The DANGERS of PUSHING Your CHOLESTEROL LEVELS TOO LOW, why some are taking cholesterol management to the EXTREME
The pharmaceutical industry and many doctors keep pushing the norm lower and lower for what are considered healthy cholesterol levels. Therefore more and more people fall into the category of having too high cholesterol. With more people being told that they have high cholesterol, statin drugs manufacturers get a financial advantage.
For many years statin drugs have been the best selling pharmaceuticals world wide accounting for billions of dollars in profits to their producers and claiming to protect against arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (also known as atherosclerosis). However, statin drugs alone will not protect you against cardiovascular disease. The benefits of statin drugs in preventing atherosclerosis have been, and continue to be greatly exaggerated by their manufactures.
Understanding Cholesterol
Cholesterol is not a toxic substance, unnecessary and dangerous for the body. Cholesterol is a precursor, a major building block for the whole group of steroid hormones that includes: DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, estrogens (estrone, estradiol and estriol) and cortisol. The growing human body needs cholesterol to develop into a fully functioning adult individual. Young people rarely have high cholesterol problems. This is due to the fact that their body efficiently transforms cholesterol into steroid hormones. The troubles with elevated cholesterol usually begin around menopause or andropause (male menopause). At this time the circulating cholesterol that typically would have been transformed into hormones is not needed any longer for the synthesis of steroid hormones. If at that time one's diet is not adjusted to accommodate lower cholesterol requirements, or if the liver is not functioning properly and overproduces cholesterol, its levels in the body can increase, sometimes significantly.
What are normal cholesterol levels?
Some experts believe that 150 should be the norm. However, you do not need to keep your cholesterol this low. Having your cholesterol too low can be dangerous and can negatively affect your hormone levels leading to hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances may be corrected through the use of natural bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). If the level of estrogens (for a woman) or testosterone (for a man) becomes excessively low, this will increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Most medical practitioners consider a total cholesterol of approximately 200 mg/dl to be in optimal range.
How can we keep our cholesterol on optimal levels?
Majority of people with mild cholesterol elevation (less then 250 mg/dl) can effectively bring it to the 200 mg/dl level through healthy lifestyle adjustments. These include proper nutrition, exercise and utilization of natural nutritional supplements.
What are the best ways to measure cholesterol?
Cholesterol is easily measured by a blood test. Besides the total cholesterol level, it is important to pay attention to the levels of HDL, the good cholesterol which should be higher then 50 mg/dl and LDL or bad cholesterol that should be below 100 mg/dl. For some people elevated cholesterol levels may not pose a danger. While for others the slightest elevation in their cholesterol can be lethal. To evaluate this situation best, the VAP cholesterol test can be performed. It measures the size of cholesterol particles and their ability to attach to the wall of the artery. Even if the total cholesterol is elevated, but the majority of its particles are large and buoyant the risk for cardiovascular disease is low. However if the particles of cholesterol are small, sticky and can easily be attached to the arterial wall, it can increase a person's risk for cardiovascular disease.
Natural effective ways to lower cholesterol without dangerous statin drugs.
There are many natural nutritional supplements that can effectively help maintain healthy cholesterol levels without using statin drugs. Statin drugs can lead to serious depletion of the body's reserves of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and this can cause miopathy (a condition of muscle degeneration). Therefore it is highly recommended for those taking statin drugs to add Coenzyme Q10 to their treatment regimen. Triplichol is a natural nutritional supplement that through the synergy of its ingredients can assist in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in the body.
Other natural supplements for healthy cholesterol management include:
Niacin - a B vitamin that has been used for years to support cardiovascular health. The NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Panel) recognizes Niacin for maintaining blood lipid levels that are already within normal range.
Lipitrol - fromulated using precise doses of cardiac specific nutrients including chromium, inositol hexaniacinate, gugul resin and artichoke extracts to help support normal cholesterol levels as well as proper lipid management.
Policosanol - a unique natural product derived from sugar cane wax. In clinical studies, Policosanol has been found to promote healthy platelet function, healthy lipid metabolism and provides powerful antioxidant protection for optimal cardiovascular health. The active component of Policosanol is octacosanol. Octacosanol has been found to reduce muscular dystrophies as well as blood cholesterol levels.
Plant Sterols - First introduced as a food additive that prevented absorption of cholesterol, plant sterols are now approved by the FDA for the follwing heart health claim: "Products containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, taken twice daily with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."
Pantethine - the precursor to cysteamine and pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is a key element of CoA (coenzyme A). Coenzyme A is needed by our cells to be able to properly transport and metabolize fatty acids. Cystemine is thought to modify specific enzymes in the liver to maintain healthy lipoprotein marker levels.
Orthomega Fish Oil - The FDA has recognized the importance of omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, and allows the following health claim to be placed on fish oil products: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - CoQ10 (also called ubiquinone or coenzyme Q10) is a strong antioxidant used to support optimal cardiovascular health and nervous system health. The wealth of evidence for CoQ10 supplementation has been embraced in virtually every corner of the medical and scientific communities.
For many years statin drugs have been the best selling pharmaceuticals world wide accounting for billions of dollars in profits to their producers and claiming to protect against arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (also known as atherosclerosis). However, statin drugs alone will not protect you against cardiovascular disease. The benefits of statin drugs in preventing atherosclerosis have been, and continue to be greatly exaggerated by their manufactures.
Understanding Cholesterol
Cholesterol is not a toxic substance, unnecessary and dangerous for the body. Cholesterol is a precursor, a major building block for the whole group of steroid hormones that includes: DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, estrogens (estrone, estradiol and estriol) and cortisol. The growing human body needs cholesterol to develop into a fully functioning adult individual. Young people rarely have high cholesterol problems. This is due to the fact that their body efficiently transforms cholesterol into steroid hormones. The troubles with elevated cholesterol usually begin around menopause or andropause (male menopause). At this time the circulating cholesterol that typically would have been transformed into hormones is not needed any longer for the synthesis of steroid hormones. If at that time one's diet is not adjusted to accommodate lower cholesterol requirements, or if the liver is not functioning properly and overproduces cholesterol, its levels in the body can increase, sometimes significantly.
What are normal cholesterol levels?
Some experts believe that 150 should be the norm. However, you do not need to keep your cholesterol this low. Having your cholesterol too low can be dangerous and can negatively affect your hormone levels leading to hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances may be corrected through the use of natural bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). If the level of estrogens (for a woman) or testosterone (for a man) becomes excessively low, this will increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Most medical practitioners consider a total cholesterol of approximately 200 mg/dl to be in optimal range.
How can we keep our cholesterol on optimal levels?
Majority of people with mild cholesterol elevation (less then 250 mg/dl) can effectively bring it to the 200 mg/dl level through healthy lifestyle adjustments. These include proper nutrition, exercise and utilization of natural nutritional supplements.
What are the best ways to measure cholesterol?
Cholesterol is easily measured by a blood test. Besides the total cholesterol level, it is important to pay attention to the levels of HDL, the good cholesterol which should be higher then 50 mg/dl and LDL or bad cholesterol that should be below 100 mg/dl. For some people elevated cholesterol levels may not pose a danger. While for others the slightest elevation in their cholesterol can be lethal. To evaluate this situation best, the VAP cholesterol test can be performed. It measures the size of cholesterol particles and their ability to attach to the wall of the artery. Even if the total cholesterol is elevated, but the majority of its particles are large and buoyant the risk for cardiovascular disease is low. However if the particles of cholesterol are small, sticky and can easily be attached to the arterial wall, it can increase a person's risk for cardiovascular disease.
Natural effective ways to lower cholesterol without dangerous statin drugs.
There are many natural nutritional supplements that can effectively help maintain healthy cholesterol levels without using statin drugs. Statin drugs can lead to serious depletion of the body's reserves of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and this can cause miopathy (a condition of muscle degeneration). Therefore it is highly recommended for those taking statin drugs to add Coenzyme Q10 to their treatment regimen. Triplichol is a natural nutritional supplement that through the synergy of its ingredients can assist in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in the body.
Other natural supplements for healthy cholesterol management include:
Niacin - a B vitamin that has been used for years to support cardiovascular health. The NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Panel) recognizes Niacin for maintaining blood lipid levels that are already within normal range.
Lipitrol - fromulated using precise doses of cardiac specific nutrients including chromium, inositol hexaniacinate, gugul resin and artichoke extracts to help support normal cholesterol levels as well as proper lipid management.
Policosanol - a unique natural product derived from sugar cane wax. In clinical studies, Policosanol has been found to promote healthy platelet function, healthy lipid metabolism and provides powerful antioxidant protection for optimal cardiovascular health. The active component of Policosanol is octacosanol. Octacosanol has been found to reduce muscular dystrophies as well as blood cholesterol levels.
Plant Sterols - First introduced as a food additive that prevented absorption of cholesterol, plant sterols are now approved by the FDA for the follwing heart health claim: "Products containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, taken twice daily with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."
Pantethine - the precursor to cysteamine and pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is a key element of CoA (coenzyme A). Coenzyme A is needed by our cells to be able to properly transport and metabolize fatty acids. Cystemine is thought to modify specific enzymes in the liver to maintain healthy lipoprotein marker levels.
Orthomega Fish Oil - The FDA has recognized the importance of omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, and allows the following health claim to be placed on fish oil products: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - CoQ10 (also called ubiquinone or coenzyme Q10) is a strong antioxidant used to support optimal cardiovascular health and nervous system health. The wealth of evidence for CoQ10 supplementation has been embraced in virtually every corner of the medical and scientific communities.
Posted by Bioidentical Hormone Community at Friday, January 08, 2010 2:57 PM 
Categories: Cardiovascular Health,Healthy Diet,Bioidentical Hormones,Natural Nutritional Supplements,Hormonal Health,Cholesterol Levels
Tags: normal cholesterol levels niacin b vitamins cortisol LDL cholesterol lipitrol healthy diet estrogen natural supplements cholesterol lower cholesterol Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 plant sterols cardiovascular health cholesterol levels progesterone pantethine DHEA HDL cholesterol policosanol statin drugs healthy cholesterol levels estradiol testosterone bioidentical hormone replacement therapy cardiovascular disease bioidentical hormones orthomega fish oil hormonal imbalances
Categories: Cardiovascular Health,Healthy Diet,Bioidentical Hormones,Natural Nutritional Supplements,Hormonal Health,Cholesterol Levels
Tags: normal cholesterol levels niacin b vitamins cortisol LDL cholesterol lipitrol healthy diet estrogen natural supplements cholesterol lower cholesterol Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 plant sterols cardiovascular health cholesterol levels progesterone pantethine DHEA HDL cholesterol policosanol statin drugs healthy cholesterol levels estradiol testosterone bioidentical hormone replacement therapy cardiovascular disease bioidentical hormones orthomega fish oil hormonal imbalances
Been takin plant sterols and niacin for six months. My cholesterol use to be 256. Went down to 201. It really works without the side effects
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I totally agree. Why push statins when you can lower cholesterol with natural ways. I am the best example of it. I refused drugs even though my doctor strongly recommended them. Diet, exercise and natural supplements was what did it for me. At first you may think "forget it! its not gonna work.." but after a few days you begin noticing a difference in the way you feel.
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Its called Cho"less"terol for a reason.
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Nothing works better then Lipitor for cholesterol I don't care what anyone says. Sure it has some side effects but thats a small price to pay for a product that does its job.
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.....and so my Dr. was stunned when the cholesterol test read 231. He instantly wanted to put me on statin drugs and a whole shmuk of other nasty medications. I said NO WAY and he was like WTF?? Then you'll be a goner by next month. So I was like we'll see about that. The freakin psycho was totally paranoid and my cholesterol was normal. Take a statin and you won't be battin that's what my Bubu taught me. live by it......
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Cholesterol should be balanced in your body. too much of it obviously is not good for your health but not enough cholesterol can be unhealthy too. I have heard people say the cholesterol levels over 200 will kill. Others say that cholesterol levels below 100 will do the same. I personally think that it all depends on the person.
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To balance your cholesterol levels the natural way (without having to go through the side effects of statins) you must be willing to commit and care enough about yourself to stick to it. All these supplements especially coenzyme q10, plant sterols and omega 3 fish oils do their part to bring cholesterol levels to a normally healthy range. I have been taking these and my cholesterol remains at a stable 150-160 range (NO DRUGS USED!). It works for everyone the same way the only difference is that some people quit too soon and others follow through. So its up to you to decide if you want to keep on risking your neck with the possibility of getting a stroke, heart attacks or other cardiovascular diseases or just do as the good doctor tells you and "lower that dang cholesterol naturally!"
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Excellent post. In addition to our essential hormones, cholesterol is essential to maintain our nervous system (central and peripheral) - cholesterol is the main building block for myelin, that wraps and insulates our individual neurons, helps maintain their health, and speed neural conduction. Without cholesterol our brains would literally melt. There IS such a thing as too little cholesterol, although not in the typical American. The severely under-nourished in the world lose neural functioning for this and other reasons.
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Finally - It now really makes sense to me!
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That's exactly the way I felt. There are enough monopolies and bureaucracy to deal with in this world. If it wasn't for the all-masterful-power of the great World Wide Web, I would still be lost not just on the subject of cholesterol management but on countless other as well. The web is considerably fair for finding the right information whether it be cholesterol management or if you're searching for natural ways to lower your cholesterol without statin drugs.... you just need to know where to look
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A poem about Cholesterol :
If we fall, we don't need self-recrimination or blame or anger - we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to recommit, to be whole-hearted once again yes.
He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor.
An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.
Cholesterol levels rising high, higher and higher.
I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the happy convenience.
Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
Be one with the cholesterol and it will be a part of you. Say to it: "I like you my good cholesterol".
He who asks- "What are normal cholesterol levels for me" will receive an answer from within.
Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. Good.
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"Products containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, taken twice daily with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."
Now thats something... the FDA actually admits the health benefits of natural medicines. Though I doubt its likely to keep up.
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Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.
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America believes in education: the average professor earns more money in a year than a professional athlete earns in a whole week.
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For men, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is also important for normal testosterone production and healthy testosterone levels.
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Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others.
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One scientist has found that there are 2 types of bad (LDL) cholesterol. One is harmless and one is harmful. So he says that the LDL does not matter but what matters is the triglyceride levels and good (HDL) cholesterol.
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Drugs may change some numbers in readings but they are not good for cardiovascular health ( http://www.phifoundation.org/cardiovascular-health.html ).
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