Hidden Cholesterol Truths
30 years ago I took a Biochemistry class that gave me insight about cholesterol. During that course the professor explained that the liver makes 80% of our cholesterol. He said that statin drugs block a liver enzyme that’s necessary to produce it1 . The day I learned of this revelation is the day that my view of cholesterol changed for good. The body doesn’t make mistakes so why would we want to inhibit it’s inherent wisdom to create such a substance?
There are several benefits for having adequate supplies of this substance. Every cell in the body uses cholesterol for it’s outer membrane. Cholesterol is an antioxidant similar to vitamins A, C and E. Antioxidants help calm inflammatory storms and protect our tissues and organs from free radical damage and cancer. Cholesterol even patches up our blood vessels so they can remain healthy and pliable. Once the inflammation is gone, our liver mops up that additional cholesterol by creating bile. Bile is stored in the gallbladder to break down fats when we eat them. Nothing goes to waste in this system.
Another truth is that all hormones are made from cholesterol. If you’re dealing with fertility issues or low testosterone, make sure your cholesterol is high enough to convert to sex hormones. In the past we considered 240 and even 260 to be the upper limit of normal. We didn’t have “low T” back then. And infertility and menstrual issues were much less frequent or severe. Perhaps more research should be done.
For anyone dealing with emotional stress or physical pain, adequate cholesterol is your friend. Cholesterol converts to cortisol as a stress hormone. It may also become cortisone a strong anti-inflammatory. Without enough cholesterol available we cannot offset pain and protect the body from stress. Another emotional concern is that reduced cholesterol can create issues with depression and anxiety. This is a hormone we never want to run low on.
Statins are among the top 10 drugs prescribed in this country. In fact, they are given to kids starting at 10 years old. When taking these meds other liver enzymes are tested because sometimes forcing an organ to NOT do something can trigger problems. This side effect should be watched closely. Some people have a “hereditary form” of cholesterol. It makes me wonder if for some reason certain people do need higher cholesterol to be healthy. Blocking production may lower numbers but the real cause is never addressed. In fact, heart disease is still the number cause of death, so what are we missing?
In 2006 I had a patient that came to me with a cholesterol number of 308. He was a health practitioner who did not want to take medication for this new discovery. Our plan was that for 3 weeks he would completely avoid gluten and sugar. This is not the suggestion I make for everyone, but when we discussed his history and diet, I knew what his 2 criminal behaviors were. After our 21-day trial, I drew his blood and saw that his cholesterol dropped to 212. Yes in three weeks he was able to lower his cholesterol by 96 points! He never did go on any meds because he had confidence that he could control his cholesterol production with ease and alacrity.
Maybe there’s more to learn about cholesterol. We don’t everything. We know that every cell in the body needs cholesterol for it’s outer membrane. You now know that we need this substrate for stress, hormones, inflammation and fat digestion. I’m thinking we’re tilting the scales towards loving it in the body, right?
Dr. Julie Wilson 6009 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL. 60646 773-481-9988
http://drjuliewilson.com
Disclaimer: The contents of this email is based upon the opinions of Dr. Julie Wilson, unless otherwise noted. If specified, individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information in this email is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Julie Wilson and her community. Dr. Wilson encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
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