If you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol did your doctor look for the root cause of this problem or were you handed a pharmaceutical prescription to take care of the issue? If given a pill did you also understand at the time that this cholesterol-lowering, statin drug was to be used every day for the rest of your life? Using statin drugs to mask symptoms creates a domino effect. This tactic leads to additional disease within the body; meaning more pain and suffering down the road. The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness; however loss of mental acuity, heart problems, anemia and cataracts are all known effects which all too often are given no consideration. Too make matters worse; too low cholesterol levels increase your risk of cancer, Parkinsons disease and leads to more violent behaviors.
What drives our bodies to higher and higher cholesterol production? It is likely the list is more complicated but here is the probable top five: (1) Inflammation,(2) low thyroid issues, (3) an imbalanced diet with too many grains and sugars causing (4) high Insulin levels, and (5) heavy metals and other toxins locked into the organs.
According to Dr. Sherry Rogers in Detoxify or Die, we can create a high cholesterol situation simply by giving one dose of PCB’s. Studies show that in the USA 100% of the population has PCB’s stored in their bodies. And where do these PCB’s come from? Plastics, paints, pesticides, furnishings, construction glues, flame retardants, and common contaminants in the food chain all contain PCB’s. Emitted into the air from industrial and auto exhaust; clouds rain down PCB toxins which are taken up by soil, plants, animals, and humans. PCB’s come from a family of over 200 chemicals. They are also some of the most potent causes of cancer and other chronic diseases. And yet, we can’t become afraid of living; these things are all around us. What we can do is make our voices known for better regulation of industrial chemicals. We can also take responsibility for detoxifying our bodies on a regular basis.
Secondly we can create high cholesterol conditions from toxic levels of mercury moving about the body’s tissues. Mercury toxicity comes from bottom dwelling shellfish and fish such as swordfish and tuna. It also comes from the amalgam fillings in our teeth, (50% mercury). This data has been well documented. (see Toxic Metal Syndrome, by Dr. Richard Casdorph and Dr. Morton walker, ISBN 0-89529-649-7). Many of us were exposed to high doses through a mercury preservative, thimerosal, found in most infant immunizations. Other sources include occupations where some form of mercury is used: painters, metal refiners, welders, wood preservers, embalmers, engravers, cosmetic workers, dental technicians, chemical workers, and the list goes on…
High cholesterol is a messenger that informs us when we are experiencing an overload of free radicals. Once free radicals eat holes in our arteries they attract nature’s band-aid: Cholesterol. However, due to our limited knowledge we react by judging the cholesterol as bad and proceed to take drugs in order to lower cholesterol levels. These worsen the cycle of destruction by blocking necessary enzymes which are needed to produce Coenzyme Q10. This can lead to heart failure, high blood pressure, cancer, chronic fatigue, memory loss, depression and more. We know cholesterol is not only needed but crucial for healthy cell membranes, hormone receptors, brain neuro-transmitters, and for making our sex and adrenal hormones.
One key to manageable cholesterol levels is a diet of whole grains, an abundance of raw fruits and vegetables and limited animal products that come from healthy animals like free-range chicken and their eggs, wild fish and grass fed beef. Healthy diets also drive down insulin problems; another root cause of high-cholesterol. By using quality olive oil, coconut oil and flax oils and eliminating bottled dressings full of bad fats we gain control over disease states caused by trans-fatty acids and rancid oils. Dr. David Williams; who publishes an excellent health newsletter called Alternatives, challenges our beliefs regarding the dire effects of diet upon cholesterol levels. He believes you could eliminate all cholesterol from your diet and your liver would continue to produce more because your body needs it. It is likely that this statement is true due to the toxins that cause inflammatory problems.
Various theories abound about whether or not cholesterol really causes heart disease. Foremost is the discovery that cholesterol lowering drugs have failed to reduce heart attack rates. Convincing research points to inflammation in the arteries uncovered by blood tests showing dangerous levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine is an acid-like waste product that forms when we eat certain protein foods such as red meat. This could be easily broken down with B vitamins except we have found a widespread shortage of B vitamins in our systems. Investigations currently point to under-active thyroid glands as the cause, inhibiting our absorption of B vitamins. Research further states that millions of Americans unknowingly have malfunctioning thyroids and that symptoms are so common place they have been overlooked. It gets more complicated because the current blood tests used to check for thyroid depletion are inadequate and heavy metals such as mercury affect the accuracy of blood test screening. While transitioning thyroid medication in 2003, I personally experienced this difficulty with cholesterol levels rocketing to over 300. Once I was stabilized on the new thyroid support my cholesterol levels dropped to a manageable state.
How can we keep the ‘cholesterol band-aid’ from clogging or clotting up our blood streams? Try the team approach, something for body, mind, and spirit: Dr. Rogers would suggest taking 1000 mg. of vitamin C (buffered ascorbates) and 800 IU’s. of vitamin E before any high fat meal. Other practitioners suggest 2-3000mg Vitamin C daily, plus 800 IU’s. of E. Using the amino acid Arginine, 1000 mg. twice daily has also shown positive anti-blood clotting properties. Dr. Williams suggests getting the thyroid support needed by adding more minerals to the diet, especially iodine. Magnesium is also important and a clean drinking water source is imperative. When choosing a good quality B-complex, try something which can be absorbed readily such as Thorne brand. Exercise, even a brisk walk, can then be added into the equation without fear of overdoing it. Exercise is vitally important to enhance circulation and for emotional-mental wellbeing. Adding relaxation techniques from meditation or classical music can calm the stress load as well as help us get in touch with our spiritual needs. And lastly, use detoxifying baths with Epsom salts or baking soda; eliminating amalgam fillings in the mouth; and reducing our PCB load are essential to healing the body.
Remember, Cholesterol is not an evil monster but a band-aid your body calls upon when inflammation is present. Lowering cholesterol can not be the answer for preventing heart attacks given the fact that heart attacks have increased 27% over the last 20 years. Of those who experienced heart attacks most had low or normal cholesterol levels. During the same time period our doctors have been sold on the marketing plan of statin drugs.
Knowing what you know now, would you be willing to lean into dangerous statin drugs for a high cholesterol issue or would you look for the root cause of the illness?
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