January 1989
Cholesterol - THE VILLAIN?
Tandavan, Doctor
Cholesterol is a modified fat
called a sterol. It is very much like a wax, insoluble in the bloodstream
and seems to be carried through the blood attached to complicated
molecules called lipoproteins, "fatty proteins." The high density
lipoproteins (HDL) are considered "good" and low density ones (LDL) are
"bad." The blood levels of cholesterol are usually given as total
cholesterol; but to have any meaning the levels should be given as HDL/LDL
ratios or each separately.
Cholesterol is manufactured within the
body, primarily in the liver but also within every cell in the body. It is
essential to the construction of the cell membrane which protects the
inner portion of all cells. It is also important in the production of the
protective barrier of the skin, construction of the steroid hormones and
in the production of vitamins. About 80% of the blood serum cholesterol is
used in the production of bile salts, so essential to the metabolism of
dietary fats.
Why then is it considered a "Villain"? Cholesterol is
found in the plaques of blood vessels that are narrowed (arteriosclerosis)
to the extent that blood flow to the heart muscle, kidneys, brain and
other vital organs and tissues is cut off causing heart attacks and other
fatal conditions. Thus many consider it the causative factor. But
scientific experimentation shows that cholesterol is not the cause of this
condition. High serum cholesterol may only be a symptom of an impending
arteriosclerosis - one of many factors producing these plaques.
It
has also been shown that the dietary intake of cholesterol has little, if
any, correlation with high serum levels of this nutrient. If excessive
intake occurs, the body decreases production to maintain its "normal"
levels.
However, in the development of arteriosclerosis, a
relationship has been shown repeatedly between high serum cholesterol and
other factors - heredity, age, hormones, nutrition, tobacco smoking,
excessive alcohol intake, obesity, debilitating diseases, hypertension and
unknown contributors.
Recommended levels for normal total
cholesterol are below 200 mgm/daily (National Institute of Health). If
above this, it must be broken down into the HDL, LDL, VLDL and
triglyceride levels to get a true evaluation. Cholesterol testing is not
always reliable, so if you have an abnormal value, have a second or third
test. Do not accept tests at shopping malls, health fairs, street
stations, etc.
Even though high serum cholesterol levels merely
indicate future problems, if elevated, they should be lowered to
acceptable levels. There are many natural methods of lowering the serum
levels such as: 1) use of more dietary fiber especially that found in
oats, legumes, fruits, psyllium seed and guar gum, (though recognized for
years, fiber was only recently discovered by the advertising media); 2)
Omega-3 oil, an essential fatty acid found most abundantly in fish, but
also in some plants, vegetables and nuts; especially in flax seed,
spinach, mustard greens, walnuts, wheat germ oil, soybean lecithin, tofu,
buttermilk and possibly some sea weeds; 3) lowering sugar intake; 4)
increasing intake of Vitamin C, E, A, B15, and niacin; 5) light exercise;
6) lecithin increase in diet; 7) increased garlic and onions in the diet;
8) elimination or marked decrease in coffee intake; 9) addition of
selenium, chromium, olive oil, alfalfa sprouts, avocados, and other
natural substances to the diet. Through the years other products (and
surely new ones in the future) have been shown to lower the cholesterol
levels. Probably all that is needed to reduce serum cholesterol (and the
possible increased risks for arteriosclerosis) is to partake of a natural,
balanced vegetarian diet. In a lactovegetarian diet the only extraneous
sources of cholesterol are milk products (only animal products have
cholesterol), intake of which is easily controlled, although we do not
believe that it is very important to keep it drastically
low.
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