Cholesterol Fear Mongering

In 2007, almost one in seven Americans took a statin (cholesterol-lowering) medication according to a Medco Health Solutions study. This is alarming, considering that patients who take those medications have a higher death rate than those who don't. It is counter-intuitive to take a medication which will increase the chance of death, yet somehow we have been trained to fear high cholesterol more than we fear cancer and brain hemorrhage, both of which are significantly increased in statin drug users. Is there no alternative to this risk?

First of all, we need to form an understanding of cholesterol and its purpose in the body. Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced in the liver and obtained from food sources. It is an essential component to many cell parts, especially of nerve coatings, and plays a vital role in the production of several hormones. Cholesterol is not our enemy. What we should be concerned about, however, is the oxidation (damage) of cholesterol, which is caused primarily by toxins, stress, and poor diet.

Usually, when we consider dietary changes to improve our cholesterol condition, we immediately jump into a low-fat diet. However, this is putting our efforts toward the wrong direction. We need fats in our diet. Switching to a low-fat diet causes a depletion of our healthy dietary fat and leads to a higher sugar intake, as manufacturers increase the sugar content of their low-fat foods in order to improve the taste. High sugar intake actually leads to an increase in cholesterol production by the body, as the body rapidly tries to offset the danger of high sugar content in the blood.

So what types of fat should we eat? Olive oil? Fish oil? What about butter? Fish oil, for one, actually possesses cholesterol-lowering and triglyceride-lowering properties, which is why we are encouraged to not only eat fish but to eat oily fish such as salmon. Olive oil is also known to be one of the most healthful fats, but it's best eaten raw or cooked using only the lowest of heat settings. Cooking with oils, even olive oils, transforms them to trans fats at high heat, and this is counter-productive. What about butter? Butter is a natural fat, and although it contains cholesterol it does not contribute to the increase of cholesterol levels. Butter contains lecithin which is helpful in the metabolism of cholesterol. Above all, stick to naturally occurring fats and avoid any "created" fats such as margarine, Olestra, and any new ones which come on the market. These work contrary to the body's own intelligence and function.

You are your own best advocate for your health. Research the facts and be willing to look beyond the latest study. Look to see who funded the study and what profit they may obtain from the results.

Laurie Geter, R.N., natural health advocate. Author of Mastering Cholesterol: Simple Steps to Natural Cholesterol Management. Author of 46 Steps to Stress Management: Real Help for Stress Relief and the Prevention of Premature Aging