A Bad Rap for Cholesterol
Part 2

 

The last newsletter we talked about cholesterol and the basic pathways it follows to enable our body to function and heal appropriately. We also talked about how it is essential to our health due to the fact that it is a major building block to the walls of every cell in our bodies. We also discussed the fact that the modern food choices we make contributes to excess fats that are stored in arteries causing inflammation and leading to plaque formation. This is atherosclerosis.
 
However, as stated earlier, cholesterol is essential to our health. To bring the point more clarity, let's look at some recent evidence of just how important it is.
 
Researchers at Texas A&M University recently discovered that lower cholesterol levels can actually reduce muscle gain with exercising. This may not seem that important for you "non-muscle head" individuals that don't spend 2 hours a day pumping iron. However, it is even more critical.
 
You see, if you are not in the gym, you definitely are not working to gain muscle density. Therefore your loss will be far greater. Loss of strength in the muscles of ambulation (legs and buttocks) will lead to less mobility and shorter duration. In a nutshell, you will be slowly impairing your ability to walk. Loss of strength in the arms and shoulders will impair your ability to lift, push or pull objects, and loss of strength in the abdomen and back will predispose you to a risk of catastrophic spinal injuries.
 
But that's not all!
 
Cholesterol is essential for your body's nervous system. We already talked about that in part 1. But what is the most important part of your nervous system? In fact, what is the most important organ in your body? Yes, your brain!
 
Recent research by Iowa State University scientists suggests that cholesterol-reducing drugs lessen brain function. In other words -- how smart you are and how well you remember things.
 
If you try to lower the cholesterol by taking medicine that is reducing cholesterol synthesis in the liver, the medicine goes to the brain too. And then it reduces the synthesis of cholesterol which is necessary in the brain, reducing memory capacity and speeding dementia.
 
Does this mean that we shouldn't be taking cholesterol lowering drugs? Absolutely not! For many people, taking cholesterol-lowering medication may be essential to their survival. I just want people to understand the give and take relationship concerning how these medications affect our bodies, and prepare for the repercussions of such use.
 
In part 3, we will discuss natural and non-invasive ways to reduce cholesterol levels.