With so many people in this country taking prescription drugs (statins) for cholesterol problems, it might be time to embrace other ways of approaching this health concern.Remember, alternative medicine attempts to get to the source of the problem and not just treat the symptoms.And, as one solution is diet, it is interesting to note that it has often been written that Cayce’s dietary dos and don’ts would have won approval from today’s low-fat cholesterol advocates.For example, “Beware of white potatoes, fats of any kind, and greases.No meat save fish, fowl or lamb.No fried foods. No white bread. Not too much of pastries.”Edgar Cayce (2415-2) Unlike people in Cayce’s day, you’ve probably heard over and over to “reduce your cholesterol.”But you already have cholesterol—and you always will.Every person’s liver produces cholesterol.But you add more cholesterol to your body when you eat certain foods.For instance, meat contains cholesterol but vegetables don’t.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy fat particle (otherwise called a lipid), circulating in the blood.It is an important part of a healthy body.Among other things, it’s used to form cell membranes, some hormones, bile acids for fat digestion, etc.
Although it's normal to have cholesterol, it is estimated that one in five Americans suffer from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and are therefore at risk for heart disease. High cholesterol causes plaque to form and accumulate in the arteries, which leads to blockages called atherosclerosis.These blockages increase the risk of circulation problems, heart attack, stroke, and even death.
High cholesterol causes plaque to form and accumulate in the arteries, which leads to blockages called atherosclerosis.These blockages increase the risk of circulation problems, heart attack, stroke and even death.
Even if you are healthy, you may have high cholesterol, as it does not produce any symptoms in your body.
Heredity and lifestyle definitely affect your blood cholesterol levels. So, although I will give you some lifestyle adjustment suggestions, if your family history reveals a tendency towards high cholesterol, check with your health care professional and get your levels tested.
UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
After you get tested for cholesterol, your friends might ask you, “What’ s your number?”Your total number is the level of total serum cholesterol.A good reading is 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or below.A reading between 200-239 mg/dl indicates an increased potential for developing heart disease.A reading over 240 mg/dl is considered high risk.
However, most physicians don’t pay much attention to total cholesterol anymore as it is considered a holdover from a time when it was harder to get HDL and LDL measurements.Why?Your HDL and LDL number are more important than the total number.If you don’t know about HDL and LDL, read on.
Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are two kinds of lipoproteins that you need to be concerned with:
·Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as the "bad" cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. (Levels should be below 130mg/dl)
·High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as the "good" cholesterol. Your body makes HDL cholesterol for your protection as it travels away from your arteries. (Normal levels between 40-60 mg/dl) It appears that higher levels (60-80mg/dl) may actually protect against heart disease.Conversely, HDL levels less than 40 mg/dl are considered risky. Simple put, as your HDL decreases, your potential for heart problems intensifies, even if your total cholesterol reading is on the low side.
Basically, you want your HDL (good) to be “high” and your LDL (bad) to be “low.”(Fasting for 9-12 hours before being tested used to be recommended as they thought it insured accurate HDL/LDL readings. Presently, there is a debate in the medical community as to whether it is better to fast, or not to fast, before these tests.Apparently, the discussion for how to best evaluate cholesterol levels will continue for some time.)
One more thing:When you get your cholesterol checked, your report may refer to triglycerides.Triglycerides are sugar-related blood fats that travel with cholesterol.High triglyceride levels can cause blood cells to “stick” together and are therefore considered an independent risk factor for heart disease. (A normal triglyceride reading is less than 150 mg/dl.)
PREVENTION
Red meat and dairy products are primary causes of dietary cholesterol.Unfortunately, those foods both contain cholesterol and also cause your body to produce LDL cholesterol. “Do not use bacon or fats in cooking and vegetables…” (303-11)“The meats taken would be preferably fish, fowl and lamb…”(1710-4) Edgar CayceAvoid butter, and if you use margarine as a substitute, carefully read the labels to choose a spread made with unsaturated fats—even then, go easy with it.Low-fat cooking sprays also help keep your fat intake to a minimum.“A great deal of fats will be hard on the body, as indicated by the lack of ability for digesting greases in the present.Butter fats and cheeses and such are well to be taken in moderation.”Edgar Cayce (1409-9)Unlike meat products, vegetables and fruits are free of cholesterol.“Do have plenty of vegetables [grown] above the ground; at least three of these to one below the ground.Have at least one leafy vegetable to every one of the pod vegetables taken.”Edgar Cayce (2602-1)In large amounts, coffee can elevate blood cholesterol levels, as can nondairy coffee creamers (use soymilk or almond milk as substitute).“If coffee is taken, do not take milk in same.This is hard on the digestion…”Edgar Cayce (5097-1)Although convenient, processedand prepared foods can be high in saturated fat and cholesterol.(Cookies, cakes, pastries, muffins, etc.)Even if a package says, “No Cholesterol,” the product may still have a negative effect on your cholesterol level.Both sugar and alcohol raise the level of natural cholesterol (that which the body produces).So, although we do need cholesterol, we do not need to over produce it, which is what happens when we consume sugar and alcohol. “Occasionally if you took a drink---once a year, it wouldn’t be too bad—but wouldn’t be too good either.”Edgar Cayce (416-18)STRESS also results in an overproduction of natural cholesterol. B Complex vitamins in your multi help deal with stress.RISK FACTORS YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT
Cigarette smoking
High blood pressure (Try massage for stress-related hypertension.)
Weight--Extra weight may raise your LDL and total cholesterol.
Exercise --People who get regular exercise often have lower total cholesterol levels.“We find that the exercises such as the setting-up exercise when the body first arises of a morning would be well, for this will bring strength to the lungs, vitality to the blood supply and a new life, as it were, to the muscular forces of the body.Take then, at least five to ten minutes of exercises of the arms and limbs when the body first arises each morning.Edgar Cayce (4462-1)
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONSEat more apples, pears, bananas, grapes, carrots, cold-water fish, dried beans, garlic, and grapefruit.In fact, take 2 apples per day or two pears and watch yourcholesterol plummet.In reading (4120-1), when asked about building the blood,Cayce said:“The diet should be watched closely, taking those properties that will create stimulation to blood supply, especially nerve building forces in blood. Cereals with fruits, especially apples."(Dr. Harold Reilly who worked 45 years with Cayce readings also says “apples can lower cholesterol.”438-1)Get plenty of fiber from barley, beans, brown rice, fruits, oats, etc.Oat bran and brown rice bran are the best foods for lowering cholesterol. (Fiber drains minerals from your system, so make sure your multi vitamin contains minerals.)Drink fresh juices like carrot, celery and beet.(Carrot juice is particularly wonderful as it flushes out fat from the bile in the liver and thus helps lower cholesterol.)“Once or twice a week take vegetable juices that would be prepared by using a vegetable juicer, but only using the vegetables for same that would combine well.They may be combined or taken separately;the juices from such as lettuce, celery, beets, spinach, mustard, carrots, radishes, and a tiny bit of leek or onion—not more that one very small onion, if it is desired that this be mixed with same.All these may be combined or used according to the taste of the body.”Edgar Cayce (1968-3)Use only unrefined cold- or expeller-pressed oils. (Olive oil is highly recommended.) “[Foods[ such as vegetable juices, or [these] combined with a little meat juices and a combination of raw vegetables; but not ever any acetic acid or vinegar or the like with same—but oils, if [they are] olive oil or vegetable oils, may be used with same.”Edgar Cayce(275-45)
Studies show that green teaextract is a useful adjunct to lowering LDL in people with high cholesterol already on a low-fat diet. Drinking the tea is fine but you get a more concentrated dosage of the healing extracts with the supplement.
I have mentioned Essential Fatty Acids (deficient in the American diet) a number of times in my articles.They play a role in keeping you healthy, supporting brain functions, hormonal conditions and taming high cholesterol. Natural sources include:primrose, hemp, borage, black currant, or flaxseed oils; cold-water fish like salmon, bluefish, herring, mackerel, and tuna; walnuts, etc.(Since the body doesn’t make the EFA’s, you can always supplement with a complete EFA formula, i.e., Omegas 3,6, 9)
SUPPLEMENT THERAPY
Red yeast rice extract:Asian dietary staple made by fermenting red yeast (Monascus purpureus) on rice.Red yeast rice has a number of heart-healthy benefits as its careful fermentation process yields specific amounts of statins--the compounds largely held responsible for reducing cholesterol levels, lowering levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, increasing levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol, and lowering levels of the unhealthy fats, triglycerides. It appears to accomplish this by restricting the liver's production of cholesterol. The compound responsible for this effect--mevinolin--is chemically identical to the cholesterol-lowering compound lovastatin, which is sold as the prescription drug Mevacor. (The FDA is attempting to remove this supplement from shelves, making it available only through prescription.)Do not take red yeast rice extract without consulting with your doctor (especially if you are taking a pharmaceutical statin).Also, take this supplement with a meal.
Chromium Picolinate:Lowers total cholesterol levels as well as improves HDL/LDL ratio.(Natural sources:whole grains, brewer’s yeast, etc.)
Vitamin E:Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it actually becomes part of an LDL particle in the bloodstream, preventing the LDL from oxidizing or going rancid and thus clogging arteries.With plenty of vitamin E around, the LDL particle harmlessly passes into the artery wall instead of forming plaque.Use only under professional supervision, especially if you have high blood pressure.(Natural sources:nuts, wheat germ, etc.)
Vitamin C:Blood levels of vitamin C and HDL were tested in 1,372 men and women at Tufts. Those who had the highest levels of vitamin C in their blood had 10 percent more HDL than those with the lowest vitamin C levels.Vitamin C acts as a helper by regenerating vitamin E when stores are low. (Natural sources: citrus fruits, peppers, green vegetables, tomatoes, etc.)
“And when…[lack of C] becomes detrimental, or there is a deficiency of same---which has been for this body;it is necessary to supply same in such proportions as to aid; else the conditions become such that there are the bad eliminations from the incoordination of the excretory functioning of the alimentary canal, as well as the heart, liver and lungs, through the expelling of those forces that are a part of the structural portion of the body.”Edgar Cayce (2072-9)
COQ10:Improves circulation, preserves the antioxidant action of vitamin C and may prevent atherosclerosis.(Natural sources:spinach, peanuts, etc.)
This is an overview of a very complex problem.You need to direct further questions to your healthcare professional should you feel concern over cholesterol issues.Finding out your numbers will, at the very least, stop any worry because, whichever way they go, you can begin working on healing.“Know that there is within self all healing that may be accomplished for the body.”Edgar Cayce(4021-1)
Dr. Bargonetti has been a major contributor to our site so we have permitted links to her holistic center were she works. Books and other products sold in the store have not been evaluated by the Venture Quest Health Network
Do you want to give your body one of the greatest gifts it could ever receive? How about an anti-aging elixir?
The following information will so positively affect your life that you will be thanking me every time you run into me on the street. (But I probably won’t recognize you because you will all look so young!) Your skin will come alive with a vibrant, healthy glow and you won’t be susceptible to colds and the flu like before. I can hear you all saying, “Right…and the check is in the mail!”
Here is the formula for this powerful elixir. Mix 2 tsp. of organic apple cider vinegar with 1-2 tsp. of good honey into approximately 6-8 oz. of distilled or pure water. Drink this upon rising every day, and you will quickly see and feel the results.
By “good honey” I mean unprocessed honey that hasn’t been heated to a temperature that not only changes all its medicinal properties, but also makes it hard to digest. Many varieties are available at your local health food store. All road warriors need to know that honey is a bioactive agent, which means it can cause a biological change in your body. If you have a cut on your finger and apply honey directly, it amazingly expedites healing. Honey also contains anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agents, so it is great as a salve for burns in a pinch.
Now, if honey can do all that on your skin, imagine what it can do internally. Diabetics or those with hypoglycemia should check with their health care professional before using honey, as it affects blood sugar levels in the same way that refined sugars do. Since tupelo honey contains more fructose than other types of honey and is absorbed at a slower rate, those with hypoglycemia can sometimes use it sparingly. You can also substitute maple syrup, rice bran syrup or stevia as your tastes require.
And I’ve heard all the complaints. “I can’t drink that so early in the morning.” “Apple cider vinegar, uck!” But those who complain the most are the ones who need the most help. They also become the biggest converts. One convert I know swears apple cider vinegar is a perfect coffee substitute and praises the jolt it provides each morning. So if you are thinking, “How disgusting. Who could ever drink that?” my bet is you are a prime candidate for the apple cider vinegar formula.
Apple cider vinegar can:
·Retard aging and help you maintain a youthful, vibrant body.
·Fight germs naturally, cleaning out toxins from the system (so it is a definite must for sinus, asthma and flu sufferers).
·Help digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
·Regulate calcium metabolism.
·Help those suffering from allergies.
·Clean and regulate the blood and the action of the colon and kidneys.
·Fight the formation of arthritis in the joints by cleaning out damaging uric acid crystals from joints, tissues and organs.
·Help with dandruff.
·Help you lose weight. (If this is your goal, try taking the formula once in the morning, one hour before lunch and one hour before dinner.)
The premise behind the apple cider vinegar formula is simple. Your body has two conditions: acidic or alkaline. If your body is acidic, disease can flourish; if it is alkaline, it is in balance and can fight off germs and disease. The apple cider vinegar helps make your body more alkaline.
If you eat an American diet, you tend to be acidic. Generally speaking, acid-forming foods include anything high in fat, high in protein or high in sugar. (Translation: stay away from fast foods or processed foods.) Alcohol and coffee are also acidic.
Alkaline-forming foods include raw fruits and vegetables as well as leafy, green, cooked vegetables. Try to make your diet consist of 3/5 fruits and vegetables. One trick is to eat a raw salad before any meal.
If you claim alkaline foods don’t agree with you, you are probably acidic. But as soon as you start eating them, your body starts eliminating dangerous toxins from your blood and soon your cravings for acidic foods and beverages diminish. A more specific list of acid or alkaline-forming foods can be found online or in any good bookstore.
When you first drink the apple cider vinegar formula, it might have a kick to it. If you need to, add some more sweetener to make it palatable. But as your body becomes less acidic and more alkaline, it actually begins to taste good. And knowing that it is good for you makes it downright enjoyable.
I recommend organic apple cider vinegars from your local health food store. They are aged and full-bodied like fine wine, giving them a better consistency and taste. I also invite and encourage you to share this apple cider vinegar formula with everyone in your family and circle of friends. We could change the health of America if everyone took this formula. It can do no harm - it’s just another take-off on the “apple a day” theory. So repeat the formula to anyone who will listen, and rejuvenate and revitalize yourself.
I look forward to your e-mail comments, concerns and questions.(drdibargo@earthlink.net) Until next time, make good health a priority…please!
DR. DI
Dr. Bargonetti has been a major contributor to the site so links to her site and the clinic were she works has been permitted. Books and products sold in the clinics store have not been evaluated by the Venture Quest Health Network.
