Just When We Thought Life Was Getting Drab

[haha]

We get this. Cholesterol is GOOD for us!

Why you should eat more (not less) cholesterol

Ha

 

[ERD50]

Seems like I've read for quite a while (decades?) that eating high cholesterol foods has little/no effect on your body's cholesterol levels (your body regulates it). And that this whole association between chol levels and actual heart disease was week. Yet, just a few days ago, I heard some nutritionist on TV talk about limiting high-chol foods?

It would take a lot of time/effort to dig into the studies on this, and maybe I have it wrong, but it seems I've read that in a enough seemingly reputable sources to think there's some truth to it.

And there were all the warnings that low-carb and higher fat would cause major chol problems, but IIRC, if there was any increase in chol, it was associated with a equal or higher increase in the 'good' chol, and no overall harm was seen?

My ratios are good, so I can hopefully take comfort in that (until they tell us that the ratio need to be reversed!)

But why does it persist? I wondered about that when they stopped doing so many tonsillectomies - what evidence did they have to say they should do it so routinely? What evidence made them stop? Doctors are clearly very bright people, but do they just not really dig into the evidence?

-ERD50

 

[bbbamI]

......

 

[audreyh1]

When my sister told me their doctor told them to limit shrimp and salmon because these foods were high in cholesterol I just about flipped!

The body manufactures its own cholesterol. My understanding is that other dietary factors affect the body's creation of cholesterol, not so much the cholesterol in the food we eat.

 

[Nodak]

The next time you see a commercial for one of the statin drugs for cholesterol look for the fine print on the bottom of the screen. It essentially says there is not a proven correlation between cholesterol level and heart disease.

 

[Buckeye]

My primary care physician calls statins poison and says they are dangerous for a but a very few special cases.

 

[NW-Bound]

Thanks for the link. I read it, and don't see why I have deprived myself of calf liver, when my cholesterol has not been high in the first place.

Off to the market!

 

[flyfishnevada]

So much of this stuff is weak. The media and the people who make money off this stuff are quick to tout a study that suggests something is bad, but rarely does the opposite get the same coverage. Remember when eggs were bad for you? How about salt? Now cholesterol might not be the boogy man it's made out to be. You bad stuff into your body all the time, bad things might happen. But what's bad and what's just something you should consume in moderation? Rat poison is bad for you. the other stuff is probably OK in sensible quantities.

 

[NW-Bound]

But what's bad and what's just something you should consume in moderation? Rat poison is bad for you. the other stuff is probably OK in sensible quantities.

Well, I was told that some blood thinner medicine are rat poison! Used in the right amount, the anticoagulant prevents strokes.

 

[haha]

Well, I was told that some blood thinner medicine are rat poison! Used in the right amount, the anticoagulant prevents strokes.

It's more that that rat poison (Coumadin or warfarin) works inhibiting blood coagulation. In a big dose like to a rat or mouse, it causes massive hemorrhage. In a human therapeutic dose it tries to make pathologic coagulation less likely.

Ha

 

[NW-Bound]

Yes. I did not put it in correct medical terms.

Now, I am waiting for someone to say a bit of nicotine a day is good for ya.

 

[ls99]

Yes. I did not put it in correct medical terms.

Now, I am waiting for someone to say a bit of nicotine a day is good for ya.

Yes, one of the the basic food groups. Nicotine, Caffeine Alcohol.

It was a very long time ago when I subsisted on them.

 

[Midpack]

Right or wrong,

• we just don't eat processed foods/ingredients (we always look at labels, if it sounds like a chemistry experiment, we put it back on the shelf),
• we make sure we get as much variety as possible,
• include protein, carbs and good fats at every meal,
• never skip meals and
• [-]never[/-] rarely overeat.

We quit paying attention to the good for you, bad for you flip-flops a while back...

 

[TromboneAl]

Now, I am waiting for someone to say a bit of nicotine a day is good for ya.

--

 

[RAE]

When my sister told me their doctor told them to limit shrimp and salmon because these foods were high in cholesterol I just about flipped!

Most doctors, in my experience, have a very poor understanding of nutrition. I would never go to most doctors and ask for nutritional advice (nor would I generally take their advice, if they offered it). Chris Kresser, who wrote the article about cholesterol cited above, has studied diet and nutrition for 10+ years, and all the articles on his blog are definitely worth reading if you want to get a better understanding of what you should/shouldn't eat for optimum health. I recommend starting by reading his series entitled "9 Steps to Perfect Health", which can be found here: http://chriskresser.com/perfecthealth Very interesting reading.

 

[Mulligan]

Yes. I did not put it in correct medical terms.

Now, I am waiting for someone to say a bit of nicotine a day is good for ya.

Ok, I am bored today and couldnt resist

Nicotine is good for you. Medical research shows that it can make us feel better, improve concentration, memory and help prevent and combat a number of serious diseases.

Nicotine simply has a bad reputation because it is consumed in cigarette smoking, however in its pure form it is safe and non toxic. Here are some nicotine facts you may find surprising.

1. Nicotine Fact: Nicotine does not cause cancer

Nicotine does not cause cancer or death. It is only one of 4,000 odd chemicals consumed in cigarette smoking and it is some of these that cause death and disease NOT nicotine.

In addition to tar, there is also carbon monoxide, ammonia and arsenic which are all poisonous in fact, at least 43 of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to cause cancer or death and nicotine is NOT one of them

2. Nicotine Fact: Nicotine is part of the natural food chain

Nicotine is part of the natural food chain and many people consume nicotine everyday without even realising it.

Nicotine as the New England Journal of Medicine, States:

"Is a naturally occurring compound. Trace elements are found in common foods and vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, cauliflower, eggplant, chili peppers, and some teas"

3. Nicotine Fact: Nicotine improves mood

Nicotine is known to switch on receptors on the surface of cells in the brain, causing these neurons to release the Neuro-transmitter dopamine, a chemical that is associated with feelings of happiness and pleasure.

4. Nicotine Fact: Nicotine can help with serious illnesses

Leading on from the above Nicotine does not just cause feelings of pleasure it can help with memory and concentration and this has led to considerable research in diseases including:

Depression, Schizophrenia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease where it is believed alleviate the symptoms and in the latter two even reduce the chances of getting the disease

5. Nicotine Fact - Has a bad reputation!

Many people simply assume nicotine is bad for you because it is consumed in cigarette smoking, but that's like saying grapes should not be eaten as they are in wine and you can die from drinking too much!

Nicotine as we have seen above is a naturally occurring compound that is part of the food chain and is safe and non toxic. Not only is it safe and non toxic much of the research of nicotine at present actually shows it could do us good.

Of the nicotine facts given above expect fact 5 to change as more people become aware of the truth about nicotine.

NEW ORGANIC NICOTINE DRINK

Keep in mind the source of the subject which is directly above this line!!!!

 

[NW-Bound]

The ad about doctors smoking unfiltered Camel is so funny!

Ok, I am bored today and couldnt resist

1. Nicotine Fact: Nicotine does not cause cancer

Nicotine does not cause cancer or death. It is only one of 4,000 odd chemicals consumed in cigarette smoking and it is some of these that cause death and disease NOT nicotine.

In addition to tar, there is also carbon monoxide, ammonia and arsenic which are all poisonous in fact, at least 43 of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to cause cancer or death and nicotine is NOT one of them.

I stopped smoking 9 years ago. Cold turkey, no nicotine patch, gum, or any aid.

I don't think nicotine was what I craved. It was all about the tar, the smoke, the smell. Ugh...

For the first two years, whenever I smelled cigarette smoke, that craving came back. Then, it slowly faded. Now, I cannot stand cigarette smoke, one of the reasons I can't stay inside casino lounges.

 

[Mulligan]

The ad about doctors smoking unfiltered Camel is so funny!

I stopped smoking 8 years ago. Cold turkey, no nicotine patch, gum, or any aid.

I don't think nicotine was what I craved. It was all about the tar, the smoke, the smell. Ugh...

For the first two years, whenever I smelled cigarette smoke, that craving came back. Then, it slowly faded. Now, I cannot stand cigarette smoke, one of the reasons I can't stay inside casino lounges.

I stopped over 10 years ago, and like you dont like the cig smell especially indoors. But I must confess, I liked the nicotine and occassionally suck on a nicotine mint even though I cant stand cigs. My Doctor said they arent harmful to me though he suggested I shouldnt do it when I hit 65 as they do elevate BP a bit since they are a stimulant.

 

[ls99]

Al beat me to it:

 

[TromboneAl]

I recommend starting by reading his series entitled "9 Steps to Perfect Health", which can be found here: http://chriskresser.com/perfecthealth Very interesting reading.

Great site, thanks.

 

[Helen]

My primary care physician calls statins poison and says they are dangerous for a but a very few special cases.

I agree with your doctor. My total cholesterol hit a high of 311. I dropped 25 pounds and added a lot of exercise and cut back on cheese and dairy. My cholesterol dropped to ~279. I think that is as good as it will get for me and I'm not worried about it.

I wouldn't take statins even if it meant I could avoid the high risk pool for health insurance.

 

[ERD50]

I wouldn't take statins even if it meant I could avoid the high risk pool for health insurance.

What is this fear based on?


-ERD50

 

[Helen]

What is this fear based on?

-ERD50

My only risk factor for a heart attack is that I have a high LDL. Statins will lower my LDL, but they will not decrease my risk for dying from a heart attack.

OTOH, there are known risks from taking statins. Someone on this site posted years ago that they had a physical right before early retirement. The doctor told him his LDL was slightly elevated and recommended he go on a statin. The poster ended up with permanent muscle damage. He could no longer do the activities he had retired early to do.

My Mother was put on a blood thinner (Plavix) and told to take one adult strength asprin each day, all to prevent a stroke (she had no history of a stroke for herself or close relatives). She barely weighed 100 pounds. She ended up having an internal bleed which they never found the cause of. They gave her a transfusion, she developed congestive heart failure while still in the hospital and had a fatal heart attack the day they were going to release her. I think the preventatvie medicine caused her internal bleed in the first place.

I'm not saying I would never take a medication for preventative reasons, but I want to see solid reasons with evidence to back it before I will take them.

 

[rgarling]

What is this fear based on?


-ERD50

see: 29 Billion Reasons to Lie About Cholesterol | Dietdoctor.com

View video -- comments are good.

 

[obgyn65]

I would not trust this information. Instead, please see the AAFP treatment guidelines here, with good background info : Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines Update - March 1, 2002 - American Family Physician

We get this. Cholesterol is GOOD for us!

Why you should eat more (not less) cholesterol

Ha