. Myself, I'm gonna stick with my own common sense.
Thank you both for your feedback.
Well, I'm not a doctor so I really don't know. Maybe you are lucky. My sister and I both have high cholesterol and we don't eat that badly.
I'm just going on what my doctor tells me and what I've read on the Health Canada website and other reputable organizations, not what the media and the drug companies tell me about it.
There is talk that a healthy diet might prevent cancer, but it is not all there is to it. Healthy people have been diagnozed with cancer.
I don't spend too much time in the sun as I'm fair skinned and it gives me a headache but I do take a Vitamin D supplement.
Uninvited, with all due respects, luck has nothing to do with it. I've been studying human health and fitness for 23 years. I'm not just guessing here. The best thing you can due for your high cholesterol is to stop taking those bull-shit drugs, get as much Sun as you can -even 5-10 miutes a day is better than none- start exercising (walking 15 minutes a day, at least 3 days a week, at the least) and take responsibility for what YOU put into your body. Your own health is one of the few things in life you actually have some degree of control over.
Your doctor has a vested/financial interest in prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs to you. I'm not selling you anything but your own well-being.
Take charge of your own health. Become a student of the human body and how it works - considering that you own one. You'd be amazed at the advantages of konwing how it works.
You can start here: http://www.treelight.com/health/healing/Cholestero and take it on your own from there.
Well, being in Canada I don't know if my doctor does have a vested interest.
I am just saying that people who do all the right things get cancer too...
Great hub, Constant, I agree with you whole heatedly, it is as you say. What you put into yourself, be it by food, exercise, and even correct thoughts, the way we breath etc. as we are Holistic Entity!!
Uninvited, all Doctors and medical associations have a mutual vested interest.
At a base level if there were fewer patients with medical problems, there would be fewer drugs required.
Therefore there would be fewer drug companies.
Therefore, need we carry on?
Look at the battle between margarine and butter, which is correct and heart foundation approved, as the medical profession cannot agree on it.
Thanks
Cancer is caused by the chemicals that are being ingested into our bodies, whether intentionally or not. And get this; an ever-growing number of scientists suspect it is build-up in the brain of microscopic residue of chemicals -from all the drugs we ingest (prescription, OTC or otherwise)- which is the cause of alzheimer's disease. This disease, like senility, is NOT a natural part of growing older. It, like cancer, is something we've brought on ourselves.
Canada has a better universal healthcare system but I, personally, don't know how closely they work with the pharmaceutical corporations. If Canada has a bunch of media ads for ever more drugs, chances are it's no different than here.
The fact is, very few in the medical profession practice preventative medicine. They're trained to treat problems, not prevent them.
Rodney, I agree. Doctors would not be as wealthy as they are if we were all healthy... and the pharmaceutical corporations wouldn't be as rich if we weren't as gullible as we are. But you can't blame them, WE are the dupes who are buying everything they put on the market.
And Uninvited; yes, healthy people do get cancer, but so what. You don't have cancer, you high blood pressure. This is something YOU can do something about. A co-worker, who lives about the same distance from work as I do (30 mins) got inspired to start walking to work and back, and at her last blood pressure reading, it was "optimal" for the first time in years.
It's simple, it's free, and it works!
Some people produce cholesterol more than others; and exercise is a universal remedy to that and many health issues. Processed oils are poison, olive oil, fish oil are so healthy and readily available.
Great Hub, we all need to take control of what goes in the mouth. We can effect our health to a large degree - tho' some things might be genetic, new studies are finding that even that is because much of what we eat is handed down thru traditions and not really 'genetic' but a habit.
I think it's safe to say that if we eat right; exercise; get some sun; our odds of being healthier go up. I'm for that!! Stick with less red meat; more fish; more veggies and fruits, we can't help but feel better!!! Better is good.
Amen, Marisue! A long-time theory of mine (and are there really studies to back it up?) is that much of what has been called "genetic" is really poor eating habits being passed down from one generation to the next.
Thanks. Now I've got to do some research, ay?
let us know what you find!!! ahhh more work.....haha
Will do. I've definitely missed you.
hey that's nice. This Hubbing is a habit for sure, then when you miss a few days, you feel lost!!
It's like - "don't have fun without me...."
haha
You know, I'm shy about trusting the FDA. I would like to think they are on the individual's side; but that doesn't seem to be evident in recent years decisions or non decisions. Where have they been on the China products? and many of our own products as well, really: spinach; meat; etc etc. It's time we all used our own minds where we can. We're forced to trust them more than we want; but we'd be better off to go with fresh foods when we can and a good dose of common sense.
That's all I'm saying.
About 15 years ago I read in a local paper, called The Red Barn, about armed representatives of the FDA bursting into an alternative food and medicine store in Eugene, OR -with guns drawn- and busting the shop up, closing it down and arresting the owners. The charge, there were no warrants of any kind, offering medical remedies without a license.
Can we put two and two together?
yes and my brother cues me often about writing letters to Congress to not ban our use of herbs, etc. Keep the FDA out of my cabinets please!! That's invasion of privacy and undue seizure in book!!
I was so shocked by this because; Since when did the FDA have an armed branch? Since when, or for what, was one needed? Well, now I know. To shut down, by deadly force if necessary, anything or anyone that interferes with their profit - or exposes them. It's outrageous.
As I said in comments on another hub, when dealing with organizations, always consider incompetence before conspiracy. In other words, no, I don't think anyone is conspiring to off-load worthless drugs on the public. I frankly think that our medical people (and FDA) are sincere but sincerely (and overbearingly) wrong. (But then there are billions of dollars riding on being wrong).
I've had high chloresterol almost all my life. Never done anything about it even after a physician told me that my "ignorance" would kill me. Well, after 8 decades on this planet, it hasn't yet, and there are a lot of physicians who can't say that.
I recall saying to a professional football playing friend that maybe he could do a bit better with a better diet. His response was, "If you're brought up on twinkies and coke, you need twinkies and coke". I supposee that it's the same if one has been raised with high chloresterol foods!
Can't argue with that, Bud. Personally I don't eat twinkies or coke, but I think the body adjusts and runs the best it can on whatever it's given. I think you were right, though: the football playing friend would have done better with a better diet.
Thanks for the feedback.
Very interesting hub and discussion. I too have had high chloresteral for years and although I am about 20 years behind Bud, I am no spring chicken. I have never taken a statin drug ,though several doctors have tried to get me to. I started reading instead and found out that the link between chloresteral and heart disease is much more tenuous than we have been led to believe. For starters, the original research in the Framingham study was done only on men. Women have a different pattern. Also the original research linking chloresteral to heart disease involved men who had already had one heart attack. It turns out that half the people who have a first heart attack have normal chloresteral levels--what kind of risk factor is that?. There's more but nevermind...... I highly recommend a book by a Swedish Dr. called The Cloresteral Myth.
I opted for Niacin and fish oil and CoQ10 instead of a statin. My overall cloresteral is 310 but my HDL is 98 and my doctor says that the ratio between LDL and HDL is what matters most and because my HDL is exceptionally high, mine is fine. BTW statins have seriouos side effects. I have two friends who got terrible muscle cramps and muscle wasting from statin drugs. I'm not a doctor, but I do have the ultimate say over what goes into my body. I didn't know about the sunshine factor and have taken serious note of it--thanks for the heads up CW.
Thanks for commenting, Robie. Good for you, you simply took charge. More Americans must start doing that. I forgot to include CoQ10 in the hub, thanks for the reminder.
I didn't know about the sunshine factor either, until recently, but I've never believed the Sun was harmful and have never worn sunblock. It makes complete sense - the body is very good at regulating itself and humans were designed to be outside. It stands to reason that sunlight would be beneficial.
I looked in an old encyclopedia from the 1930s and the word cholesterol was not there. I guess it must have been invented since then, eh? :)
Seriously, I agree that sunlight is a natural way to get healthy, as long as one doesn't overdo it.
Always been in our bodies, just wasn't a danger til we started mucking it up. I'm sure we'll something else any time now...
Really... I've never bought the whole "sunlight is dangerous" bull. It never made sense, even before I started studying health & fitness.
Could the entire Western medical community really be that clueless? Did not one of them stop and say, hey! this just doesn't make sense?
And these are the people we trust with our health and our lives!?!? Not I, thank you very much.
Great hub Walker! I really can't stand all these organizations (FDA, pharmaceutical companies, doctors etc) that have nothing better to offer the people of this world than a magic pill that fixes whatever problems you have. Nothing in life is EVER that simple. Problems just don't go away like that; you have to work to get results.
This is an excellent hub, so informative. I already knew the sunlight thing, with Vitamin D, but I didn't know that you make the D out of Cholesterol. That's cool to know
And seriously, the thing about the FDA <b>Food</b> and <b>Drug</b>! Why are those two linked together?
I'm all about the profit-driven conspiracies, don't get me wrong, I'm positive all this is a mastermind plot to get Americans unhealthy and profits driving into the pockets of people producing our garbage food, and the people selling the drugs to fix the problems caused from it. All that stuff about oils and corn syrup is soooo important!
Great hub walker, really.
Thank you very much, Jonno. Anyone who thinks a moment about it, and how it's all linking together, and getting out of hand, and people continue to get sicker and sicker, and the pharmaceutical corporations -and the FDA- continue to get richer and richer... we can't keep our heads in tha sand any longer.
The FDA was started a long time ago with a very noble purpose: to protect the American people and to monitor everything we were given to ingest. But, as is obvious, their aganda has changed dramatically, and they can no longer be blindly trusted.
Thanks again.
Thanks for this hub. I was just told I have slightly elevated chlesterol, and I know it's because I don't spend as much time outside as I used to, but I've been paranoid ever since I had a skin cancer a few years back. You're right, though. If we all got outside more, did our own yard work (I know some people are not able), walked more, and ate more fresh fruits and veggies (I'm looking toward a raw food diet myself), we'd all be a lot healthier, and doctors would have to go back to treating real diseases instead of pushing pills.
You are very welcome, Dafla, and I could not have said it better myself. Good for you!
Dineshmalshe. I didn't approve your comments because they were absurdly long and had nothing to do with this story. But, thank you for reading.
Constant Walker - Here's another factoid about cholesterol relevant to all this. In the Framingham Study they originally found a level of 240 to have some risk. Years later a public relations campaign by drug companies (not a scientific inquiry) unilaterally changed the danger zone to 220. And a few years after that another PR campaign changed it to 200, which GREATLY increased the number of people who supposedly are at risk. If they left it at 240 the amount of money they would make with statin drugs would drop more than 90%. It would be almost funny if this utter greed wasn't so dangerous; think of Tim Russert, a recent victim of the statin drug fiasco. At least there are good people like you educating the public about the greedy, corrupt medical establishment. One day they will get their due, possibly in the form of socialized medicine, a prospect they all despise.
Big Blue
Big Blue, thank you very much for this informetion. Sadly, it didn't even raise my eyebrows ... even a little.
I'm going to add these facts to this hub, if that's OK with you.
I was hoping Obama was going to push for a socialized medical system, but it's not looking that way. Sigh!
Kenrudy1, I did not approve your comment (and your drug-link) because I will not endorse Lipitor, or any other drug, on this or on any of my hubs.
If you want to push pharmaceuticals, please do so on your own hubs. Maybe your readers will be more gullible.
ya man there are many realities in ur hub. nice job
Thank you, Stepheny. Much appreciated.
My 53 year old husband was told his HDL was too low and his LDL way to high. His blood pressure is good but his Dr. says a test of his arteries shows he has the arteries of a 70 year old. Since all the men in his family have died early of heart disease and diet didn't seem to help this scared him into taking 40mg.of Crestor and 10mg of Ezetrol.He eat next to no cholesterol and increased his cardio workout from once a day for 20min. to twice a day for 40-60min. He also starting using an infrared sauna daily. After a month his cholesterol has dropped to below the low end of good but his muscle enzymes count, which was already high at 645, has shot up to 975. His Dr. cut his Crestor back to 20mg. and he is waiting for an appointment with a Dr. who specializes in cholestrol issues. I want him off both these meds since I beleive they are taking a tole on him. He has gone from an easy and out going guy to a depressed and mentally dull one. His thinking and responses (both mental and physical) seem to have slowed down to a crawl and he hardly says anything all day unless spoken to. He does not have any muscle pains yet. I have him taking COQ10,vitamin D, and other vitamins and cholestrol lowering herbs. Our dr. says his cholestrol problem is a genetic one. If he goes off the meds and suffers a heart attack, stroke or heaven forbid dies I will feel guilty but I am also afraid the doctors cure might be doing more damage than good! Any thoughts...
Concerned wife. First, I don't know why it took so long for this comment to show up in my stats. I check for such things at least once a week. My sincere apologies.
My best wishes go out to both your husband and you. As for my thoughts; you know I am not a doctor of any kind, right? but if it were me, my first course of action would be to get him into the sun (sans sunscreen) at least 15 minutes a day, every day, and see what happens.
If his levels improve, take him off the damned meds and CONTINUE to get daily sun. The sun is a natural cholesterol vacuum for the human body, that and a provider of vitamin D.
I hope I didn't see this too late, and please contact me and let me know if this helps: orpercussionist@yahoo.com
Uninvited Writer says:
2 years ago
As far as I know, sunscreen does not block your absorption of Vitamin D. I also think it is a little irresponsible to say that skin cancer will not happen if you eat a healthy diet, do you have research to back that up?