|
Cholesterol - Why We Need It
It appears that many people are still under the false impression that cholesterol is not good for them. In fact, "Cholesterol is a fat-soluble steroid from which all of the steroid hormones are made. Cholesterol is also very important to brain function, being a component of the myelin sheath that protects nerves and nerve impulse propagation. Both your hormone balance and your brain function suffer when cholesterol is excessively low." John R. Lee
Cholesterol is called The Mother of All Hormones. The body makes hormones from cholesterol.
In their article The Dangers of Statin Drugs which appeared in HealthKeepers Magazine (Vol. 8, Issue 1) Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, PhD state that, "Feeling good is actually a symptom of high cholesterol!" They further explain in detail what happens to the body when cholesterol levels are too low and suggest that "taking (cholesterol lowering drugs) in strong doses for a lengthy period of time may cause depression of mental acuity, anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, and cataracts."
The 11 page article states that "Nowhere is the failing of our medical system more evident than in the wholesale acceptance of cholesterol reduction as a way to prevent disease." Have the doctors forgotten what they learned in Biochemistry 101 about the many roles cholesterol plays in human biochemistry? Every cell membrane in the body contains cholesterol because that is what makes our cells waterproof -- without it we could not have a different biochemistry on the inside and the outside of the cell. Without adequate cholesterol, the cell membrane becomes leaky - a situation the body interprets as an emergency, releasing a flood of corticoid hormones that work by sequestering cholesterol from one part of the body and transporting it to areas that are lacking.
Cholesterol is the body's repair substance. Cholesterol rises as a response to inflammation! So it is not necessary to treat the cholesterol -- what is needed is to treat the inflammation. That may be done with good fats and oils.
"Cholesterol is vital to proper neurological function. It plays a key role in the formation of memory and the uptake of hormones in the brain..." The brain is made up of fats and cholesterol. Reducing your intake of good fats such as Omega 3 and 6 from fish and plant oil sources such as Evening primrose, Black Current, and Vitamin E, nuts and seeds may put you at risk of decreased mental acuity. Add to that a reduction in healthy cholesterol levels and you may find an even greater reduction of mental acuity.
The article also states, "Patients who use (cholesterol-lowering drugs) for two or more years are at a four to 14-fold increased risk of developing idiopathic polyneuropathy (the temporary loss of movement and sensation due to inflammation of multiple nerves)." Blood sugar levels are also dependent on cholesterol levels as well as adrenal hormones that the body uses in response to stress. Thus, low cholesterol "can be expected to lead to blood sugar problems, edema, mineral deficiencies, chronic inflammation, difficulty in healing, allergies, asthma, reduced libido, infertility, and various reproductive problems." Add to that: Muscle pain and weakness, neuropathy, heart failure, dizziness, cognitive impairment, cancer, pancreatic rot, and depression.
Chronic dehydration (simple lack of water) causes a thickening of the blood, weakening arterial walls, and is one of the causes of high cholesterol. One source speaks of the "salting out" of the body due to chronic dehydration. This "salting out" of the body need not happen at all if we would all get into the habit of drinking more water.
Continuing to take cholesterol lowering drugs may actually set up the same symptoms of disease that one is trying to control by taking them. Cholesterol greater than 240 offers the lowest risk of cancer because the cholesterol binds with heavy metals and carries them out of the body -- below 175 may have an affect on your mental acuity.
E-mail me with any questions and I'll be glad to help you!
This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is for information purposes only. When needed, consult a qualified health care professional.
|
