Cholesterol has everybody talking, with modern medicine recommending ever-lower levels and pharmaceutical companies promoting ever-increasing numbers of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Do you know what cholesterol really is, why we need it, and why elevated levels are far from the "final word" on heart disease risk? If not, read on.

With all the "bad press" about cholesterol, one would think it should be avoided at all cost. Nothing is further from the truth! Cholesterol is essential to life. It makes up 80% of our body's cell walls and is a building block for steroid hormones and bile acids. Cholesterol is a precursor to Vitamin D in the skin, and without it, we couldn’t absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K from our food. It gives skin the ability to shed water and is essential to the growth and maintenance of the nervous system. We really do need cholesterol – it’s not the "bad thing" that some would have us believe. Having said that, it is important to know the various kinds of cholesterol and what they do.

First is LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein), the "bad" cholesterol. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood, and this is now thought to be the main source of blockage and damage in the arteries. VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein) performs the same tasks as LDL in terms of transporting fats from the liver to cells, and so may also be dangerous when elevated.

Next is the "good" cholesterol, HDL (High Density Lipoprotein). Its job is to collect excess cholesterol in the blood and transport it back to the liver where it is eliminated from the body. HDL seems to keep LDL from building up on the walls of the arteries, so HDL / LDL ratios are considered by many to be a better indicator of "cholesterol health" and heart disease risk than overall cholesterol levels. High HDL is good, and exercise and niacin are two potent agents for keeping HDL levels high.

Finally, Triglycerides (TG's) are a form of sugar carried by a fat that circulates in the bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and primarily become elevated by high intakes of dietary carbohydrates.

Humans manufacture cholesterol in the liver - remember, it’s important for normal body functioning. There are several ways the body controls cholesterol production and blood cholesterol levels. The most important of these is in the liver where a chemical receptor senses LDL, and when it has detected "enough," tells the liver to stop manufacturing more. Damage to this mechanism can occur through normal aging which reduces the number and efficiency of the LDL receptors, and several diseases - most importantly diabetes and low thyroid function. This feedback mechanism (when functioning properly) means that eating foods high in cholesterol simply tells the liver to stop making so much of its own! For many, eating LESS cholesterol causes the liver to manufacture MORE cholesterol!

What to do for high cholesterol
If a conventional doctor found your cholesterol levels to be "high,” you’ve probably received a prescription for the statin-de-jour and a simplistic recommendation to "eat less cholesterol and cut down on the fats.” Statin drugs are being marketed as the best thing since antibiotics but their dangers and expense are rarely mentioned.
Meanwhile, safe and well-proven natural remedies exist to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, total cholesterol levels, triglycerides and other heart risk factors. Along with these proven natural remedies come others that are seen to be helpful but are not as well researched. And of course, as with all other natural remedies, there are plenty of poorly-researched, unproven remedies that rely on anecdotal "patient success stories" in their glowingly inflated sales pitches.

Remedies for high cholesterol that have been well-researched and proven 

Niacin, a B complex vitamin, was found in the 1950's to be highly effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen (a blood protein that causes clot formation) levels while simultaneously raising beneficial HDL cholesterol levels. The Coronary Drug Project, an extensive evaluation of cholesterol-lowering drugs showed that niacin was the only cholesterol-lowering agent that actually reduced overall mortality. Its effects were also found to be long lived, protecting patients in the study years after they had stopped taking it.

Like any substance, niacin is not without cautions. It's side effects are well known, the most common being a flushed or hot feeling experienced by some people after taking standard niacin. It can also be toxic to the liver when taken in a "time release" form that was developed to avoid the problem of the "niacin flush.” Dr. Myatt recommends a form of niacin called inositol hexaniacinate, a No-Flush Niacin that is safe and well tolerated. Niacin can alter blood sugar control and should be used with medical supervision in people with diabetes. It is also important to monitor cholesterol levels and liver enzymes while using niacin, as with a statin drug.

If niacin is so great, why didn't my doctor tell me to take it? Though studies strongly support its use, it has been victim of lots of misinformation - your doctor may be ill-informed about niacin, but has certainly been told all about the "benefits" of statins. Niacin is a widely available "generic" substance, and drug companies do not stand to make from it the massive profits that cholesterol-lowering drugs have generated for them. As a result, niacin is not advertised in the way that the expensive, profitable statin drugs are. Still, niacin should be considered the first choice as a cholesterol-lowering treatment.


Policosanol - the "new kid on the block" in terms of cholesterol control, looks promising. "Policosanol" refers to a group of eight solid alcohols derived from sugar cane wax. Octacosanol is the major constituent and proponents of this substance claim that Octacosanol is remarkably safe and effective at reducing cholesterol levels and platelet aggregation (the tendency of the blood to clot). Policosanol has been proven to be safe and effective in a number of studies and clinical trials, and was suggested as an alternative to statins in a report published in the American Heart Journal in 2002. Because of its effect on blood clotting, it is important for people on anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) and those with decreased blood clotting (hemophiliacs) to use this substance under physician guidance.


Other Cholesterol-Lowering Agents

 Vitamin C has a well-studied positive effect on lowering total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while raising beneficial HDL levels. Vitamin C supplementation is valuable for other reasons, too --- it’s a powerful antioxidant and immune enhancer.

 Fiber has a time-honored place in any cholesterol-lowering regimen. High intakes of soluble fiber have been shown to lower both overall and LDL cholesterol levels.

Artichoke has been studied since the 1930's and found to have excellent effects on atherosclerotic plaque and cholesterol and LDL levels. It is highly liver-protective and regenerative to the liver and also has potent antioxidant properties.

Gugulipid is an ancient remedy "rediscovered" by Western medicine. Gugulipid has been used for thousands of years to alleviate problems associated with obesity, acne, viral infections, and other ailments. It has also been shown in some limited but significant studies to reduce cholesterol and LDL levels and increase HDL levels within weeks.

Soy has been shown to confer numerous benefits including cholesterol-lowering.

These are the proven first line and second line cholesterol remedies. Now let's look at substances that have been promoted without proof to back them up.

Beware of Unproven Remedies

Various teas have been touted as cholesterol cures, no doubt riding on the coattails of accepted Green Tea studies. Don't believe them - Green Tea is an important part of a cholesterol-control program, but teas are not the whole answer!

Cinnamon has also been promoted as a cholesterol-reducer. We are not aware of any solid studies to support this. Cinnamon has a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels and is useful in diabetes, but capsules seem a expensive when you can simply add this spice to your food and beverages - try it in your green tea!

Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, has been a popular folk remedy for high cholesterol. Again, there is no scientific evidence of beneficial effect - but anecdotal “evidence” of the "my best friend's great aunt's late husband used it every day 'till he died" variety is plentiful...


Beyond Supplements and Drugs: Live a "Good Cholesterol Lifestyle"

Proper nutrition is a cornerstone to good health. With today’s nutrient-deficient foods, an optimal dose multiple vitamin/mineral supplement is a must. Without a full compliment of vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients, our body’s “systems” cannot function properly.

The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is sadly deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids (EFA's). These are vital to heart and cardiovascular health because they are anti-inflammatory and play a vital role in a many cellular processes in our bodies. Deficiencies of Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to contribute to subtle body-wide inflammation which is associated with over 60 known diseases including heart disease and strokes. This important nutrient can be obtained from food sources such as flax and fish (salmon is a rich source). Alternatively, it can be obtained far more easily and reliably from Max EPA Omega 3 capsules taken every day.

Co-enzyme Q10, a substance that is present in every cell of our body, is vital to cellular energy production and utilization. It is also a powerful antioxidant important for heart health and immunity. Statin-type cholesterol lowering drugs are known to deplete the body’s supplies of CoQ10! Daily supplementation CoQ10 is valuable insurance for a healthy heart and immune system, and should be considered mandatory for anyone using statin-type drugs or Red Rice Yeast for lowering cholesterol.

Finally, for those wanting to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, Cholesterol Support contains policosanol, plant sterols, guggulipid, soy bean extract, B Vitamins and more in a single formula. These ingredients are all proven cholesterol health substances. Available in a single supplement, it is easy to obtain therapeutic daily doses of these valuable nutrients.

No cholesterol-lowering program would be complete without a discussion of diet and exercise.
Exercise has been shown to raise HDL cholesterol nearly as well as nicain.


Here's to Good Health and Happy Cholesterol Levels! And remember, cholesterol is really your friend.