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CHOLESTEROL TO THE RESCUE
Yes, you read the title correctly. Cholesterol, according to Udo Erasmus, Ph.D., author of Fats That Heal and Fats That Kill, is necessary and also a political, "healthcare policy" football. The cholesterol mania that started in the 1970's could have been avoided if people were actually taught how cholesterol functions. I am not sure if most healthcare providers really know that cells in your body will make cholesterol if you don't have enough. Cholesterol is a part of cell membranes and vital function throughout the body.
Cholesterol is not good or bad. Cholesterol is necessary and ready to serve the body. Think of cholesterol as a firefighter ready to rescue someone. Cholesterol is not fat. It is a sterol. It is used to make steroids, cortisone, sex and mineral hormones plus a host of other needed substances. There are carriers for cholesterol called Lipid proteins. For the purpose of space, let's say the Lipid fire truck taking cholesterol to the injury site is LDL cholesterol. Most people say it's bad, however, it is only doing its job - putting out fires. If your LDL cholesterol is high, you need to analyze your lifestyle.
Your body is in a state of inflammation. What causes inflammation, you ask? The most common precipitators I see are sugar and trans or partially hydrogenated fats. Cholesterol lowering drugs don't solve your cholesterol problem. They actually can magnify it. Instead of avoiding eggs, dairy and red meat, try avoiding your sugar snacks, sugar substitutes and foods containing trans fat. Eat more greens, less sweet fruit and Omega 3 eggs. Avoid donuts, reduce alcohol and guess what? Your cholesterol will go down naturally because you have minimized inflammation.
The other fire truck in the body is the HDL truck. It takes cholesterol back to the firehouse. People think of this as good cholesterol. When HDL is up you know your inflammation is down. From my experience, elevated LDL means you need to watch foods that elevate insulin - any sweet item with high glycemic index raises insulin. The glycemic index is how fast glucose gets into the system. The sugar substitutes cause inflammation by interfering with the production of a pain relieving substance called PGB. I encourage my patients to eat beets. Grated, raw organic or baked beets are best. Here are a few suggestions for preparing beets:
Beets can be baked, steamed or pressure cooked. Do not boil them. Do not eat canned or pickled beets. We bake our beets at 400 ̊ for one hour. We cut them in slices about !" to "" thick. Put a small amount of water in the bottom of your baking dish. Cover, and check with a fork for tenderness. Let them cool or eat them warm with olive or flax oil.
Use rubber or latex gloves when preparing your beets. Beets may turn your stool red. Eat some everyday on a salad or plain with olive oil.
There may be other reasons you can have high cholesterol. A low thyroid is a possibility. Do not go off your medication without first discussing it with your health care provider. In Dr. Bob DeMaria's book, Dr. Bob's Trans Fat Survival Guide (now available locally at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon.com), he has an entire chapter on cholesterol and includes tips on what to eat including beets and oatmeal. A diet that elevates cholesterol can also be a pain causing diet. Having cholesterol levels that are too low isn't healthy. Brain health (i.e. cognitive function) is affected by cholesterol levels.
Avoid sugar and trans fat foods including margarine - you'll be Glad You Did!
Drs. Will & Tammy Tickel
218-284-3030
TickelChiropractic.com