Lower your cholesterol naturally.
A total serum cholesterol level over 200mg/dL, and LDL cholesterol over 130mg/dL puts you at borderline risk for heart disease. Add 30 points to either of those numbers and you are at high risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. Approximately 101 million Americans at high risk—that’s about one in four in the U.S. population (that includes 11% of men in their twenties!). Obesity, stress, smoking and poor diet are all preventable factors in high cholesterol levels.
The best way to prevent hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is to eat a diet high in natural fiber; avoid processed foods, smoking and excessive alcohol; and of course, EXERCISE. (Notice how that always seems to come up?) However, those who are unable to manage their cholesterol with lifestyle management may turn to medical assistance. Statins, such as Lipitor, are ubiquitously prescribed medications used to treat hyperlipidemia. These act by blocking the Liver’s cholesterol-synthesizing functions. Unfortunately, blocking natural cholesterol production can have some very serious side effects. Statins also block production CoQ-10, an antioxidant vital for muscle function, leading to possible muscle pain and weakness, and increased risk for falls. (If you are on statins you MUST supplement your diet with CoQ-10). Cholesterol is essential for healthy neurological functioning—and statin use is commonly associated with dizziness, impairment of cognitive function (especially in the elderly), and increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Statins inhibit Vitamin D production, lower immunity, and have been shown to cause cancer in animal studies. Long term survey studies have shown that breast cancer is 1500% more common in women on statin drugs[1]. Finally, sadly, while short-term heart disease risk may be lowered with statins, long term studies spanning over 10 years have shown that statin users have a 1% greater risk for heart disease than those on placebo[2].
What are the alternatives? Here are some additional tips that may help in addition to a healthy diet, exercise and relaxed outlook on life:
- Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA, found in fish oil and grass-fed butter help to reduce inflammation of the arterial walls, making them less “sticky” and prone to fatty deposit buildup. Evening primrose, borage or black currant oil are vegetarian sources of GLA which the body uses to make anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
- Avoid trans fats, known to contribute to inflammation. Also avoid cooking with poly-unsaturated oils (such as olive oil), especially at high temperatures.
- Avoid refined sugars and starches (such as white flour), known to stimulate clumping of the blood platelets.
- Eat foods high in copper, such as organic liver; copper deficiency is associated with clot formation and inflammation in the arteries.
- Eat coconut oil and coconut products; coconut oil protects against bacteria and viruses that can lead to inflammation in the artery wall, and has anti-tumor properties.
- Avoid reduced-fat milks and powdered milk products (such as powdered whey); they contain oxidized cholesterol, shown to cause irritation of the artery wall.
- Drinking black tea with your meals helps your body to process fats and has been shown to moderate serum lipids during digestion. Drinking coffee with your meals, however, has been associated with elevated serum lipids, so cut back on the bean! Digestive herbs such as hawthorne berry, found in the popular Chinese herbal formula shan zha jiang zhi wan, also help the body to process fats and have been shown to reduce serum cholesterol.
- Red yeast rice is the natural alternative to statins. Though it carries some of the same concerns as statin drugs, there is a lower incidence of side effects and may be more effective for the approximately 20% of statin users who do not respond effectively to the drug. Red yeast rice can also be safely taken in the short term for a fraction of the price of costly statin drugs.
Sustain carries several high-quality supplements mentioned above that your practitioner can recommend on an individual basis if high cholesterol is a concern for you.
Sustain Community Acupuncture offers wellness for all, naturally. Located in San Diego between the Hillcrest and North park Neighborhoods, Sustain Community Acupuncture offers affordable Acupuncture, Herbal Therapy and Medical Massage. For questions about this article or for a consultation please call 619.358.9508 or contact us here.
[1] Sacks FM and others. N Eng J Med 1996;385;1001-1009.
[2] Jackson PR. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2001;52:439-46.
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