Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

LadyPam — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:39:51 GMT

I thank Dr Mercola for continuing to bring this cholesterol question to our attention.

My mother, an obese sugar junky, who developed late-onset type 2 diabetes, was put on statins; she was told the fat around her liver was prohibiting the production of insulin. It occurred to me that if one has too much fat then maybe reduced production of fat-storing insulin is not a bad thing - can anyone shed any more light on that?

The statins reduced her cholesterol levels. I noticed some slight mental confusion in her sometimes but more alarming was her eyesight. Officially, her eyes tested fairly well but in practice she failed to see things: she would ask where someone was who was standing a few feet in front of her, and reverse straight into things right after checking her rear-view mirror. She complained that the optician could not get her glasses right and stopped wearing them.

Nearly three years ago, she had to give up driving following a collision and this (ironically) reduced her amount of exercise. As she said herself, even struggling in and out of the car and staggering around the supermarket was exercise, with her and back and hip problems. Her mental state then deteriorated at an alarming rate, going straight into paranoid delusions characteristic of end-stage Alzheimer's within a couple of months. Then she had a stroke and, although fully, remarkably, rehabilitated physically in hospital, is now slowly disappearing in a nursing home where the diet is appalling and she gets many drugs. She can no longer walk or stand, cannot remember my name, is distressed by her continual and amazingly detailed delusions and complains that no one listens to her.

No one can prove this was caused by lowered cholesterol but it all seems to fit. A cautionary tale before you or your loved ones allow statins to be shoved down your throat.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

Dynamic Wellness — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:36:15 GMT

If you look in any medical biochemistry text book, you will see that cholesterol gets broken down into many things. Some of which are glucocorticoids (stress hormones), mineral corticoids (controls bp by affecting sodium levels, and Estrogen and Testosterone in the form of DHEA which basically our are anti-aging hormones. All of these awsome products come from cholesterol, why would you ever want to decrease it. As long as your inflamtion levels are low, tryglycerides are in check along with your insulin levels, your money. Its like Cholesterol entered the Darkside...along with the sun and saturated fat...atleast thats what the drug companie want you to think. On a side note, just as many people die from cholesterol levels under 160, than they do over 160. Eat according to your metabollic type and exercise anaerobically as well as aerobically and you'll have a better life insurance policy than money can buy!

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

HeatherM — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:39:15 GMT

To Tzaddi

Interesting about the tests you can take to work out your metabolic type. Why are the tests "dirty"?

I go really red, hot & prickly when taking niacin, but I thought everyone does. Over time the affect doesn't happen, when you take it regularly.

I gave it to my partner, telling him it was something else. I was waiting for him to say, "I feel weird & hot", so I could have a big laugh. All that happened was, he felt really sick.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

sixtyandsupple — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:07:02 GMT

In the late 70's, in a clinical dietetics course we were taught that cholesterol below 150 was an indicator of malnutrition, often due to the catabolic effect of cancer even if the cancer was subclinical. Having been out of the loop, I was stunned several years ago to read about getting cholesterol levels to 100-125. I just figured there was "new research". Silly me. Then a few years ago a co-worker had a test and was proud of her 135. I had a knee-jerk response. "Yikes Cancer". Two months later she was in chemotherapy. So which came first, the low cholesterol or the disease?

Re: Vitamin D. It starts with a cholesterol derivative (7-dehydrocalciferol) that sits under your skin waiting to be activated by sunlight. Then It goes to the liver, then the kidney which does the final conversion to Vitamin D, which is a hormone as well as a vitamin.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

Tzaddi — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:25:57 GMT

When my best friend was still a smoker (and he was for a long time), his bad cholesterol was "off the charts"--like 300+. It wasn't from his diet, because he has always been a fanatical Vegan. Instead, his body wisely was protecting him from the chronic inflammation caused by cigarettes. Despite his healthy diet, the constant smoking made his body overly acidic-- potentially tearing holes in his arteries, organs, and intestines among other things. His high cholesterol probably saved his life. Health is a really huge and very complex picture. Knowing one tiny part of it does not make someone an expert.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

cda25 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:26:06 GMT

This article has raised new issues for me. I have a VERY low cholesterol level and have questioned my doctor and he says to be happy about it! I have read articles stating otherwise but, of course, he says the internet is not a good source for info!! My LDL was 48 and my HDL was 75 in July of 2007. This gives me a total cholesterol of 143!! The good is high and the bad is low...I am suppose to be happy but I am very concerned. My levels have always been good but these numbers scared me. The previious reading in March of 2007 was LDL 56 and HDL 98 with a total of 174. I had been reducing my calorie intake to lose weight and had lost an interest in meat but was getting plenty of protein in beans and nuts. I lost 60 lbs with a change in diet and additional exercise but am still concerned about the cholesterol levels. Anyone have any suggestions?

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

ambassador — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:11:47 GMT

Dr. Mercola always says avoid sugar and grains. May I ask what kind of 'grains"? Isnt rice is also a grains? Does it mean we dont have to eat rice? Is it bad to eat oatmeals? Please clarify. Im not an english speaker so I may not fully understand. Thanks.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

memez — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:03:42 GMT

I keep reading that we should all be eating the foods that are right for our "Nutritional type" How do we know what our nutritional type is?

This may be a silly question for some of you, but I have just embarked on this new, healthier way of living and eating. It is all new to me.

Can anyone help me with this question?

Thank you,

memez

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

DThompson_203 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:22:55 GMT

Hi,

I'm new here, and this is my first post. I am diabetic and got some lab results back today. My triglycerides have lowered from over 200 to 13, my HDL rose from 35 to 59, but my total cholesterol has dropped from 145 to 115. The doctor seemed pleased, but when I got home I started wondering if it was such a good thing. Based on an hour's research via Google, it doesn't seem like the good news everyone takes it for. I don't know why it dropped, and don't know how to raise it again. Any suggestions?

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

New to Natural — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:53:54 GMT

Anyone see a correlation between this article and the one about vitamin D shortage? The previous article said that a vitamin D shortage leads to higher risk of heart attack and stroke. From the posts I've been reading, cholesterol is (please correct me if I'm wrong) needed to process Vitamin D? So, cause and effect: If we're not getting enough vitamin D, we're not using our cholesterol, hence a build up - which is linked to heart attack and stroke. So, is the problem really the cholesterol or the Vitamin D deficiency?

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

Bridestein — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:35:05 GMT

Huh. The combination of my high cholesterol and my hip-to-waist ratio must make me some kind of superwoman. Now I just gotta think up a name for myself.
No suggestions, please!

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

NewYorkGal — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:17:44 GMT

Cholesterol is needed to make testosterone, which builds muscle. Cholesterol is needed to make Vitamin D, vital for muscle tone.

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

nanciesweb — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:50:10 GMT

Everytime I read these articles, I discover how far my eyes can roll back into my head.

How much do you want a bet that we won't hear much of this study in the old media?

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

Aaltrude — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:29:39 GMT

I read recently that women who have a higher HDL level are more likely to get breast cancer. Does anyone know the validity of this? It gets more confusing every day. What should you aim for?

re: Cholesterol Has Benefits, Too

mmc88121 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:30:37 GMT

The last line says it all. "It shows that there is still a lot about cholesterol that we don't know." Including the fact that many people who have Myocardial Infarcts (heart attacks) have normal cholesterol levels. There is still much about they body we don't know, and as long as science insists on studying one part at a time they probably will not make much progress. The human body is more than the sum of its parts.

Mary