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Benefits
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Benefits
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In our practice, Libby and I are experts in hormone balancing and you may or may not know that our hormones are derived from the very important substance, cholesterol.
Cholesterol in its natural state is a waxy substance; it does not mix well with blood. It has to combine with other proteins to become HDL, which is good and beneficial, or LDL, which is the bad or harmful.*
HDL is high-density lipoprotein. This cholesterol scavenges a LDL low-density lipoprotein and transports it to the liver for breakdown.
All our hormones are derived from cholesterol and antioxidants inhibit the cholesterol from oxidizing onto the lining of the arteries. In general, cholesterol is not bad for us till it becomes oxidized and affects the lining and vessel walls of the arteries. I think in general we are focussing on, in our medical community, achieving unrealistic and possibly unhealthy low cholesterol levels. Because again, this is where we are deriving our hormones from.
*
Statin drugs like Lipitor and Mevacor are used to reduce cholesterol. Data has shown increased survival rates among people with high cholesterol and advanced heart disease who take these statin drugs, but these are certainly not for everyone. Many patients may experience side effects on statin drugs, which include muscle pain, muscle loss, memory loss, and fatigue. Therefore, people with mildly elevated cholesterol may benefit from alternate therapies and alternate therapies can also be used in conjunction with the statin drugs to reduce the effect of the negative side effects. Additionally, CoQ-10 is an important enzyme that is reduced by statin medication that should always be taken in a dose of somewhere between 60 to 120 mg or even 200 mg per day in patients who are on statin drugs. In general, for myself, coenzyme Q10 is one of the powerful antioxidants and is important for energy production. It is also one of my anti-aging secrets. So, I personally take on a daily basis, CoQ-10 120 mg per day based on my testing and mitochondrial needs that I have evaluated through our organic acid nutritional testing.
So, what are our alternative therapies for reducing cholesterol.
Eat a healthy diet. That is a Mediterranean, low-glycemic load diet.
Use olive oil, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil.
Incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Seven to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, ideally 7 vegetables to 2 to 3 fruits per day. Nuts and seeds and spices. I am a big fan of spicing your food.
Protein: you should include a diet high in fish, low in beef and pork and use as much free range organic meat as possible to avoid the chemicals and hormones that are in meat.
A diet with high fiber sources using garlic and onion liberally is encouraged.
Take a robust multivitamins such as our Dida daily essential vitamin packs, which include Albion micronutrients and chelated minerals in their most bioavailable highest quality form, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and an antioxidant rosemarin. I also recommend CoQ-10, vitamin E - mixed tocotrienol form, curcumin, and OPCs from grape seed can all work synergistically to help lower your cholesterol.
Additionally, a supplement called Krill, which is a deep water crustacean, basically whale food, has been shown to significantly lower LDL, improved HDL, and lower triglycerides. This works excellent also for hormone balancing, for insulin resistance, to help with weight loss, and has worked great in patients with PMS and perimenopausal mood disorders and it is absolutely one of my favorite supplements.
In a study evaluating Krill on cholesterol, it showed in 90 days a 1 reduction in total cholesterol with a decrease in LDL cholesterol of 32 and increase in HDL, the good cholesterol of 4 and a decrease of triglycerides 11 . This was at only 1 to 1.5 g per day of the Krill oil. At 2 to 3 g per day, the triglycerides were decreased a further 27% in 90 days. Again, if you are on a statin drug, this can work synergistically with it.
REFERENCE:
Bunea, R. Khassan, EF, Deutsch, L. Evaluation of the Effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the Clinical Course of Hyperlipidemia; Alt Med R; 2004; Vol 9, No. 4; 420-8.
Studer M, Briel M, Leimenstoll B, Glass T, Bucher H. Effect of Different Antilipidemic Agents and Diets on Mortality: A Systemic Review; Archives of Internal Medicine 2005 April 11; 165(7):725-30.
Additionally, not all over-the-counter supplements are the same. For example, our Krill oil is almost exclusive EPA and DHA and come in the form of phospholipids contrary to all other marine oils where the fatty acids are in the triglyceride from. Neptune Krill Oil builds healthy cell membranes and provides antioxidant protection. All our omegas are tested for heavy metals and we use the highest quality resources.
Dr. Anna Cabeca is a bio-identical hormone specialist. Visit:
https://www.CabecaHealth.com
to learn more.
Thanks for the informative article! I thought the part about cholesterol affecting hormones was particularly interesting.
I recently stopped taking Zocor. I talked to my doctor and told her I wanted to use a balanced diet to control cholesterol. She recommended that I take fish oil, flax seed oil, garlic, and drink either grape juice or six ounces of red wine a day. I also take Co-Q 10. I have been taking the fish oil and Co-Q 10 for a year or so and just added the other things to my diet, although I’ve loved garlic for years. Even before I added those last three things, my cholesterol went down when I started eating a little more natural fat in the form of butter!
I just posted a little about my cholesterol experience in Chocolatier’s post “Is Sugar Really the Enemy?” Here’s an excerpt:
“You might be interested in the book In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. He takes a common sense approach to eating and talks about how fat, especially, has been demonized. Of course too much sugar is bad for us, but for that matter, too many carrots could put us in the hospital from liver damage caused by excessive vitamin A! Anything is harmful in excess. The over-refined, pesticide-contaminated and preservative filled “food” we eat is far more harmful to us than any single ingredient, sugar included. The author also discusses “nutritionism” and how people are obsessed with isolated nutrients, i.e. protein, vitamins, fat, etc., when they should be focusing on eating a wide variety of whole foods. As you mentioned, portions are a major factor, too.
I have a cookbook set from 1958?the Mary Margaret McBride Encyclopedia of Cooking. These are real cookbooks! None of that "open a box of hamburger helper and add a can of mushroom soup" shit that we get in modern cookbooks. Good ol' Mary Margaret gives us real recipes made from real food. And the portions are much smaller than is common today.
Back when I was brainwashed by the fat phobics, I ate a low fat diet and my cholesterol and triglycerides were high and unbalanced. I've been eating butter (yes real butter!) for a month and my last cholesterol test was the best I've had in years?the balance of "good" to "bad" cholesterol was good and my triglycerides were normal!
And I eat a little dark chocolate every day. But I also eat a lot of salad greens, fruit, veggies and nuts and don't each much meat. I rarely drink pop, either diet or regular. I found that when I use real butter, it makes me feel more full so I eat less. Usually, I eat two pieces of toast, but if I use a little real butter I only eat one piece of toast and feel full. The fat seems to make my body handle sugar better, too. I haven't gained any weight since I've increased my fat intake. I gained the most weight ever when I ate low-fat convenience foods.”
MB
)O(
http://www.starbringergallery.com/
“We all come from the Goddess and to Her we shall return like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean.”—Z. Budapest
“‘If God is male, then the male is god.’ . . . if our only images of the sacred are male . . . inevitably women will be devalued.”—Starhawk quoting Mary Daly
Great article! I’m glad you didn’t include Canola oil as a recommendation. I’ve been reading terrible things about Canola oil. What do you think?
Just watched the movie Fathead. This is right on.
If anyone gets a chance a good movie to watch.
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Thanks for those comments - very grounded.
Regarding oils - I am most fond of 1st cold press extra virgin olive oil for salads and low heat cooking, and for high heats coconut oil and grapeseed oil.
Keep the comments coming.
Dr. Cabeca
http://www.cabecahealth.com
Dr Cabeca: I am confused on olive oil - what makes it virgin and extra dry etc...
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Alone I can do nothing, Together we can do all thing!
~Email: utahchinadoll @yahoo.com
Uh-oh, I use Canola oil a lot. Annie, what have you heard about it?
MB
)O(
http://www.starbringergallery.com/
“We all come from the Goddess and to Her we shall return like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean.”—Z. Budapest
“‘If God is male, then the male is god.’ . . . if our only images of the sacred are male . . . inevitably women will be devalued.”—Starhawk quoting Mary Daly
Wonderful post filled wiht some great info. I am so trying to do this olive oil thing as well as the more fruit and veggies, but it just ain’t working for me even though I love fruits and most all veggies I just can’t seem to get a handle on it.
Neicy!
www.walkinginhislight.ning.com
"When I look in the mirror, I want to see the reflection of Christ in me." D. Richardson
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