Health And Fitness

Heart disease and cholesterol seem to be inexorably linked, almost as if the latter is the inevitable cause of the former. This is not true at all, however, as the majority of evidence links atherosclerosis as the primary cause of coronary heart disease, a condition caused when ruptured scar tissue appears within artery linings, as opposed to the actual buildup of plaque on the walls themselves. Certain scientists believe that as cholesterol moves within our bloodstream it invariably sticks to the artery walls, leading to a heart attack, even though a body of opinion provides contrary evidence. A great deal of publicity has been given to the circulation of cholesterol within our bloodstream, automatically linked to saturated fat content and we are told that these two “evils” inevitably provide a dangerous blockage as they cling to the artery linings.

As cholesterol is an important factor in the makeup and control of our bodily cells, it has an important role as a controller of nutrient transfer, the regulation of neuro transmitters and hormones as well as a precursor to the transportation of essential vitamin D. Therefore, if we don’t have enough cholesterol, we can develop problems with our hormones and this can promote disease and other major issues in its own right. As cholesterol coats nerve fibers, it is essential to help protect our nervous system and scientists have revealed that lower levels of cholesterol can lead to such awful diseases as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

As we all know by now, cholesterol is measured three ways — total, LDL and HDL. We are told that we may have high cholesterol or low cholesterol and that HDL is “good” and LDL is “bad.” Both LDL and HDL are called lipoproteins, as they transport cholesterol. LDL is low-density, carrying the cholesterol from the liver, while HDL is high-density and re-circulates the cholesterol to the liver for redistribution. Remember that fat is transported through the bloodstream, along with cholesterol, in the form of triglycerides. If you think about it for a moment, why would our bodies continue to move and recycle cholesterol in this way if it was so bad for us, as those scientists constantly preach?

In reality, the inflammation and cellular damage that appears in our artery walls, which leads to atherosclerosis, is far more likely to be a result of bad nutrition, elevated levels of blood sugar, high blood pressure or other consequences of modern life. Going back to the 1950s, researchers have tried to tell us how heart disease is linked to the sheer amount of fat in our diets, but all the contradictory evidence has not received the same amount of exposure. Consider the Eskimos and how they live. They have longer than average lifespans, yet their diet is almost exclusively composed of meat.

The Surgeon General advises us how to construct our diets. We’re told not to eat saturated fats, but to focus on polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats, but most vegetable oils have high concentrations of Omega-6 fatty acids, which few of us balance with essential or Omega-3 fatty acids, most commonly found in fish. If we do as we’re told and look at the diets low in trans fat, or even high in carbohydrates, we can end up with elevated blood sugar which is also indicated for atherosclerosis.

Far too often, medication is indicated for a cholesterol “imbalance,” which can often have side effects. The most popular form of medication is called a statin, but we should be very wary of this. It’s far more likely that significant changes in lifestyle will reap rewards.

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