THE GREAT CHOLESTEROL MYTH
By Dr. A.J. Ford
“A lie told often enough becomes the truth” Vladimir Lenin
Over the last 40 years billions of dollars have been allocated to research examining the link between saturated fat, cholesterol and heart disease. Despite the staggering amount of money and time that have been poured into this undertaking, no direct role for these substances in the causation of cardiovascular disease has ever been established.
The saturated fat and cholesterol hypothesis remains just that – a hypothesis. To keep the cholesterol bandwagon rolling merrily along, food and drug companies actively support scientists who perpetuate the cholesterol myth, spare no expense in molding a conformist mindset among doctors, and donate large sums of money to the organizations that create and promote public health guidelines.
When your doctor requests a Lipogram, the laboratory measures the high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol (TC). If your test values of total cholesterol are above 4.9 mmol and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) value above 2.9 mmol, you are immediately prescribed a statin drug.
The reason for this prescription is that your doctor tells you that you are at high risk for heart attack and stroke.
Some of the statin drugs that are currently prescribed are: Lipitor, Crestor, Aspavor, Simvastatin, Prava and Zocor.
All of these drugs carry huge side effects, some being:
• forgetfulness and loss of memory
• suppressed insulin and antioxidant levels
• suppressed helper T-cells (compromises immunity)
• increased cancer risk
• weakens heart muscle
• increased levels of Lipoprotein (a) (a cardiovascular risk)
• peripheral neuropathy
• muscle degeneration and destruction
• causes Telomere shortening (speeds ageing process)
What the doctors should be adding to the Lipogram is Homocysteine and Lipoprotein (a). Also of great importance is to request a genetic profile of how your body deals with an increased load of fat and cholesterol.
Homocysteine, if elevated, carries up to 8 times the probability of a cardiac event. It is an amino acid derived from methionine during its metabolic conversion in the body. It is extremely damaging to the vascular wall, which is why there are two mechanisms in the body to control elevated homocysteine levels. Both mechanisms are dependant on Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and Folic acid. Values must be below 15.
Triglycerides, if elevated, are extremely dangerous, and has a high probability for causing cardio vascular disease and heart attack. Fats in the blood are transported in the form of protein complexes in which fatty acids are joined to glycerol. Triglyceride blood levels are seriously influenced by diet, especially the intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates. Levels must not exceed 1.6 mmol.
Lipoprotein (a) is a blood fat that is closely related to low density lipoprotein (LDL). In fact, Lp (a) is produced in the body from LDL, the bad cholesterol by addition of just one protein molecule (Apoa). It is an adhesive glycoprotein (contains sugar to make it sticky) that attaches to fibrous tissue around vascular walls, thus sealing the leaks that occur as a result of defective collagen synthesis. High levels are associated with a high increase risk for heart attack.
So what really causes heart disease?
• free radical attack = inflammation
• high blood sugar
• high intake of short acting carbohydrates
• low omega 3 levels
• high intake of trans-fatty acids
• increased iron levels
• stress
• poor nutritional status
• inflammation of arteries by certain bacteria
- Chlamydia pneumonia (respiratory)
- Helicobacter pylori (chronic heartburn)
- Herpes simplex virus (fever blisters)
Half of all fatal heart attack are due to SCD (sudden cardiac death) which is defined as death within half to one hour of the event. These are due mostly to cardiac arrhythmia which is related to low levels of Omega 3 in red blood cell membranes. Most people have a 4% RBC Omega 3 fatty acid percentage, which represents normal risk. Below this level the person is at high risk. In a study, however, an 8% RBC Omega 3 level may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by 90%.
Good News!!
We have the natural complementary medicines to take care of the problems discussed above.
LIPOSTAT – Contains vitamins and herbal ingredients that will reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol. It will also reduce elevated levels of the dangerous Homocysteine and Lipoprotein (a).
SYTRINOL – Contains extracts of plants that specifically lowers Triglycerides as well as the other problematic fatty acids.
EZ OMEGA 3 – High in DHA and EPA fragments which are important to lower the incidence of sudden cardiac death, immune modulator, joint support and cellular protection.
These products are available from the practice by appointment.
Please call us on 012 361 1075 to enquire or make an appointment.
Bibliography:
The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease - And The Statin-Free Plan That Will - Dr Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS and Dr Stephen Sinatra, MD, FACC (2012)
The Great Cholesterol Con: The Truth About What Really Causes Heart Disease and How To Avoid It - Dr Malcolm Kendrick (2007)
The Great Cholesterol Con: Why everything You've Been Told About Cholesterol, Diet and Heart Disease Is Wrong - Anthony Colpo (2006)