The Truth about Cholesterol

Today cholesterol lowering statin drugs are a $26 billion a year industry in North America and a great effort is made by the Big Pharma to minimize the significance f the side effects.
The most common statin include: Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor.
Everyone is exposed to toxins from food, water and the air; the greater the toxin exposure the more protection is needed by the body. One of the mechanisms by which this occurs is the production of more cholesterol by the liver. Suppress that function with a statin drug and you risk developing degenerative diseases more easily.
So what are the side effects of these Cholesterol lowering drugs?
The statistics say that for every life saved by a statin, an equal number of deaths occur that are caused by adverse reactions to the statins in the form of accidents, infections, suicide and cancer.
How do statin work?
All Statins work primarily by blocking an enzyme in the liver that helps manufacture cholesterol. This enzyme is used by the body to manufacture coenzyme Q10 which is the most important antioxidant for the cardiovascular system. Thus when the coenzyme levels are lowered numerous side effects result.
What are these side effects?
Statins are proven to turn on the gene that causes muscle damage leading to shrinkage and wasting. It’s a given that everyone taking statins get muscle damage – it’s just a question of the degree. The most serious form of damage is called rhabdomyolysis.
Cardiomyopathy is a known but under-reported side effect of statins.
Nerve damaging effects of statins are well documented. Memory and cognitive loss, neuropathy, anaemia, cataracts, sexual dysfunction. Liver dysfunction. Fatigue, immune system weakness and mental depression side effects have been also reported.
So what is the benefits f cholesterol?
First of all it is important to know that 85% of the cholesterol in your blood is manufactured by your own liver. Yes, when you consume high cholesterol food the liver produces less cholesterol and when you consume less through your food the liver produces more. During winter higher cholesterol levels are seen then in summer, this is possibly because of the cholesterol lower effects of vitamin D from the sun. Cholesterol goes high after injury, mental stress, infection and as well as during and after an heart attack.
So why does the body go to such a length to maintain cholesterol levels. This is because it is a healing and repairing agent. The body make more of it as a response to oxidant stress from numerous sources. For example, smokers have a higher level of cholesterol as it protects the body from the toxins found in tobacco smoke.
When we are exposed from toxins from air, water and food the cholesterol level increases to protect us. Cholesterol is an integral part of the structure of every cell in the body, including the cells of all our blood vessels, so life would cease to exist without cholesterol. It is used by the body to manufacture testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and DHEA. Low levels of cholesterol can lead to deficiency in these hormones and subsequently acceleration of aging.
Cholesterol insulates nerves and is responsible for healthy nerves system functionality.
Cholesterol deficiency can lead to numerous digestive system problems because bile salts are made in the liver from cholesterol and these salts are need for proper digestion.
The levels of vitamin D are dependent on the cholesterol levels as its manufacture from cholesterol. Low levels of vitamin D have been proven to weaken the immune system.
Quarter of all the cholesterol in the body is accounted for by the brain. The myelin sheath that covers every nerve in the body is made of least 1/5th cholesterol. The communication between nerves is dependent on adequate levels of cholesterol. The brain function is abnormal when cholesterol level are low because receptors for serotonin require cholesterol to work properly – so depression, violence, memory impairment and suicide are all likely to occur.
One key thing is that it has never been conclusively shown that lowering cholesterol levels saves lives. In the blood cholesterol combines with other things such as proteins, simply because fat and water do not mix well and proteins are good carriers of fat molecules. The real cause for heart diseases is inflammation – not the level of cholesterol.
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants and low in toxins can reduce high cholesterol levels naturally, without significant side effects.
What can I change in diet to help with my levels?
Consume more of the following:
1. Organic fermented soy products such as tempeh and miso contain saponins, which prevent the absorption of excess cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract.
2. High pectin fruits such as pears, apples, grapefruit and oranges also prevent cholesterol absorption. Drinking pomegranate juice lowers cholesterol because of its antioxidants and polyphenols.
3. Garlic, onions, carrots, walnuts, almonds, oat bran cereal, milled (ground) flax seed, and seaweed products such as kelp, dulse and kombu lower cholesterol via their content of fibre, antioxidants and trace minerals.