Drinking the Kool-Aid on Cholesterol: An Oldie But Goodie

Coach is Right ^ | 5/12/14 | Michael D. Shaw

[Oldpuppymax]

It has been pointed out by many opponents of the saturated fat/cholesterol theory of coronary artery disease (CAD) that a paper from January, 2009 shreds this notion. The work is entitled “Lipid levels in patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease: An analysis of 136,905 hospitalizations.” You can obtain an abstract here, with a link to a free full text version.

Among the findings: “In a large cohort of patients hospitalized with CAD, almost half have admission LDL levels

In other words, more than half of this group—heart patients with diagnosed disease—met the current LDL and HDL guidelines.

This is a stunning finding in and of itself, to be sure, but here’s the “Drinking the Kool-Aid” part: “These findings may provide further support for recent guideline revisions with even lower LDL goals...

[Rio]

Drinking the kool-aid but, more importantly, buying the cholesterol drugs.

[Friendofgeorge]

darn it, was hoping you would say high cholesterol was not a problem as once thought.

I have high cholesterol and am not able to take statins due to the fact they raise my liver enzymes...more than you wanted to know

oh well

[DariusBane]

“darn it, was hoping you would say high cholesterol was not a problem as once thought.”

You are actually correct. But drug companies are doubling down trying to sell more product.

[crz]

I quit taking my meds-lipitor, and started consuming large amounts of tomato and tomato type juices, etc, like V8.

In two prior blood tests, my blood work came in excellent-way better than what they were on the lipitor. And I dont have the muscle and joint problems anymore.

The cardiologist I go to advised me to try these things first, before he would prescribe any other meds. Lay off the fatty stuff, more fish, and more tomato type products. One thing, I dont miss Micky Dees at all, to expensive anyways.

[Wayne07]

The article is a big straw man, because the important contention of “cholesterol denies” isn’t that having high LDL is good, it is that eating a high fat diet isn’t the main cause. And inasmuch as that some fatty foods raise your LDL number, it still may be OK because of the size of the particles.

[davandbar]

If you haven’t already done so, eliminate all grains from your diet immeditely and watch your cholesterol levels drop considerably with no drugs at all!

Also, eliminate omega 6 refined oils and trans-fats from your diet and inflammation levels will plummmet.

Stick with butter, animal and tropical saturated fats (coconut, palm), and limited olive oil (not heated).

[knittnmom]

Thanks for the advice - the typical advice of more grains, veggies, and such, causes issues that are far more immediate than high cholesterol.

[moose07]

When you say eliminate all Grains, does this include all Bread products or just the processed cereals &c. ?

[crazycatlady]

Sorry, no can do.

[cuban leaf]

Eat more eggs.

[Friendofgeorge]

lol

[Friendofgeorge]

thanks

[Friendofgeorge]

here`s hoping :)

[caveat emptor]

In late 70s early 80s there were two possibile major causes of heart disease being considered - Cholesterol and problems in the metabolism of Amino Acids (building blocks of proteins). Because not all essential amino acids had been identified and studied at the time, the cholesterol theory was accepted (though not well supported by research), since Homocysteine (a transient compound in the metabolism of the amino acid methionine), the real culprit, was not known and therefore overlooked. You can read about it here, "The Fall and Rise of Kilmer McCully", NYT. Long but interesting article.

Somehow, Lipitor (and generics) is one of the largest selling drugs ever. In 2010 alone, the drug [just Lipitor] earned the company more than $5.3 billion in U.S. sales.

Countdown

[Oldhunk]

My father had his cholesterol checked when he was in his 70’s. It was in the 300’s. He left us at 95 years of age.

[JimRed]

It’s not how much is in the bloodstream that is the problem; it’s how much of it sticks to arterial walls and where it does it.

[Vendome]

my friend q1uit on us at 101 with cholesterol in the 300’s

[Kackikat]

Statin drugs are poison to our bones. My Chiropractor told me to never take them so my excellent bone density is not compromised.

Christians know that the Bible says ‘Honor your father and mother that your days may be long upon the earth’.

It does not say anything about watching your cholesterol. So somehow I don’t think that determines how long one lives.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

There are many on this forum who ‘drink the Kool-aid. Doctors, other health practicioners, and druggy (as in Big Pharma) inspired frequenters of this formum will tell you and me we are full of brown stuff. So be it. We are right. They are wrong. Those who ‘drink the Kool-Aid’ will die sooner.