by: Dr. Craig A. Maxwell
The fear of high cholesterol and heart disease has almost become and epidemic. High blood cholesterol levels are a common concern for millions of people over the age of 45. If your doctor has suggested a cholesterol-lowering drug, read this article. You must understand the truth about heart disease and the real cause of high cholesterol first so you can make a more informed decision about your health.
The Truth about Saturated Fat
There is a lot of conflicting information out there about the causes of high blood cholesterol levels. Because of this, it’s very easy to get confused. You’ve probably heard that high cholesterol is caused by a diet rich in saturated fats found in coconut oil, butter, and cheese.
If you believe this, you’ve been mislead and you’re in for a surprise.
According to a study published by Oakland Research Institute in Oakland, CA, it has been scientifically proven that no connection can be made between the consumption of saturated fat and high blood cholesterol levels.
As a matter of fact, saturated fat is actually good for your health!
Saturated fats are nutritious fats your body needs to stay healthy. Foods such as wild-caught fish, dark chocolate, and nuts are essential for your health. Saturated fats are loaded with antiviral and antibacterial agents that keep you from contracting every cold and flu bug that’s going around.
These healing fats also prevent osteoporosis by helping carry necessary calcium and vitamin D throughout your body. Your brain is made of fat. In order to prevent debilitating neurological conditions and dementia in your golden years, you need those vital omega-3 fatty acids!
The Real Cause of High Cholesterol
Now that you know what doesn’t cause high cholesterol, you may be wondering what does. Yes, there is a type of fat out there that can lead to high cholesterol levels but it’s not saturated fat, it’s trans fat.
Trans fats are a type of synthetic fat found in snack foods, diet foods, fast food, frozen food, cake mixes, and canned soup. Trans fats harden your arteries and raise your bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering your good cholesterol (HDL).
The Dangers of Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs
According to an article published in The Lancet, there is no medical need to drastically lower cholesterol in the human body. So why are so many conventional physicians prescribing cholesterol-lowering statin drugs? Unfortunately, many doctors are just as confused about the cause of high cholesterol as the patients they’re treating for it.
Statin drugs are one of the worst types of prescription drugs you can put into your body. They don’t lower cholesterol; they prevent your body from being able to make it at all! This is very dangerous.
The inability to make cholesterol not only decreases your ability to heal from injury and disease, it also increases your risk of developing:
- Dementia
- Anemia
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Pancreatic Dysfunction
- Autoimmune Disease
- Cataracts
- Muscle Problems
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
If you’re taking a statin drug right now, you must take CoQ10 to protect your heart health. Without cholesterol, your cardiovascular system will not have the energy or nutrients it needs to function properly. If you’re on a cholesterol-lowering prescription and you’re already experiencing muscle pain, the damage is becoming critical. Add a CoQ10 supplement now!
How to Lower High Blood Cholesterol Naturally
If you and your doctor are concerned about high cholesterol levels, take these natural steps to decrease your risk of heart disease.
- Dietary Changes
A good diet is the cornerstone of health. If you are eating foods high in trans fats such as fast food, microwavable meals, and canned food, you are setting yourself up for the development of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. This is why if you want to lower your serum cholesterol levels you have to change your diet. There is no magic pill out there that can do what a healthy diet can do.
I also recommend you incorporate some milled flax seed into your diet. Flax seeds are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids that help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Also, use raw garlic in your food whenever you can. Studies have shown that raw garlic is a natural cholesterol-lowering food.
- Exercise
Exercise is incredibly important to your overall health and well-being. Just 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week is enough to fight inflammation, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and prevent diabetes. The more lean and fit your body, the less likely you are to suffer from debilitating cardiovascular problems.
- Stress Reduction
Stress not only taxes the adrenal glands, it also causes chronic inflammation due to over-reaction of the immune system. Taking a yoga class, listening to relaxing music, taking up a hobby or meditating are great ways to lower your stress levels and decrease your risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
- Supplements
Diamond Nutritional’s Foundation Vitamins
Are you already taking a multivitamin formula?If so, you might want to consider stopping it. Most commercial vitamin supplements are man-made synthetics filled with preservatives, sweeteners, and dyes that do nothing to improve your health.
For optimum health, you need real, whole-food nutrition. This is where Diamond Nutritional’s Foundation Vitamins come in. It’s a whole-food supplement with no chemical ingredients.
This is real nutrition your body can actually absorb!
Foundation’s ingredients include:
- Vitamin A – 7,500 IU
- Vitamin C – 500 mg
- Vitamin D3 – 500 IU
- Vitamin E – 100 IU
- Vitamin K – 50 mcg
- Thiamine – 25 mg
- Riboflavin – 25 mg
- Niacin – 25 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 38 mg
- Folic Acid – 400 mcg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Biotin – 200 mcg
- Panthothenic Acid – 150 mg
- Calcium – 100 mg
- Iodine – 113 mcg
- Magnesium – 200 mg
- Zinc – 10 mg
- Selenium – 100 mcg
- Copper – 1 mg
- Manganese – 2.5 mg
- Chromium – 200 mcg
- Molybdenum – 25 mcg
- Potassium – 50 mg
- Choline Bitartrate USP – 50 mg
- Inositol – 50 mg
- Mixed Tocopherols – 50 mg
- Lipoic Acid – 25 mg
- N-Acetyl-Cysteine USP – 25 mg
- Rutin – 25 mg
- Lutein – 3 mg
- Boron – 1.5 mg
- Lycopene – 1 mg
- Vanadyl Sulfate Hydrate – 1 mg
Diamond Nutritional’s Balanced Omega Formula
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to fighting inflammation, lowering cholesterol, and maintaining heart health. Unfortunately, most store-bought fish oils do not contain the necessary amounts of EPA and DHA to make the difference your body needs.
Many products may claim to contain 1,000 mg. or 1,200 mg. on the front label, but on the back label the EPA and DHA may only add up to 300 mg. or so. The rest are nothing but fillers. Diamond Nutritional’s Balanced Omega Formula contains nothing 100% molecularly distilled fish oil for powerful, cholesterol-lowering nutrition!
Diamond Nutritional’s Cholesterol Support Formula
Statin drugs are incredibly dangerous. This is why I made it a priority to create a cholesterol support formula that addresses your health needs without the alarming side effects. Diamond Nutritional’s Cholesterol Support Formula offers a proprietary blend of herbs and minerals designed to safely lower your cholesterol.
These ingredients include:
- Chromium – A staggering 90% of American adults are deficient in this essential mineral. Low chromium levels contribute to the development of high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Guggul Resin – A small, thorny tree native to the Middle East, guggul resin stimulates the thyroid gland, which helps lower serum cholesterol levels.
- Sytrinol – This proprietary blend of citrus and palm fruit extracts acts as a powerful antioxidant that lowers cholesterol and decrease artery inflammation.
- Guar Gum – This potent fiber improves your digestion, relieves inflammation, and increases “good” (HDL) cholesterol while lowering “bad” (LDL) cholesterol.
- Artichoke Leaf Extract – Artichoke leaf extract contains cynarin, a compound that has been scientifically-proven to lower blood serum cholesterol levels.
Back in your grandparent’s time, high cholesterol wasn’t treated like an epidemic. The introduction of fast foods and convenience foods has introduced an alarming amount of trans fats into the American diet.
Now that you know how to lower your blood cholesterol levels holistically, you can work to get off that prescription medication roller-coaster and get healthy!
Looking for a second opinion?
I offer phone and email consultations for patients looking for a more holistic approach to their healthcare. Don’t get it alone. Let me help you get healthy this year. Contact me today!