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The Cholesterol Connection

 by David Dixon, Penticton, BC

Over the years, cholesterol has been given a bad rap.  But is it really the nasty killer substance as claimed? Apparently not, according to some of the latest information. Studies have shown that when people’s intake of cholesterol has been dramatically increased, their blood cholesterol levels have remained constant, even dropped, in some cases because the body produces it…and for good reason. When the body is not getting sufficient amounts of cholesterol via food intake, as in a low-cholesterol diet, it then produces even more to compensate for the reduction. Cholesterol is actually a very necessary substance and is produced in the liver. So why all the fuss about it and its proclaimed dangers?  Well, let’s just say that it appears the establishment calling it names, is misguiding the public or is, itself misguided The real culprit?  Inflammation.

Our bodies sometimes manufacture too much of one particular, potent substance – in this case, homocysteine, a substance we produce when we consume protein foods. Homocysteine is so powerful that it can cause inflammation of the arterial walls. The body then ‘slaps’ on available material from the bloodstream to protect itself from the caustic effects of the abundant homocysteine. In so doing, it decreases the size of the opening, through which blood travels.  Because of this decrease in the opening, the heart has to pump harder and harder to push the required amount of blood through to its required destinations.

According to “Finally, a Real Solution to Heart Disease”, by Dr. David Williams, homocysteine – not cholesterol --actually “increases a person’s risk of heart attack by 300 percent!” So it appears that homocysteine is the dreaded culprit after all, not cholesterol, as we have been lead to believe. In fact, Dr. Williams goes on further to state that despite the fact that people are “…exercising like crazy, changing their diets, gulping supplements, and taking expensive drugs to lower their cholesterol. Yet none of this is making a dent in heart attack statistics.”  The reason, according to Williams, is that cholesterol is not to blame.

The solution to the abundance of homocysteine and the resulting potential heart dis-ease may be so simple and inexpensive that many people have chosen to overlook it as a possibility.  B-Vitamins, in general, can reduce many forms of stresses, anxiety, etc. Certain B-Vitamins, like B-6, B-12 and Folic Acid have been shown to reduce the levels of homocysteine.  Reduce the homocysteine levels and you reduce inflammation within the arteries.  Reduce this inflammation and you reduce or eliminate the body’s need to protect itself from arterial wall damage. The body no longer perceives the need to ‘slap’ on substances to protect its self and the openings of the arterial walls are not diminished because of this.

Gary Null, in “The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing” has some suggestions, regarding the lowering of arterial plaque: Daily intake of 1,000 to 10,000 mg. of Vitamin C, especially effective when it contains bioflavonoids and is combined with lecithin, Vitamin E, 400 to 600 I.U. per day, and Null further states the “…best cholesterol-lowering minerals to be chromium, calcium, magnesium and zinc.”

We see that by taking certain and specific B-Vitamins, possible arterial wall damage may be prevented, along with a reduction of heart dis-ease.  But why would we have such a B-Vitamin need in the first place?  How could we possibly be so deficient in such a required nutrient to warrant taking it in supplement form? These are good questions.

An underactive thyroid gland may be the reason for the body being deficient in the B-Vitamins. When poorly functioning thyroid glands were clinically encouraged to function properly, the homocysteine levels tapered off, dropping to normal range…without any vitamin supplementation. (Thanks again to Dr. Williams.) Once again we turn to stress as the source of B-Vitamin losses, along with the body’s inability to properly absorb them.

Few things take place in the body without directly or indirectly affecting various other functions.  For example: The thyroid malfunctions, thus preventing the body from absorbing B-Vitamins, which in turn allows the homocysteine levels to rise.  This leads to inflammation of the arterial walls, causing the body to protect them by placing material from the bloodstream, as it passes by, over the irritated walls.  The opening of the bloodstream is diminished and the heart works harder to accomplish its usual task of transporting life-giving blood throughout the system.

Higher cholesterol levels are not the dreaded culprits, per se, but some of the reasons for those levels being so high might be. For instance, the aforementioned malfunctioning thyroid gland or major amounts of physical and/or emotional stress which has diminished the body’s defence against same: B-Vitamins.  There are a multitude of reasons why cholesterol levels are higher than current statistics claim they should be…but the real reason for them being so high is what we should be looking for.  It’s a lot more difficult and time consuming to delve deeply enough as to discover the source of someone’s health challenges.  But don’t we owe it to them – to ourselves – to do the very best we know how to do, in order to keep humanity as safe and as healthy as we possibly can?  We are all part of the whole, are we not?

Yes, cholesterol has been given some very bad press, over the years.  But without it we would be in dire straits.  Cholesterol, according to the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, “…is a necessary ingredient for building cell membranes and hormones and producing Vitamin D and bile.” So the next time you hear somebody badmouthing cholesterol, you will know that not only is it not all that scary, it’s actually necessary for our survival. It’s really one of the good guys with very specific and necessary functions in the body like producing our beloved hormones and keeping those nasty fat levels intact. Sure, our health is in jeopardy whenever the levels get too high but then, anything that has gone too far out of balance can be a threat to optimal health.

by David Dixon, Penticton, BC

For the past 40 years, Dave has been a devout Vegetarian.  During this time frame, he has become certified as a Nutritional Consultant, worked as a Fitness Trainer, a certified Reflexologist, Deep Muscle Therapist as well as Quantum Biofeedback Practitioner in the Penticton area.  Dave currently has a biofeedback practice in Penticton ~ 250-493-2213

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