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Healthcare
The Cholesterol Scare: Are You One Of Millions Of Victims?
By Dr. David Tanton
Every year, millions of people fall victim to the very deceptive, highly
profitable cholesterol scam … are you one of them? If you are taking a
cholesterol lowering medication, also called statins, the answer is an
astounding yes! It's time to take action: Get off them immediately, before
they do any more damage.
The pharmaceutical companies producing statins have successfully convinced
many doctors, and their patients, that cholesterol, our very best friend, is
instead our worst enemy.
The truth is Low Density (LDL) cholesterol plays many critical roles in both
the body and brain. It forms the very basis of our hormones, and vitamin D,
which provides many benefits. The majority of cholesterol is found in the
brain, where it serves as an insulator for neurons. Cholesterol even removes
toxins from the blood stream, preventing potential damage to the arteries.
Cholesterol is part of every cell wall, and plays a critical role in sealing
and stabilizing damaged or weakened arteries. Approximately 20 percent comes
from the diet, and the liver produces the remaining 80 percent in order to
meet the body's demands. Our body produces only what it needs, thus we
should allow our bodies to regulate it. The problem is actually when our
cholesterol is too low - that can be serious! Many studies have proven that
just as many people with too low of cholesterol experience a heart attack,
as those with elevated cholesterol!
When our LDL is excessively elevated, it's an indicator that we need to
address the underlying problem that our cholesterol is attempting to deal
with - not take a cholesterol- lowering medication. The most likely
contributors to elevated LDL are: low vitamin C, toxins, low thyroid,
elevated homocysteine (the rogue amino acid that damages the arteries), and
even stress, as the actually body uses LDL to produce stress hormones!
Unfortunately, blood tests to determine cholesterol levels can be
inconclusive and a total waste of time and money, as our levels will vary
daily. Then as usual, our bodies will manage the details.
Following is a fact you'll find interesting. In 1966, following Harvard's
famous Framingham cholesterol study, the public was told that a total
cholesterol count of 300 was good. According to current guidelines, the
recommended LDL Cholesterol level is 70 or less, combined with a 40 or
higher HDL Cholesterol level, which gives a total cholesterol count of
approximately 130. Was Harvard's prior study somehow seriously flawed? I
think not. Unfortunately, those are the guidelines most doctors today are
following. Even more interesting, according to the Annals of Internal
Medicine (April 20, 2004; 140: 644-649), the American College of Physicians
released a report stating new proposed guidelines, recommending that
diabetics take cholesterol-lowering drugs, regardless of whether they have
good cholesterol levels or not! Why have the recommended dosages changed so
drastically? And why are diabetics now pressured into taking a statin,
although they weren't in the past? Profit potential is the obvious answer.
Our body also knows how to eliminate any excess cholesterol by converting it
into another critical substance, known as bile, which the liver uses to
metabolize fats and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as escorting toxins into
the intestinal tract for removal. Our body is very efficient at regulating
and utilizing all its resources, including cholesterol.
Unfortunately, when taken, statins target the LDL cholesterol, which our
bodies depend upon the very most! High Density (HDL) cholesterol's role is
basically to remove any excess cholesterol from the arteries once the LDL
has repaired the damage to the artery.
You'd think someone would have discovered this long ago. However, because
statins have provided huge profits for many years, someone did benefit!
Unfortunately, millions of their victims are unknowingly paying the ultimate
price.
Now that you know what your body does with excess cholesterol, we'll take a
look at how the LDL cholesterol ends up in our arteries, and why we would be
in trouble if it weren't there. For instance, one of LDL cholesterol's many
functions is to maintain the integrity of our arteries, and prevent any
potential leakage or blood loss, which is critical to our survival.
The epitheal cells that line the arteries are basically held together by
collagen. Vitamin C plays a critical role in the production of collagen,
necessary for the integrity of our vascular system. When someone is
deficient in Vitamin C, the body will naturally produce LDL in order to fill
the Vitamin C void. A few things are responsible for contributing to the
vitamin C deficiency, and weakened leaky arteries, such as:
· Microwave cooking, which destroys from 60 to 90 percent of vitamin C,
vitamin E and all B vitamins!
· Of the 180 most prescribed medications, 114 (over 63 percent) depleted
vitamin C, along with many other vitamins and minerals.
· Many seniors especially are experiencing a serious nutritional deficiency,
often due to a poor diet, and too many medications.
Most importantly, vitamin C is readily available, and very affordable
(although unlike statin medications, not covered by your insurance)!
Another Contributor To Elevated Cholesterol - Low Thyroid
Two symptoms associated with a hypothyroid (low thyroid) condition are leaky
blood vessels and elevated cholesterol. Most doctors would prescribe a
statin to resolve this problem. The solution, again, is resolving the
underlying problem, the hypothyroid condition. Once your thyroid function
has been normalized, your cholesterol level will soon stabilize.
What Are Some Of the "Benefits" Of Taking Cholesterol Lowering Statins?
· Congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy (Dr. Langsjoen, Life Extension
magazine, 2004 February, p. 14).
· Calcification of the arteries - basically turning you into a cardiac
invalid (Life Extension magazine, March 2004, p. 67).
· Then, increasing your risk of experiencing kidney failure is just an added
benefit (Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, 2003;13:13-22).
So, the question remains: What "true benefits" do cholesterol-lowering
medications really provide? To date, none.
About the Author:
Dr. David Tanton graduated with honors from Clayton College of Natural
Healing with a Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition, and is the founder and research
director or the Soaring Heights Longevity Research Center. He is the author
of the award-winning book, "A Drug-Free Approach to Healthcare" as well as,
"Antidepressants, Antipsychotics and Stimulants - Dangerous Drugs on Trial."
At the age of 74, Dr. Tanton is 100 percent drug free, and is in optimal
health. For more information, visit www.DrTanton.com or e-mail
longevitycntr@peoplepc.com.
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