Raw for lowering cholesterol

[Rawmney]

Shame on me, forgot to search before posting this.Many related threads already out there. Doesn't look like I have an option to delete, but you can disregard unless anyone's got something new on the subject. Rawmney

Hi Folks!

I'd love to hear from anyone who achieved meaningful lowering of cholesterol and / or improvement in high (up) and low (down) in transitionng to a 100% raw. I'm especially interested in people whose numbers weren't that hot even when you were non-raw vegetarian or vegan, but then got better. Conversely, have others been 100% raw and still had high cholesterol problems?

I did see Rawkinlocs report on husband's #s as well as Sharon n Colorado's link to an article in another thread. Sharon in Colorado, Mystical, are you making progress?

Also, did you do anything special within raw to make the improvement or just eat pretty much anything as long as it was 100% raw. My doc was fine on all the avos and nuts I wanted (yippee!), but a little wary on too much coconut because of the saturated fat (coconut may be super for others; I just have bad family history).

Thanks in advance for your stories - successful or otherwise.

Best,
Rawmney

[berrienoire]

I have a similar "family history" and I believe I am fine with eating the coconut oil as long as it's raw/unrefined/organic. After doing what felt like years of research on coconuts in general, I believe they are very healing...in their natural state. You definitely don't want to have anything to do with hydrogenated coconut oil.

There are tons and tons...and tons more...articles out there on the subject, but here's a link to some interesting (and hopefully helpful) info:

The Truth About Coconut Oil: Why it Got a Bad Rep When it’s Actually Good (http://www.mercola.com/2003/sep/13/coconut_oil.htm)

[Rawmney]

Thanks Berrienoire! I've printed the article out for next trip to the doc. She didn't say never, just maybe not all the time. Great distinction between hydrogenated and not. Much appreciated. Rawmney

[berrienoire]

You are most welcome, Rawmney. Glad you found that info helpful! :)

[Jackie1995]

Very interesting.

I just got the results of my blood work, and found that my cholesterol, which was higher in December, has not really gone down much at all in 6 weeks.
In fact, my HDL went from 52 to 30 - not the result I wanted. Triglycerides stayed the same, LDL went down some...but nothing impressive. Still all in the HIGH range (although near the border) except for the super low HDL. This sucks.

I also just changed my thyroid meds (which I appear to be stuck with forever, darn it) from Synthroid to natural thyroid which has gotten my TSH down well. But I wonder if the meds are somehow failing to allow my body to get shed of this cholesterol problem.

Another weird thing: my fasting glucose is 95 ! What????

Now I have to go back to the doctor and find out what his opinion is about all this.

Yes, he knows I'm 100% raw, and I have lost 10 pounds in last 6 weeks, my fat intake is average of 29%; daily calories average 1700; 17% average protein; average carbs 55%. All from fruits, leafy greens, other veggies, spare use of dried fruits. oils and nuts.

I also walk 5 miles each morning at average 15.3 minutes per mile - and I have blisters to prove it !

So, there is something going screwy here.

I'm a bit aggravated that I still have to take the meds, but without them, I get pretty bad joint/muscle pain, my hair falls out, I am cold all the time and somewhat depressed and listless. Even raw.

I'll let you know what he says, but meanwhile:
anyone else out there having cholesterol problems while raw?

Hmmm....

[Rawmney]

Hi Jackie,

Sorry your results were so disappointing. Thanks for sharing. I hope you're able to figure out what's up since you're doing so many of the right things.

I haven't had my cholesterol test yet and am trying to wait to see if some more raw (I'm not 100% yet) will help.

Best wishes to you!
Rawmney

[sewpretty13]

Hi Jackie,

I'm interested in your post on high cholesterol. I am very intolerant/alleregic to grains--gluten, corn, soy and dairy. I was on the South Beach diet because it is low carb and that was how I could eat without eating wheat etc. . However, last summer I had my blood work done expecting it to be good, but I found that it was very elevated (313) and LDL very high as well over 200, but my triglicerides were very low and my total risk was below normal. My doc, though was very upset at the scores and asked me to do something. I already was eating mostly fish and fresh veggies and nothing processed. I didn't know how to improve. I read the book by Joel Furhman about Lowering Cholesterol for Life which led me to the raw food diet. My doctor gave me 6 weeks to lower my cholesterol and I was pleased because after testing it after 6 weeks it came down 99 points to 214. Now after being totaly raw since Christmas (7 weeks), I just has a test done at the WalMart health fair and my cholesterol was just 209. I expected it to be so much lower!!

I excercise 30 minutes a day at Curves or Roller blading and drink no alcohol and have low stress. I am 53 and starting menopause and my mother has borderline high cholesterol. I am underweight since going raw. My husband wants me to gain weight. I do eat nuts and have a hard time with fruit because it shoots my blood sugar so high, but I am trying to eat less nuts and more fruit. I drink lots of water.

What do you guys think? I would love to lower my cholesterol to 150 or at least 175? Is this possible?

Thanks for your help.

[karenisraw]

Regarding the coconut being a saturated fat:

Home » February 2006 Newsletter from Ecopolitan
Coconut Oil - the Saturated Fat Myth
Submitted by ecopolitan on Wed, 2006-02-08 04:31. Ask Doctor T
Today's ASK Doctor T:

Question: What is the deal with coconut oil? I hear that it is "wonder oil." How is that possible considering that is among the oils highest in saturated fat?

Answer: Thank you for your question. Saturated fat is considered "bad" by some authorities only when it contains LONG CHAIN fatty acids, as is the case with animal fat (in flesh, dairy, and eggs, where it is also associated with cholesterol, another "reason" for its bad reputation - a reason that is not based on good, up-to-date science but on the drug-pushing pharmaceutical industry's desire to sell more cholesterol-lowering drugs to the unsuspecting public) .

Coconut fat contains SHORT and MEDIUM CHAIN fatty acids, making it a perfect food for gut cells, for healthy (thyroid-protective) metabolism, and for prevention of the negative effects of unstable fats in vegetable oils (coconut fat functions as a cardio-protective, immune-protective, and cellular defense antioxidant, preventing the formation of dangerous fatty acid free radicals in rancidity-prone seed oils). Also, these coconut fatty acids have good antimicrobial capabilities (inhibiting the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungus or yeast, and parasites while promoting gastro-intestinal health). They enhance the immune system as well, and improve our overall hormonal balance.

Coconut oil is perfect for improved fat-burning metabolic activity, so it is an excellent addition to any weight-loss program (remember, good fat is necessary for general health!). It is great for skin care, since "you don't want to put anything on your skin that you won't put in your mouth"
One reason saturated fat (when not derived from animals) is actually very good is that it is very stable (does not go rancid in heat, oxygen, and light). The seed industry has brain-washed us to believe that all saturated fats are bad, so that we would use their extremely unhealthy, unstable cheap oils (especially soy, corn, peanut, safflower, sunflower, and canola oils) instead of the previously highly available, highly stable coconut and palm oils.

Read Doctor T's previous answers in the new Ecopolitan's Doctor T answers archive.

If you have a nutritional or brief medical question you would like Doctor T to answer, please email us and it may be answered in a future newsletter.

[joy]

I had a pretty fantastic lowering of cholesterol with raw foods. When I ate a fairly clean, whole foods diet with occasional meat, dairy, and eggs, my cholesterol was 327. After a few months of raw, it went down to 205, almost all of which is good cholesterol!

I didn't lose any weight while eating raw, and didn't increase my exercise, either. It's in my journal if you want more specifics.

Joy

[THX-1138]

I have to definately agree with Dr. T's assessment of the issue. Opt for saturated and mono fats while laying off the poly's (ie. nuts and seeds). Afterall, the saturated and mono fats the ones we would eat most in nature anyway, not nuts and seeds.

And concerning high cholesterol, may I ask Jackie what her total cholesterol is? Odds are you don't have high cholesterol in the first place and you shouldn't be taking meds regardless of what your doctor tells you. I would say the overwhelming majority of people on cholesterol lowering medication are taking them when completely unnecessary, even if the person is on a SAD diet. Telling people that their cholesterol should be lower than "previously believed" is nothing but propaganda by the pharmaceutical industry in order to peddle more drugs onto us.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hello - I caught this post and would love to respond. My genetic cholesterol is really high (mid to high 300's off raw). I lowered it 77 points this last time on a couple months raw (no meds). I've gotten it under 200 before when I did low fat raw with meds.

I know fat is a very touchy subject on here yet I will proceed. When you are talking about genetic high cholesterol or even CHD, over-fat consumption is not advised by any heart doctor I know of, no matter the source raw or cooked.

IMO a little avocado here and a few soaked nuts there is much better than oil, which is an overt, concentrated fat and not even a whole food. There are 14 grams of fat in a tablespoon of oil. There is not much nutrient value to oil except a high fat content. We usually end up using it in recipes and for a flavoring agent to appease our palettes.

To me, advising people with high cholesterol to purposely eat coconut oil makes me think of those articles advising people with high cholesterol to eat a lot of fish - okay, so there are omegas and such in the fish, but lets not forget about all the cholesterol in fish. There may not be much cholesterol in coconut oil (BTW there are a few fatty plant foods with minute amounts of cholesterol) but saturated fats can very well further raise cholesterol in certain people. Sure 2 people with genetic high cholesterol may have a different outcome eating daily large doses of coconut oil, but I think purposely consuming extra fat with a lipid disorder may not always be such a wise idea. Still - if you believe the articles that coconut is going to really help you, then why not just consume the nut itself as a whole raw food?

Here's the bottom line, again imo - food doesn't 'heal' you. Your body does the healing. Providing the best environment with the proper nutrition is the best way to assist your body in healing.

[karenisraw]

Sharon in Colorado,

Hmmmm. I never thought about the genetic high colesteral. I think I will ask the doctor Tuesday night in his lecture. When I find out his opinion on this I will post it on this thread.

As to the eating the whole coconut as a whole food I do eat about 2-4 coconut shakes per week (young coconut meat and juice in a blender) in addition to my daily breakfast of cracker with coconut oil and love them.

[THX-1138]

There may not be much cholesterol in coconut oil (BTW there are a few fatty plant foods with minute amounts of cholesterol)

Not true. Cholesterol is only produced in the liver, therefore plants do not contain any cholesterol.

Regardless, most people take the cholesterol thing way too seriously. Most people's cholesterol is just fine, even SAD people.

[RawTruth]

I have to definately agree with Dr. T's assessment of the issue. Opt for saturated and mono fats while laying off the poly's (ie. nuts and seeds). Afterall, the saturated and mono fats the ones we would eat most in nature anyway, not nuts and seeds.

And concerning high cholesterol, may I ask Jackie what her total cholesterol is? Odds are you don't have high cholesterol in the first place and you shouldn't be taking meds regardless of what your doctor tells you. I would say the overwhelming majority of people on cholesterol lowering medication are taking them when completely unnecessary, even if the person is on a SAD diet. Telling people that their cholesterol should be lower than "previously believed" is nothing but propaganda by the pharmaceutical industry in order to peddle more drugs onto us.Hear! Hear! Let's hear it for THX-1138, independent-thinking, not buying that medical establishment crap!! Yay!! A voice of sanity ...

(Can you tell I agree? ;))

[karenisraw]

Here is a link if you want to know more about coconut oil benefits including and other than being cholesterol free-oil. TONS of goodies in this link.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=92070#post92070

k
:p

[Sharon in Colorado]

Rawmney and Jackie there are many factors to consider. If you are looking at a genetic situation especially if heart attacks from high cholesterol are prevelant in your family you do need to be careful with excessive fats.

Sewpretty you might want to look into thermogram imaging, which is a non invasive way to check blockage. If you are doing well with your diet and lifestyle, you might be fine if you don't have any blockage even though your cholesterol isn't under 200. Also consider your genetic profile and other risks to assure you.

Heart Disease is the #1 killer in America and genetic cholesterol is a whole other animal than dietary cholesterol. As I stated previously not everyone responds similarly to the same diet. Plus there are exceptions who need to use meds in addition to diet and lifestyle changes. The statins gave me side effects so I do not use them but I have to be very careful as heart attacks have taken young lives in my family. Being vegan will definetaly lower your risks but being vegan/raw does not necessarily exclude you from high cholesterol or heart attacks if you are looking at a risk factor. I have a home monitor which gives me a total reading - this way I can tweak things here and there and see what works for me.

I would be glad to discuss this with you further. Feel free to send me a private message or e-mail. rawcurls@msn.com

[sigtau66]

How to lower cholestorol? Eat blueberries. Blueberries have been shown in studies to lower cholestorol as much as if not more than the drugs you would get from your doctor.

[gulfenergy]

THE CHOLESTEROL MYTH
Jon Barron
What Is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is not a fat, but rather a soft, waxy, "fat-like" substance that circulates in the bloodstream. It is vital to life and is found in all cell membranes. It is necessary for the production of bile acids and steroid hormones and Vitamin D. Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver, but is also present in all animal foods. It is abundant in organ meats, shell fish, and egg yolks but is contained in smaller amounts in all meats and poultry. Vegetable oils and shortenings contain no cholesterol.
Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood, so your liver combines it with special proteins called lipoproteins to “liquefy” it. The lipoproteins used by the liver are either very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) or high-density lipoproteins (HDL). (VLDL cholesterol is metabolized in the bloodstream to produce LDL, or low-density cholesterol.)
Note: HDL is called the "good cholesterol" because HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from arterial walls and disposing of them through the liver. LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol, because elevated LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Thus, high levels of LDL cholesterol and low levels of HDL cholesterol (high LDL/HDL ratios) are considered by most doctors to be risk factors for atherosclerosis, while low levels of LDL cholesterol and high levels of HDL cholesterol (low LDL/HDL ratios) are considered desirable.
It is important to note that the liver not only manufactures and secretes LDL cholesterol into the blood, it also removes it. To remove LDL cholesterol from the blood, the liver relies on special proteins called LDL receptors that are normally present on the surface of liver cells. LDL receptors snatch LDL cholesterol particles from the blood and transport them inside the liver. A high number of active LDL receptors on the liver surfaces are associated with the rapid removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood and low blood LDL levels. A deficiency of LDL receptors is associated with high LDL cholesterol blood levels. But it is also crucial that the cholesterol which has been stored in the liver by the LDL receptors be regularly "flushed" to make room for “new” deposits, or the process comes to a standstill, thus causing levels to soar in the bloodstream.
In point of fact, the liver is responsible for over 80% of your cholesterol level. Diet accounts for less than 20%
The Cholesterol Theory of Heart Disease
According to the cholesterol theory of heart disease (and despite all that you may have heard, it is only a theory), LDL cholesterol in the blood combines with other substances such as cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin (a clotting material in the blood) to form arterial plaque, which attaches itself to the inner lining of the arteries. Over time, cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. Arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscles are called coronary arteries. When coronary arteries are narrowed by atherosclerosis, they are incapable of supplying enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle during exertion. Lack of oxygen to the heart muscle (ischemia) causes chest pain. Also formation of a blood clot in the artery can clause complete blockage of the artery, leading to death of heart muscle (heart attack). Atherosclerotic disease of coronary arteries (coronary heart disease) is the most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 750,000 deaths annually.
Causes of High Cholesterol
Again, according to the cholesterol theory of heart disease, both heredity and diet have a significant influence on a patient's LDL, HDL and total cholesterol levels. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia is a common inherited disorder whose victims have a diminished number or nonexistent LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells. The resultant decreased activity of the LDL receptors limits the liver's ability to remove LDL cholesterol from blood. Thus, affected family members have abnormally high LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. They also tend to develop atherosclerosis and heart attacks during early adulthood.
Diets that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol decrease the LDL receptor activity in the liver, thereby raising the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Saturated fats are derived primarily from meat and dairy products and according to most doctors can raise blood cholesterol levels. Some vegetable oils made from coconut, palm, and cocoa are also high in saturated fats and are on the medical "no-no" list. On the other hand, most vegetable oils are high in unsaturated fats. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats do not raise blood cholesterol (again according to the theory) and can sometimes lower cholesterol. Olive and canola oil are high in monounsaturated fats, which may have a protective effect against coronary heart disease. Unfortunately, some vegetable oils are converted to saturated fats during a process called "hydrogenation" which can be required for food processing.
Note: the concept that you might have to flush cholesterol stored in the liver to make room for new cholesterol coming from the bloodstream did not make its way into the cholesterol theory of heart disease.
How Low
On May 15, 2001, the National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) issued major new clinical practice guidelines on the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol levels in adults, lowering the target optimum level for LDL to less than 100. This was the first major update of the NCEP guidelines since 1993. The NCEP has predicted that the new guidelines will increase the number of Americans requiring treatment for elevated cholesterol levels (from 52 million to 65 million) and will nearly triple the number of Americans who will need to take cholesterol lowering drugs (from 13 million to 36 million).
But for many doctors, 36 million people under experimental drug therapy are not enough. Many “experts” are now pushing to set target limits for LDL to less than 80, which would mandate that tens of millions more Americans be on moderate to high doses of statin drugs for the rest of their lives – despite the fact that these drugs are known to cause significant liver damage.
The Studies
And, of course, there are the usual assortment of FDA approved double blind studies to back these conclusions. In the past 10 years, clinical trials have “conclusively” demonstrated that lowering LDL cholesterol reduces heart attacks and saves lives. The benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol include:
• Reducing the formation of new cholesterol plaques
• Eliminating existing plaques
• Preventing rupture of existing plaques
• Decreasing the risk of heart attacks
• Lowering the chance of strokes.
So what’s my problem? Quite simply, that cholesterol doesn’t cause plaque to accumulate on arterial walls. If it did, why doesn’t anyone ever have clogged veins – only clogged arteries? Think about that for a moment. If high levels of cholesterol promoted the formation of plaque and its accumulation on arterial walls, then why doesn’t it accumulate on the walls of veins? And the answer is – because the problem is centered in the walls of the arteries, not in the cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.
Challenging the Theory
To understand what I’m talking about, it’s first necessary to understand the beneficial role that arterial plaque plays in the human body (yes, beneficial), because therein lies the key to understanding a key role that cholesterol plays. So what is the role of plaque? It is “repair cement” for arterial walls. That is to say, if there is any damage to the arterial wall, your body will whip up some plaque from the cholesterol, calcium, and fibrin in the bloodstream to repair the damage before the arterial wall develops a leak and you bleed to death internally. Cholesterol isn’t part of the problem, it’s part of the solution – to a different problem.
With that in mind, let’s now look at some of the basic assumptions of the cholesterol theory of heart disease.
• Does eating a high cholesterol diet automatically lead to heart disease? Absolutely not. Look at the results seen on the Atkins Diet.
• Does eating a high saturated fat diet automatically lead to heart disease? Again, absolutely not. Consider the traditional Eskimo diet, probably the highest saturated fat diet in the world because of all the whale and seal blubber consumed. And yet Eskimos on that diet have virtually no heart disease – until they shift to a modern Western diet. The same positive results are seen with the Atkins diet with its high consumption of saturated fats. (Both diets, however, are associated with different problems long term. Eskimos, on the traditional diet, for example, have an extremely high rate of osteoporosis because their diet promotes high acid levels in body tissue.)
• Does lowering cholesterol in the diet automatically reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream? Not necessarily.
• Does lowering cholesterol in the bloodstream reduce the formation of new plaques? In many cases it does, but not necessarily for the reasons promoted. The primary reason may be that you’ve minimized the ability of the body to effect repairs. You haven’t got rid of the problem – merely the ability of the problem to manifest one particular set of symptoms.
• Do the statin drugs (Advicor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor) reduce the incidence of heart attack and stroke? Yes, but as we will discuss shortly, probably not because of their ability to lower cholesterol, and not without significant side effects.
An Alternative Theory
I would like to propose now the “arterial damage” theory of heart disease. Quite simply, it says that since your body produces arterial plaque in response to arterial damage, excessive plaque build-up and the concomitant hardening and narrowing of the arteries is the result of excessive damage, scarring, and inflammation in the arterial walls. And why only the arteries and not the veins? Because, as we shall see shortly, arterial walls contain muscle tissue that is particularly susceptible to damage. Veins do not contain muscle tissue and are less likely to suffer damage.. So what causes damage or inflammation to the arterial walls? Well, among other things.
• HIGH HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced as a normal byproduct of the breakdown of methionine (from proteins), which is an essential amino acid acquired mostly from eating meat. Homocysteine generates superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, both of which have been linked to damage of the endothelial lining of arterial vessels. Studies have shown that too much homocysteine in the blood is related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
• TOO MUCH OMEGA-6 FATTY ACID IN THE DIET. The body converts linoleic acid, the primary fatty acid found in bottled vegetable oil, to arachidonic acid. The Cox-2 enzyme then converts the arachidonic acid to the hormone-like prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and to the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), all of which promote inflammation in the body in general, and in the arterial walls in particular.
• EATING HIGH LEVELS OF MEATS AND ANIMAL FAT FROM GRAIN FATTENED ANIMALS saturates the body with large amounts arachidonic acid. As a point of interest, the high levels of arachidonic acid found in most meat are accumulated from the conversion of Omega-6 fatty acids present in the grains used to fatten them. That means that only minimal levels of arachidonic acid are found in range-fed beef. Iif you can find it, range-fed beef is far healthier for you than the more common grain-fed variety.
• HIGH ACID DIETS. Diets high in meat, sugar, grain, and starch raise acid levels in body tissue – thereby making it hard for the body to clear the lactic acid that builds up in muscle tissue from normal muscle activity. This is a particular problem for arteries since the arterial wall contains muscle tissue (again, veins do not) so that the arteries can be contracted to even out blood pressure when changing position (from lying down to suddenly standing up, for example). The problem is that when the acid doesn’t clear, it irritates, inflames, and scars the muscle tissue in the arterial walls.
• HIGH LEVELS OF CIRCULATING IMMUNE COMPLEXES IN THE BLOOD. Circulating immune complexes (CICs) are created when you eat complex proteins (usually from wheat, corn, and dairy) that cannot be digested thoroughly. They make their way into the bloodstream, where they are treated as allergens by the body and combined with antibodies, thus forming CICs. When the number of CICs climbs beyond the ability of the body to eliminate them all, they are deposited in the body's soft tissue, including the arterial walls, thereby triggering attacks by the body’s immune system, which results in inflammation.
• INFLAMMATION IN GENERAL. C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) IS AN INFLAMMATORY MARKER — a substance that the liver releases in response to inflammation somewhere in the body. Studies indicate that men with high levels of CRP have triple the risk of heart attack and double the risk of stroke compared to men with lower CRP levels. In women, studies have shown that elevated levels of CRP may increase the risk of a heart attack by as much as seven times. The statin medicines (Advicor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor) reduce levels of CRP. This may be more significant in accounting for the ability of these drugs to statistically lower the incidence of heart disease than the role these drugs play in lowering cholesterol levels.
Solutions
• AVOID TRANS FATTY ACIDS like the plague. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils (the trans fatty acids) are the number one killer in the modern diet.
• OPTIMIZE THE LIVER. Do a periodic liver flush that includes the use of lipotropic herbs such as dandelion root to flush accumulated fats and cholesterol from the liver and gallbladder.
• LOWER HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS. While there is a considerable amount we do not know about homocysteine, we do know how to use nutritional supplements to reduce homocysteine levels. This is done through three independent routes: (1) using folic acid with vitamin B-12, (2) using trimethylglycine (TMG), and (3) through B-6. The first two work through a process called methylation, and the B-6 through transsulfuration. Such a combined approach can normalize homocysteine in 95% of the people studied.
• OPTIMIZE OMEGA-6 TO OMEGA-3 RATIOS by eliminating bottled vegetable oils found in your supermarket, except for OLIVE OIL, and supplementing with FISH OIL and FLAX SEED OIL, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Much of the problem with inflammatory disorders actually stems from a lopsided imbalance in dietary intake of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and the resulting cascade in pro-inflammatory activity. The ideal ratio is roughly 1 to 1; however, over the past 30 years, people from industrialized countries have replaced much of their dietary saturated fat (on the mistaken advice of their doctors and the media) with vegetable oil omega-6 fatty acids. Ratios of 20 to 1 and 30 to 1 are now not uncommon. From a biochemical standpoint, this sets the stage for major arterial inflammation. (See the October 21, 2002 newsletter.)
• A good antioxidant formula that contains OPCs, can help repair damage to arterial walls.
• Proteolytic Enzymes. This is one of the most important things you can do. The regular use of proteolytic enzymes can help eliminate CICs from the body, reduce overall inflammation, dissolve accumulated plaque, and repair arterial scar tissue. Although the evidence is purely anecdotal at the moment, we have seen extraordinary results using detox levels of this formula.
Conclusion
So, is there anything to worry about with high cholesterol levels? Yes, sort of.
• High cholesterol levels are indicative of other problems – sort of like the canary in the coal mine. Among other things, they can be a warning signal for:
o Liver problems
o Dietary imbalance
o High acid levels
o Chronic inflammation, which may be a factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s and cancer in addition to heart disease
• High cholesterol levels and high levels of saturated fat in the blood "thicken" the blood. If the arteries are wide open, this is not a problem. But if the arterial walls have been narrowed or hardened, the thickened blood significantly increase the odds of a heart attack or stroke. Of course, there are a number of natural ways to thin the blood. Gingko biloba is a blood thinner, as is garlic, as are Proteolytic Enzymes (particularly nattokinase).
The trick, of course, is to take care of the problem, not the warning signal. Artificially suppressing cholesterol levels with statin drugs is a bit like feeling good about your car because you’ve disconnected your warning lights. Not very bright.
And if you’re desperate to lower cholesterol levels without subjecting yourself to the side effects of the statin drugs, supplement with NIACIN and POLICOSANOL. Policosanol is a natural supplement made from sugar cane. It works by helping the liver control its production and breakdown of cholesterol, as well as being a powerful antioxidant that prevents LDL oxidation. Clinical studies show that policosanol is as effective as prescription drugs in lowering cholesterol levels, without their dangerous side effects. And, in addition, it reduces the inflammatory response in the arterial wall.
Just for Fun - Questions for Your Doctor
Remember, the cholesterol theory of heart disease is only a theory – a theory that is increasingly being discredited. For those of you who enjoy tormenting your doctor, or if you just want to see them get flustered and angry, be sure and ask them the following questions.
• If cholesterol is the main culprit in heart disease, why don’t veins ever get narrowed and blocked?
• If high cholesterol foods are responsible for raising cholesterol levels, then why do people on the high-cholesterol Atkins Diet experience such a significant drop in cholesterol levels?
• Why do Eskimos who eat a traditional diet of almost pure saturated fat (whale and seal blubber) have almost a zero incidence of heart disease?
• If the liver is responsible for regulating up to 80% of my cholesterol levels, why would I want to take statin drugs for lowering cholesterol – considering that the number one known side effect of statin drugs is liver damage?

[RawTruth]

What is the source of the article just posted here? Can you post a website or a book or article, please?

Thanks.

[Jackie1995]

Wow, lots of great information on this thread!

Just back from the doc, and his concern was NOT with the triglycerides, total cholesterol or LDL; his concern was the dramatic decrease in HDL. (From 52 to 30 in 6 weeks.)

I also found an article about a study of raw foodists' cholesterol levels. Seems the tri, total chol and LDL will decrease, but part of the effect of raw foods on the body is a decrease in HDL and homocystein. Can't find the link, but if I do, I'll post it here.

OK, so the prognosis is: I get 3 months of doing my Omega 3 intake (rather than Omega 6) and I keep up the exercise every day, and if that doesn't work, he will prescribe super strength fish oil or prescription strength niacin.

I'm not vegan, so I have no problems taking fish oil supplements. In fact, I'll combine one of the over-the-counter types with my evening primrose oil supplements daily, and see if that does the trick.

In my case, it's not a genetic thing, this cholesterol.

So, on with my quest for a healthy lifestyle.

But the low HDL was very interesting, IMHO.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Here's some good info on heart health. The author lowered his cholesterol from over 350 to 116 using the reversal program. You could adapt this to a raw lifestyle following the same principles:

http://heart.kumu.org/ Click on the "Healthy Heart Handbook"

[RawTruth]

Wow, lots of great information on this thread!

Just back from the doc, and his concern was NOT with the triglycerides, total cholesterol or LDL; his concern was the dramatic decrease in HDL. (From 52 to 30 in 6 weeks.)Ha ha!! How cool is that!!


I also found an article about a study of raw foodists' cholesterol levels. Seems the tri, total chol and LDL will decrease, but part of the effect of raw foods on the body is a decrease in HDL and homocystein. Can't find the link, but if I do, I'll post it here.I would really appreciate you running the link down. That's very valuable information.

Thanks!

[Cinnamon]

I've also read about raw foodist cholesterol levels being lower in all areas except the HDL and homocystein and will also try to find the source. Wish I bookmarked things a bit better!

[misslinda]

this topic wasw interesting. anyoe ever read this.
http://www.newtrendspublishing.com/Ravnskov/index.html

got it form good old Mercola

http://www.mercola.com/article/statins.htm

need to have mine tested :)

[Rawmney]

Thanks to everyone for the diverse viewpoints on this tough topic. I am definitely wary of the drug companys and meds pushers, but I'm not nessarily convinced by the various "experts" we find on the web who say all the conventional wisdom is wrong either. No disrespect to any particular perspective, just that very little appears conclusive in either direction.

I believe this is the link that was discussed earlier re: raw and cholesterol. I found it on another thread a while back.

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/135/10/2372

Good health to all!
Rawmney

[Sharon in Colorado]

As stated earlier the amounts are minute (trace) so they'd hardly effect anything, however I just thought I'd share just because it is interesting and educational:

On quantitative Dr. Duke's
Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases reports:

Plants Containing CHOLESTEROL
Ordered by quantity
Species Part Quantity Reference
Helianthus annuus L. -- Girasol, Sunflower Seed 1,500 ppm DUKE1992A
Vicia faba L. -- Broadbean, Faba Bean, Habas Oil 400 ppm DUKE1992A
Aloe vera (L.) BURM. f. -- Aloe, Bitter Aloes Leaf 120 ppm DUKE1992A

Plant Physiology 4th Ed, pp.315-316

[gulfenergy]

What is the source of the article just posted here? Can you post a website or a book or article, please?

Thanks.

http://www.jonbarron.org/newsletters/news040524.htm