People think nuts have Cholesterol!

[VeryBerry]

Here is something truely crazy!

My in-lows just came for a visit. My mother in low was curious about the Vitamix and what you can make with it, so I told her that I use it to make cashew cheese, for example. She sais that she can't eat cashew because her doctor told her that they have Cholesterol, she also does not eat spinach for that reason. :eek:

I tried to explain that Cholesterol can only be found in animal products, but that fell on deaf ears. I can not belive the ignorance!!! This is really common knowledge! I am looking for a link from an official, mainstream organization that explains that Cholesterol can only be found in animal products. No luck so far, I think it is so abvious that no one bothered explaining.

Does any one have a link?

[juliebove]

This lists all the nutritional elements of food:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

But even if they did have cholesterol; so what? The cholesterol that we eat does not raise our cholesterol. And AFAIK, there is no non animal source of food that contains cholesterol.

Also... Why is she taking nutritional advice from a Dr.? Is the Dr. also a dietician?

The Dr. may have told her to avoid these foods for other reasons and she misunderstood. Some people believe as nuts go, cashews are not one of the best sources of nutrients. Almonds do contain a live enzyme not contained in other nuts. Some say walnuts are nutritionally superior to pecans. And there are some medical problems where a person should avoid or limit spinach in their diet.

[Rawzula]

http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/illnesses.html?article=1883
http://www.lifexpand.com/faq.php?faqid=44
http://www.healthopedia.com/cholesterol/functions-sources.html
http://www.oceanmist.com/spinach.htm

We all know that spinach is cholesterol-free. Hope this helps:D.

[Revvell]

Another reason I don't go to doctors.

Revvell

[lissomllama]

Wow, the ignorance really stuns me sometimes. I don't really know what to say to that, other than the obvious "duh, cholesterol is animal product derived". That being said, to a truly confused person, I could vaguely understand the cashew thing because they do have fat (although that is still ludicrous) but spinach!?

So on a more positive note: let us all hope for the education and understanding of the mass populous about at least the basic principle of what is what out here in this big gorgeous world. :)

[timoteo]

don't forget that coconuts have cholesterol!
:)

[alex]

Read The China Study - good section in there about cholesterol in addition to all the other valuable info


alex

[Veganforlife]

Another reason I don't go to doctors.

Revvell

Amen sis-tah!

We should start a thread of why we don't go to doctors. Dr. Bloem who frequents this thread excluded from this list, of course. He actually hands out Alissa's book to his patients.

Doctors and pharma companies - YIKES - they give me the willies! :eek:

[Sharon in Colorado]

I'll bet there was a miscommunication or misunderstanding from the conversation she had with her doctor.

It sounds like what happened was, she has high cholesterol and her doc said, don't eat too many nuts, because they are high in fat, and too much fat is not good for people with high cholesterol, which it isn't.

But maybe your comment can go in my "I can't believe they said that" thread where people say strange, funny, unbelievable things that make no sense. :)

[VeryBerry]

Thanks for all the responses. I am pretty sure that she misunderstood. Some sources say that eating trans fats will raise cholesterol. Since cooked nuts have trans fat, it makes sense in a strange way. The thing about spinach still amazes me!

On a positive note I read a great article about the benefits of nuts in Canadian Living magazine. The have pictures of all sorts of nuts and go over the nutritional content and benefits. They also have recipes. A really cool article!

[rawlapalooza]

It's very surprising the amount of people that think there is cholesterol in plant foods. I don't want to say who but, a very well known raw food activist said during one of his non-cooking videos that avocadoes have a lot of good cholesterol in them. I thought....huh!?

[Wendee]

Sure hope none of you need a Dr. for an emergency!!

Knock on wood but DO NOT knock Doctors.

Thank you :)

[eatyourbroccoli]

in all honesty, the immunology specialist/allergist im working with right now - who is considered an expert in his field - is a proponent of a modified ATKINS diet..and yet his work in the allergy field has produced experimental treatment that is helping me recover so much from the health obstacles ive recently encountered.

ive just come to learn that doctor is not synonymous with nutritionist :)