Now Science Says...... Cholesterol is Really GOOD For You!!! Yeah!!

In her recent report, “The Cholesterol Myth,” CBN News’ medical reporter, Lorie Johnson, reveals that many physicians today are questioning the high cholesterol equals heart disease cause and effect diagnosis, known in medical circles as the “lipid hypothesis”, that has generally been believed as absolute fact for the past sixty years.

Johnson talked with Dr. Stephen Sinatra about his once-conflicting findings as a practicing cardiologist, “I was doing angiograms on people with (cholesterol levels of) 150, who had far advanced heart disease, and the converse, I was doing angiograms on somebody with cholesterol (levels) of 280 and they had no heart disease." Sinatra has since come to believe that cholesterol is a minor player in the development of heart disease and that the real culprit is inflammtion.


In his newest book, The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease–And the Statin-Free Plan That Will (Copyright © 2012 Fair Winds Press) co-written withJonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., Sinatra compares cholesterol to firemen at a fire, "You know cholesterol is found at the scene of the crime for heart disease, but it's not the perpetrator." He even goes on to say, "Cholesterol many times can be a gift in disguise." But how can that be? How could cholesterol, which has to this point been seen as a deadly foe, now be seen as a friend?

700 club...science...

:oldwut:

I don't think it's that cholesterol in of itself is good or bad for you, but that too much of it is bad. Some of it is necessary.

Apparently your very cells need cholesterol:

Cholesterol is an organic chemical substance classified as a waxy steroid of fat. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes and is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity and is thus manufactured by every cell.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

I seem to recall hearing somewhere something about how the body actually creates the stuff off things you digest or some such process..

The problem is that we overdose. We humans have a tendency to overdose ourselves on pleasant things! And then we wonder why we get sick. Ha.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CHOLESTEROL?

Dr. Sinatra explains his conversion from being a pro-statin, anti-cholesterol, paid consultant of statin drug manufacturers to being a self-proclaimed “cholesterol skeptic” in great detail in his book, The Great Cholesterol Myth (Copyright © 2012 Fair Winds Press). While investigating the cholesterol research more closely, he came to realize that “life can’t go on without cholesterol” and here are a few of the reasons why:
•Cholesterol is a basic raw material made predominantly by the liver, but also by the brain and almost every cell in the body

•Enzymes convert cholesterol into the beneficial vitamin D and bile salts for digesting and absorbing fats

•Enzymes also convert cholesterol into steroid hormones, including the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone; a reduction in these hormones–especially testosterone–can lead to sexual dysfunction in both men and women

•The membranes surrounding cells and the structures within those cells are mostly made up of cholesterol which helps maintain cell integrity and communication

•One-quarter of all the cholesterol in our bodies is in our brain
•One-fifth of the myelin sheath that coats every nerve cell and fiber is made of cholesterol
•Hormones, such as serotonin, which affects feelings of relaxation, well-being, and satisfaction, and oxytocin, the person-to-person bonding enhancer, are highly dependent on cholesterol-rich cell receptors in the brain in order to perform their life-enhancing roles
•Cholesterol contributes to your immune system; some types of human LDL are able to inactivate more than 90 percent of the worst and most toxic bacterial products

WHAT ABOUT BAD CHOLESTEROL?

Before you begin to think that all cholesterol is good, know that there is still “bad” cholesterol out there, it’s just not what you might think it is. Up to this point, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) has been considered to be the “good” form of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) has been the “bad” form of cholesterol. Dr. Sinatra reports that this is now a wholly outdated concept because research has found that there are numerous “subtypes” of both HDL and LDL, and they do very different things-some good and some not so good.

Sinatra explains that the most important subtypes of LDL are subtypes A and B. Subtype A is a big, fluffy molecule that does no harm. Subtype B is a small, hard, dense particle that becomes oxidized and sticks to the walls of arteries, beginning the process that leads to heart disease-inflammation. LDL subtype B is the bad “bad” cholesterol. This shows why knowing your total LDL number is useless or even counterproductive if you don’t also know how much of that LDL is subtype A and how much is subtype B.

Dr. Sinatra goes on to explain that even HDL has been shown to have varying degrees of quality and some can actually be categorized as “bad.” The HDL of people with chronic diseases is very different than the HDL of healthy folks; normal “good” HDL reduces inflammation while dysfunctional, or “bad” HDL does not. Sinatra urges readers to ask their physicians to find out what kind of HDL they have.

Because of their ability to reduce inflammation (not cholesterol), Dr. Sinatra does prescribe statin medications, on occasion. However, he limits his prescriptions almost exclusively to high risk, middle-aged men, less than 69 years of age, who have already experienced a first heart attack, coronary intervention (e.g., bypass, stent, angioplasty) or coronary artery disease. He does not prescribe statins for the elderly (70 and above) or generally for women, except in rare circumstances. In place of medications, Sinatra prefers to lower inflammation, and therefore the risk of heart disease, with natural supplements, an improved diet, and lifestyle changes which include managing stress. This prescription for reducing inflammation has only one side effect: better heart health.

Fact Resources

Material contained in this edition of A Closer Look is a compilation of information from the following sources: “The Cholesterol Myth” by Lorie Johnson, CBN News Medical Reporter; first airing of the video report: October 23, 2012 on The 700 Club and The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease–And the Statin-Free Plan That Will by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. and Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C. (Copyright © 2012 Fair Winds Press; Text © 2012 by Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra)
All rights reserved.

Note: Before beginning any new health regimen, it is important to consult your family physician or health care professional first. The information given in this issue of A Closer Look is for your consideration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Before starting or stopping any exercise routine or nutritional supplementation, please consult your family physician or health care professional about any contraindications that would make doing so inadvisable.

I would venture to say the whole "food pyramid" is about the worst diet a person should eat.

Ok.. I saw it on Jay Leno NOT

I found it quite interesting.

Suit yourself..

Last Edited by Angelic_Warrior on 02/04/2013 03:50 PM

I read research years ago that showed that only portion of people worldwide, some 15% or so I think, have a genetic condition to where cholesterol causes heart disease.

In all the other people, most people, can eat all the cholesterol they want, and their body controls its own blood cholesterol levels.

Furthermore, cholesterol is essential in supporting the mylin sheath that surrounds neurons, and low cholesterol levels is linked statistically to neuro-degenerative diseases especially in the elderly.

Some people, like the old traditional Eskimos with their "pure fat diet", and also tests on French, who have very high cholesterol levels, show no relation whatsoever to heart disease.

In the French study, comparing other diets of the world, the one thing that clearly increased heart disease is drinking milk. The French in the study on the other hand drank very little milk, but rather lots of milk products like cheese, butter and yogurt.

I eat all the eggs I want, and do not fear cholesterol, and do not consider it unhealthy, but then I don't especially fear death either.

Eating fat does not make you fat. Wheat flour does most of that. And being fat does not necessarly mean unhealthy either, depending on race, culture, and quality of diet.

More than anything each person should be free to choose their own diet, and it is not just for other people to be judgmental about the issue. To each their own.

Gimme all your bacon and eggs!!!

Last Edited by ehecatl on 02/04/2013 04:18 PM

They need to update that so it includes Pall Mall cigarettes, chewing tobacco, super-strong Mountain Dew, and McRibs!

just a joke. dont get all butthurt about it.

There's always a book to buy isn't there?
ALWAYS.

Wauw i had 2 glasses of water...the last time was more then a month ago...

It felt very nice when it layed there in my stumic.

our brains are made out of cholesterol i never believed the hype

Omfg do...

A medium small cloud getting build as weapon above groningen...

“I believe that the moment is near when
by a procedure of active paranoiac thought, it will be possible to systematize confusion and contribute to the total discrediting of the world of reality.”

“You have to systematically create confusion, it sets creativity free. Everything that is contradictory creates life”

- Salvador Dalí

Suit yourself, sceptic! I am always glad to hear there is a book.
It is in a library, you nut, no need to buy it.

i for one am very glad to hear this. Benefits of statins for the elderly are non-existent. Not proven.

Nice to have a book to show to my elderly mom and her doc.

5 cholesterol points OP!

Last Edited by beeches on 02/04/2013 08:24 PM

It is likely true.

BUT WHERE IS THE LINK????

Thank you!

I love to buy books! Like something tangible to hold and also to use a highlighter on .. hehe

If you are the only person that benefits from this, I'm glad to have played a part!

I copied the whole article. I saw it on TV then went to the website (700 club) to copy.

You can see it on there but you do have to register

Sorry.. it's difficult at times to differentiate when someone is being mean spirited or joking.

The bad cholesterol is most certainly bad for you since it does lead to build up of plaque in your arteries. The problem is most doctors just look at total cholesterol.

MMMMMM mmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm love bacon and eggs! Although I do try to eat around the fatty part. Full of toxins

As opposed to breaking it down to HDL and LDL?

Me either. Huge part of my diet is butter (no margarine) and cheese.... eggs 2 or 3 times a week. Very little milk tho.

Lotsa cream in my coffee.

Statins were killing my grandmother. She finally stopped after getting horrible muscle pain and weakness. She now has permanent muscle damage from taking them.

I went looking for some threads on cholesterol on GLP because I read something that said testosterone is made of cholesterol.

Seems like the demonizing of cholesterol and the pushing of drugs to lower it might just be a way to emasculate or chemically neuter the male population and keep them docile like steers and geldings?

Cholesterol is like cement fix it for our bodies. If a crack appears, it is used by our body to plug the hole.

The problem comes when our bodies become inflamed through illness and crappy food. Suddenly all sorts of inflammation, swelling, and other bodily injuries appear and the cholesterol builds up.

Real doctors help people to fight the cause of their illnesses. Bad doctors give people drugs that take away their mobility. I wonder how many people are confined to their beds or in nursing homes because the continued to take the cholesterol drugs that destroy muscles.