Health/Nutrition: Lowering Cholestrol

Q. My doctor is concerned because my cholesterol level is rather high. I tried following her dietary recommendations to lower my cholesterol level to no avail. Now she wants to put me on a prescription medication, which I don't want to do. Is there anyway I can avoid taking these drugs and still get my cholesterol under control?

A. High cholesterol is an ever-growing problem in our part of the world. There are several reasons for this, which I will discuss, and also several options to consider for lowering it and maintaining healthy levels. First, let's start with how our daily diet works with or against maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

If we study the daily diet of different traditions around the world, we will see in general an abundance of plant-based food, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with fresh fish and some meat. Genetically speaking, people are more inclined to a particular diet based on what part of the world their ancestors came from. What this means is that if your ancestors came from a colder climate, then you will usually gravitate towards a diet based on grains, nuts and seeds, some vegetables, fish and meats. Meat as a part of the daily diet is a building food, a deep tonic and strengthener for the body. It increases body “heat” and digests very slowly, giving the person sustained energy for hours afterward. In colder climates, this is genetically a necessity based on harsher surroundings. It is interesting to note that the further north we look, the greater the percentage of the daily diet is comprised of meat and fish. Shorter growing seasons for plant-based foods in areas of Canada and the north, for example, lead to less of these foods in the diet, too. So, location and genetics may play a role in how easily we assimilate certain foods. The opposite may be true for people whose ancestors came from a more southerly, warmer climate. Lots of fruits, vegetables, grains and fish with less red meat would comprise their diets. Fruits and vegetables burn as calories much more quickly, and they also contain more water and natural sugars which help to cool down the body and supply fast energy.

Now, what does this have to do with cholesterol? The answer, physiologically speaking, is that we need a certain amount of cholesterol in our diet. Not only does our liver produce a certain small amount of it daily to maintain life and balance in the body, but our individual need for it in our daily diet may vary depending upon not only where our ancestors lived, but where we live. (I have observed this unique tendency in some individuals through the years. One person may do very well with a well balanced vegetarian diet, and another may try it for months and eventually realize that they just always feel fatigued or out of balance. Adding a small amount of fish or eggs, for example, back into their diet will help them to feel better. I see this as another example of the uniqueness of each person, which natural medicine certainly recognizes.) Cholesterol in our diets can come only from “animal-based foods,” such as meats and dairy products. No cholesterol is present in plant foods, and I always find it humorous to see advertising on packages of grains, cereals, vegetable, or other obvious meatless foods which proclaim: “Contains no Cholesterol!” Of course those foods wouldn't contain any! Now, processed and packaged foods may be another story – they may contain hidden animal oils or other such ingredients and would then contain cholesterol.

Why is cholesterol then “bad” and what happens with high cholesterol? The more cholesterol you have in your blood stream, the thicker your blood will be, which can lead to circulatory or cardiovascular problems, for example. It is a known fact that for hours after consuming a big, greasy cheeseburger, so much extra cholesterol is dumped into the bloodstream that your blood will actually run thick as sludge, (I first heard Neil Barnard, M.D. speak of this many years ago.)  ...not a good thing on an ongoing, daily basis, especially if heart disease runs in your family or if you already have high cholesterol.

I have known of plenty of people who made significant dietary changes to limit meats and dairy or to give them up entirely, whose cholesterol levels stay in range without the need for prescription drugs. Our world is full of extremes. In the “land of plenty,” such as the Western world is, we can easily tend to overdo certain food-groups and virtually exclude others. Being aware of ancestral dietary possibilities will actually teach you the concept of food combining in a logical sense...not too much of any one food group, keeping the ratios right for your constitution. You learn what is right for you by noticing what makes you feel better and what gives you energy. Amazingly, in this country, since most of our daily diets are so heavy with meats and dairy products, if we adopt a vegetarian diet we usually do quite well. This is because our system is so out of balance one way that swinging the other way toward a more plant-based diet starts to detox impurities, excess cholesterol and toxins out of the body. I have seen a balanced vegetarian diet actually change lives in deep ways, resolving all kinds of health problems. On the other hand, I have also seen some very unhealthy, extremely thin vegetarians who had such weak constitutions that it seemed they were always sick with something and also expressed weak physical strength. Their diets may not have been a well balanced vegetarian diet, but genetically that sort of extreme diet may not have been right for them either.

I could go on and on about the philosophy of a healthy diet, but definitely consider how much meat and dairy you eat each day. (Remember, meat means: beef, pork, chicken, turkey and any other land-animal. Chicken is included in this category and it is not a vegetable! It will raise unhealthy cholesterol levels just like beef or pork do.) Eating meat as a condiment is an ancient technique...at least think of meat as a side-dish and not as the main course. Grains and vegetables should make up the majority of the meal, with meat or dairy in a very small portion. Overall, this is a healthy transition diet to try, especially if you are trying to lower your cholesterol levels.

Some supplements and botanical options to consider are: Flush-free niacin, which can open the circulation and many medical doctors now recommend it for their patients; garlic, which has many proven benefits, among those being a clearing of blood impurities such as cholesterol; lecithin, which has been used for years to clean the blood of debris such as cholesterol; and ginger, which is a wonderful herb for enhancing circulation. Of course, just eating more garlic, ginger, onions and hot peppers is the most natural way to keep circulation healthy. Other options would include: vitamin E, red yeast rice, guggulow, hawthorne berry and phosphatidyl choline. Check with your naturopath or licensed practitioner for the right supplement options for you.In Peace & Healing,Dr. SusieReading List:Food and Healing, Annamarie ColbinDiet for a New America, John RobbinsFood for Life, Neal Barnard, M.D.Native Nutrition, Eating According to Ancestral Wisdom, Ronald F. Schmid, N.D.

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Susie Cooper, a community herbalist and homeopathic educator, has worked in the natural foods business since 1991 and has been teaching workshops on herbal and homeopathic medicine since 1993. In addition to presenting numerous talks, she has also appeared on radio programs pertaining to natural health. With her husband, Paul, she owns and operates Blue Mountain Herbs, a small health food store in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, where she also teaches workshops in herbal and homeopathic medicine. “Offering a proper base of education for people interested in maintaining health the natural way is of utmost importance to me,” she says. “So many options exist in the world around us, and it’s important to me to offer the best traditional educational support I can to people wanting a healthy alternative for prevention and wellness.”

Important note: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or prescribe for specific ailments, but is intended for educational support only. Please seek the advise of a licensed health practitioner for specific illnesses and emergency situations.