Tackling the Cholesterol Myth

Eggs are often maligned due to cholesterol levels, but is cholesterol really the issue we’ve been made to believe it is?

In this article, we will take a look at one of modern medicine’s most sacred cows. We will dismantle the myth that cholesterol causes heart disease. Part of what we’re going to cover is that cholesterol is something that is 100%, vitally necessary to correct functioning of the human body that has suffered at the hands of too much pharmaceutical bad press.

We’ll also look at the true driver of heart disease and share dietary strategies that can help prevent heart disease without toxic pharmaceuticals and dangerous low fat diets.

First things first, let’s take a closer look at cholesterol. We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to cholesterol’s lesser-known good side.

Unlike what you may think, cholesterol is not a fat in the traditional sense, rather cholesterol is technically considered a steroid and shares a similar structure with estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. Cholesterol is the raw material your body uses to produce these other hormones.

Cholesterol is generally a liquid, runny substance, a little like the yolk of an egg. It only hardens when calcium causes it to calcify as in gallstones, kidney stones, and plaque.

Cholesterol is vitally important for many functions in the body including:

• formation of cell membranes
• production of hormones including testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol
• protection of the nervous system and transmission of nerve signals
• aid in the intestinal absorption of fat molecules as well as the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K
• eliminates fat soluble toxins (ie. lead, mercury)
• transports fat soluble antioxidants

Cholesterol is so important that human breast milk supplies the growing baby with as much as six times what the average adult consumes in their food (1).

Like everything in your body if something is important to correct functioning, your body goes to enormous lengths to ensure just the right quantity is available. Cholesterol is no exception.

The major source of cholesterol for your body is not actually dietary. Despite the focus on dietary cholesterol your body will naturally produce about 1,000 mg of cholesterol per day to maintain the average 35 grams that are used in your body, this is five times the USDA recommendation of 200mg of dietary cholesterol. In addition, your body has a negative feedback system that reduces production of cholesterol as dietary cholesterol levels increase to maintain a homeostatic level that is correct for your body.

The level that is correct for your body may be quite different to the level that is correct for others based on many factors including:

• exposure to environmental toxins including mercury based dental amalgams
• liver function
• stress and emotional anxiety

We normally look at ideal ranges to include:

• Cholesterol normal range 3.6 – 6.5 – this is a rather broad range with most falling somewhere along the spectrum. Medical practitioners like to see people on the lower end of this range however because of the importance of cholesterol, we prefer to see people in the middle or upper end.
• Optimum range 5.2 – 6.5 – maintaining cholesterol in this range ensures sufficient levels for nervous system function and maintenance, cell membrane maintenance, and hormone production.
• Environmental toxin range 6.5 – 8 – seeing this range on your pathology reports will probably have your doctor shaking their head and reaching for the prescription pad. Don’t be so quick. In clinic we often see this cholesterol range associated with people experiencing high levels of toxicity from heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disputers. Here, lowering cholesterol levels through pharmaceutical drugs will lead to use of alternative fat stores, such as your brain, for storage.

Where Did Cholesterol Get It’s Bad Reputation From?

Have you heard the saying “if you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas?”. This is exactly what has happened to cholesterol.

Once produced by the liver cholesterol is carried in the blood stream out to the cells by low density lipoproteins, or LDL. You can think of LDL as the taxicab for cholesterol consisting of approximately 46% cholesterol. LDL not only transports cholesterol but other important cellular antioxidants including vitamin A and vitamin E.

The last 10-15 years has seen research suggesting that adverse cardiovascular outcomes are resulting from the effects of LDL once it has been oxidised instead of cholesterol. (2), (3), (4).

In fact, a large scale study of 12,740 Koreans followed over 15 years found that low cholesterol was just as likely to lead to death from heart disease as high cholesterol levels. (5)

Which leads to the important question, how can you prevent oxidation of LDL?

The answer is quite a lot as it turns out, and most of these strategies are basic principles of healthy living.

Reduce Inflammation

One of the biggest contributors to oxidation of LDL is chronic, long term pro inflammatory reactions. This is usually measured in pathology reports as elevated homocysteine (6) or increased Leptin levels, and one of the reasons why homocysteine is routinely used as a marker in situations of suspected vascular disease.

There are several ways we user of reducing chronic inflammation in our clinic. This includes:

• increasing intake of anti-inflammatory poly-unsaturated essential fatty acids (Omega 3 essential fatty acids)
• utilisation of anti inflammatory herbs such as turmeric and hops
• increasing intake of key nutrients such as vitamin D and zinc

It is also important to look at diet in helping to control inflammation and in turn homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels are frequently found in vegetarians (29%) and vegans (53%). (7) because of the low dietary concentrations of vitamin B12 and methionine. These nutrients are required for the recycling and conversion of homocysteine.

Vitamin B12 and methionine are both readily found in high concentrations in animal products including dairy products, meat, and fish.

Reduce Copper Levels

Like everything else in your body, too much copper is as bad as too little copper. Insufficient copper can lead to problems with bone mineral levels, neurotransmitter production, and energy levels; however, too much copper can lead to depression, mental illness, and cirrhosis of the liver.

Not surprisingly, excess copper is another major contributor to oxidation of LDL leading to heart disease. The rate of LDL oxidation by copper is further increased by raised blood glucose levels as would be found in many diabetics (8).

When we test clients in clinic, we regularly find that many of our clients have excess copper levels. This can come from a variety of sources including contamination from old copper pipes, cookware, insecticides, and our water supply.

One of the best strategies for decreasing copper, which also offers advantages controlling inflammation, is to increase zinc intake. Zinc and copper have an antagonist relationship increased intake of zinc from supplementation or food sources will help to reduce your bodies copper levels.

Consume Antioxidant Rich Phyto Nutrients

If you’re not taking some form of antioxidant daily and you’re concerned about heart disease it’s time to start.

Inflammation and high copper levels are just some of the possible contributors to oxidation of LDL. Anything that releases free radicals can be a source of oxidation. This even includes the day to day activities of cellular metabolism that keeps you alive.

We always recommend a diet high in fresh, low GI, fruits and vegetables, and good fats, and oils. These are power houses of phyto nutrients including many antioxidant compounds that have been shown to help slow and prevent oxidation of LDL including:

• Vitamin C (9)
• Cryptoxanthin (10)
• Olive leaf polyphenols (11)

Talk to Our Naturopathic Team

If you’re concerned about cardiovascular disease, or your cholesterol levels, don’t be pushed into taking dangerous cholesterol lowering medication by your doctor. Cardiovascular disease is something that is largely metabolically and nutritionally driven. Naturopaths are qualified and experienced in correcting these underlying causes and can help you to prevent heart disease without drugs.

If you would like more information talk to us today.