How can you lower your cholesterol?
Following last week’s discussion on cholesterol and the ways to lower it naturally, we can quote Udo Erasmus as he mentions other ways to lower cholesterol:
1. “Chromium, though not an antioxidant itself, can be combined with vitamin B3, to lower cholesterol in 50% of people with high serum levels. The combination of chromium with niacin (B3) molecules has been patented as a cholesterol-lowering agent”
2. Fiber can help lower cholesterol. He explains that cholesterol is “unique in the body in that , unlike other substances like amionacids that can be broken down, once its made , it cannot be broken down, thus it can only be removed from our body through our stool in the form of bile acids and cholesterol molecules. Fiber helps with excretion . If fiber is low the cholesterol is reabsorbed and recycled. this is why low fiber diets increase cholesterol levels”
3. Furthermore, it has been proven that the more cholesterol we eat, the less the body has to manufacture. This is because cholesterol production is tighly regulated in the body, “Increased cholesterol consumption decreases cholesterol production”
4. Finally, diet low in refined carbohydrates can lower it. “A diet high in refined carbs and calories forces the body to make a lot of cholesterol”
All this points to a lifestyle issue that can be modified as a preventive method to avoid cholesterol plaques from forming. Udo Erasmus pinpoints “When ascorbate levels (vitamin C) in our blood increase, apo (fat) levels decrease, because less repair protein is necessary when there is enough vitamin C to keep the connective tissue in our arteries strong…While it holds a major key to preventing cardiovascular disease, vitamin C is not the whole answer. Other keys are held by sulphur-containing amino acids, vitamin B3, coenzyme Q10, and for peripheral arterial disease, carnitine and lysine. W3 fatty acids keep platelets from becoming sticky, and have other benefitial effects on arteries. Ultimately, all essential substances must be present in optimum amounts for healthy cells, tiisues and organs”
As we have seen so far, cholesterol is fairly important in the body, so much that our body makes its own: our cells, liver, intestine, adrenal glands and sex glands all make it. (During pregnancy, the placenta also makes it to make progesterone, which keeps pregnancy from being terminated) But we can also get it from food: fatty acids, sugars (not refined sugars) and amino acids are the raw materials our body uses to make cholesterol. The main food sources of cholesterol are the animal sources: eggs, meat, dairy, fish and shellfish. One egg, 1/4 lb of liver or butter each contain around 50 mg of cholesterol. for every pound of body weight 1/3 is cholesterol which is found in membranes, around 7 grams is carried by the blood.
We can conclude now that we can consume cholesterol without having to be afraid of it. Making sure at the same time that we have a balanced diet where vitamins mineral amino acids and antioxidants are present.
To learn more about the important roles cholesterol plays in the body and how it is needed , please tune in next week.
Thank you for reading.