Posts Tagged ‘triglycerides’

Cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease, but it does bankroll an industry. The pharmaceutical industry isn’t giving it to you straight. The public knows what they report, they just don’t know the truth.

They make bold statements designed for the sole purpose of introducing their cholesterol lowering formula. They may create products that win market share, but do nothing to lower the incident of heart disease. They have produced conflicting reports to explain why the drugs lowers risks. There drugs aren’t effective for two reasons: one they target cholesterol, two the side effects are dangerous.

The basics of what cholesterol is and what it does. Cholesterol is multifunctional and protects us in many ways. Cholesterol establishes proper cell membrane permeability and fluidity. This is essential for determining which molecules can pass into the cell and which can not. Cholesterol plays a part in the production of sex hormones. These consists of androgen and estrogen. It is involved in the production of hormones released by the adrenal glands such as: cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, and some others.

Cholesterol is important dfor the manufacturing of bile acids, and converts sunshine to vitam D. It is important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, D, and K. Cholesterol insulates nerve fibers.

We have been conditioned by an industry without a conscience to look at cholesterol as a toxic substance. Cholesterol is produced by the liver to help the body function. Cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins, which is molecule complex or compound containing both lipid (fat) and protein. The three main types are LDL |(low density lipoproteins). HDL (high density lipoprotein) and triglycerides.

The LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells. If too much is carried to the cells to use, the LDL could build up. We on average have about 70% LDL floating around. The liver manufactures and secretes LDL. The liver also removes LDL from the blood by active LDL receptors on the cells surface.

HDL carries the cholesterol away from the cells back to the liver, where it is broken down of expelled as waste.

Triglycerides are the chemical forms in which most fat exists in the body as well as food. Triglycerides in plasma originates from fats in our food, or are created by carbohydrates. Calories we consume which aren’t used right away are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells. This is there for when your body needs energy and there insn’t any food around for this purpose, triglycerides will be released from the fat cells to be used as energy.

So far you can see how this relates to heart disease. The lethal effect of cholesterol comes from the minds of the bureaucratic health care system “experts.” The prime cause of heart disease is inflammation. Cholesterol is there to put out the fire. Blaming cholesterol for heart is like seeing firemen near every fire, and thinking where you see a fireman there will be a fire.

The investigation of cholesterol as a prime suspect in plaque build up led to the wrong conclusions. The test used to measure cholesterol are appealing because they are easy and cheap to give. There is a cloud hanging over the tests.

There are four types of LDL particles, one is a big fluffy form known as large LDL, and three increasingly dense forms know as medium, small and very small LDL particles.  A diet in saturated fat boosts the number of large LDL particles. Where as a diet of low -fat high carbohydrates boosts the smaller forms. The big, fluffy particles are mostly benign (not causing problems), while the smaller ones can become a problem.

The smaller ones are there to fills in the artery cracks and tears, which come from long term inflammation. One of the causes of inflammation is a high carbohydrate low fat diet. It is the smaller particles that will build up plaque while trying to heal the damaged tissue.

The cholesterol theory doesn’t make sense in this context. Where it makes cents is in a $14 billion dollar cholesterol lowering medication. Recently a panel of “experts” urged that every child between the ages of 8 and 11 be tested for high cholesterol. Cholesterol testing is based on poor science, and great marketing.

Grapes are the sweet way to health; for many Americans with high blood pressure and insulin resistance.

Grapes Health Benefits

The focus of a study at the University of Michigan Health system was to test the effect of grapes in reducing risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

Researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red and black grapes) that were mixed into a powdered form and integrated into the diets of laboratory rats as part of a high-fat, American style diet. All of the rats used were from a research breed that is prone to being overweight.

The researchers performed comparisons between the rats consuming a grape-enriched diet and control rats receiving no grape powder. Researchers added calories, and sugars to the control group to balance the extra calories and sugars gained from getting the grape powder.

Findings from a new animal study was presented at the Experimental Biology convention in Anaheim, Calif., showed encouraging results of a grape-enriched diet preventing risk factors for metabolic syndrome. This is a condition affecting an estimated 50 million Americans and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

After three months, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and blood than the rats who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance.

Phytochemicals In Grapes

The key focus should be the phytochemicals in grapes. The emerging evidence is that phytochemicals offer protection from all diseases. People who want to lower their blood pressure, reduce their risk of diabetes, and help their weakened hearts retain as much pumping power as possible should eat a whole foods diet. This means a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Grapes are instrumental in providing high levels of antioxidants, which are good for the heart. Emerging studies are proving that fruits and vegetables deliver what they promise, sweet goodness.

Type 2 diabetes treatments for both cholesterol and high blood pressure fail to save lives.

Diabetes Type 2 Treatment

Key results from a landmark federal study shows that adding drugs to drive blood pressure and blood-fats lower than current targets, does not prevent heart problems, and in some cases causes harmful side effects.

Study

The study involved people with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetics have more than double the risk of being a heart attack or stoke statistic. Researches led by Columbia University’s Dr. Henry Ginsburg studied more than 5,500 diabetics who also had another health risk, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.

All were given statin-cholesterol-lowering pills sold as Lipitor and Zocor. Half were also given Abbott Laboratories’ TriCor, and the rest got placebos. TriCor is a drug that lowers fats called triglycerides while boosting “good” cholesterol. People with very high blood fats seemed to have some benefit from TriCor.

Women taking TriCor appeared to have a higher chance to have heart problems compared to the women taking the placebo.

The blood-pressure part of the study was led by Dr. William Cushman, preventive medicine chief at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. About 4,700 diabetics were treated with different medicines to keep their systolic blood pressure-the top number-either below 140 or below 120.

The intense treatment did not reduce the number of heart attacks, although it prevented more strokes, a less common problem. Side effects were greater with the intense treatment.

North Chicago, Illinois-based Abbott makes TriCor and a newer version, Trilipix. The drugs had more than $1.3 billion in U.S. sales last year.

The Natural Way

There are natural ways to combat type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Natural healing is an underutilized intervention. It is both potent and convenient.

The optimal defense is a lifestyle makeover. Lifestyle changes are unmatched and have the potential to turn around chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. This is a modality that physicians have not tapped into. This has the ability to prevent drug induced serious conditions. The pharmaceutical companies are still looking for a little green pill, the color of a dollar bill.