High Cholesterol Can Be Good?
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Cholesterol is one of the widely discussed subjects these days. You hear it all the time: high cholesterol, low cholesterol, bad and good cholesterol. Wow, you can swim in the subject of “cholesterol!” I love having Dr. Karen Vieira as our amazing collaborator and contributor on the topics of women’s health and well-being. She has poured some light on the discussion of cholesterol in general that we can benefit from. Here’s her take on it.
Dr. Karen Vieira, Biomedical Sciences: Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Yes, you read that correctly. Why then would your doctor put you on a statin medicine like Lipitor or Crestor when your cholesterol levels are high? Because that’s what they’ve been taught to do. Don’t get mad at your doctor though. It’s not his or her fault. What you’re about to read isn’t well known yet by doctors, unfortunately.
Several studies conducted with the elderly, those with higher cholesterol levels, have proven to live longer than those with lower cholesterol levels. Studies on cholesterol haven’t just been done in nursing homes though. Studies in the general population have found that high cholesterol alone doesn’t predict the occurrence of heart attacks or strokes. High cholesterol on its own is meaningless.
Check out other posts hosted by our expert Dr. Karen Viera HERE.
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Wow, wow, wow, you are telling me that CHOLESTEROL can be a good thing?
We heard it all, bad and good, low and high.
What we need to know is to take any statement critically, meaning, within the CONTEXT!
Let’s see what Dr. Karen Vieira pulled out from the peer-reviewed studies for us today.
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Morning!
Hei, Amanda!
What’s your state of cholesterol?
I need to check out mine, though, I do consider myself healthy.
I am tested every year as an incentive. I have never had high cholesterol. But my husband was almost in the high range.
Lisa,
This is a great way to know that your body is good in this “department” – cholesterol.
Having yourself tested annually is one of the things that we should do, and you do it well, Lisa.
Good morning. Last year I had high cholesterol but was able to get it under control with diet.
good morning i am good there my doctor tells me
Get the Right Blood Tests
There are other tests that do accurately predict risk for heart attack and stroke. Some of these tests include vLDL and sdLDL. If you have high levels of these and other tests, then there is reason for concern. But even that doesn’t warrant taking dangerous statin drugs like Lipitor or Crestor. There are natural ways to safely lower high vLDL and sdLDL without side effects.
I have heard horrible things about Lipitor!! I think they need to really do some in depth research on this drug!!
Wendi,
They do know side effects!
Huge corporations who get the meds onto the market disclose those side effects in small font.
What I find there is from being constipated to suffering a sudden death and everything in between.
These meds bring more harm than healthy benefits.
Patients MUST EMPOWER THEMSELVES with data and extra knowledge about their conditions and medication available for them.
When we are “read-up” and are aware of what’s going on, we ask better questions and make smarter decisions for our own sake.
I haven’t had my cholesterol checked for years and when I did it was normal! Knock on wood but we don’t have a history of heart disease in my family.
Amanda,
In this day and age, it is important to be pro-active on many issues, cholesterol included.
I will check mine to make sure it’s OK.
I know I do and it’s been years since I’ve had a full physical – I don’t have a Doctor and go to the school-based clinic and see a PA when I am sick.
Both of my Grandfathers take these kinds of meds and both have had bad side effects. It’s scary.
well it is good to research all the meds the doctors want us to take my daughter is a research nut
Beware of Cholesterol Medication
Here’s what Dr. Karen Vieira thinks.
The biggest problem with statin medications like Lipitor and Crestor are that they damage muscle tissue. This usually starts out as muscle pain but eventually leads to muscle breakdown that can get to the point of paralysis then death.
If you don’t believe me and are dead-set on taking your cholesterol medication, please always take Coenzyme Q10 along with it. This can be bought for a few dollars at any pharmacy, grocery store or vitamin store. It is just a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that is needed for proper muscle and heart function.
Cholesterol lowering medications all dangerously deplete the body of Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, hence the muscle damage that these drugs cause.
would this be something you should take maybe once a week anyway or only if you are on the lipitor? I have never heard of this before…
Wendi,
We cannot recommend anything from these pages when it comes to medical issues.
You ALWAYS need to see your doctor!
What you KNOW and What Questions you ask can make a difference.
That is why we publish information for the sake of education and empowering our women in this community!
I think what she is asking is should we be taking CoQ10 anyway regardless of if we are or are not on cholesterol meds. Kinda like another supplement we should be taking like Vitamin D or B vitamins.
Based on Dr. Vieira’s answer, she says it’s OK, but DO check with your Doctor first!!!
This is frightening. Before my Dad passed away just recently he was on Lipitor I believe.
All medications – especially when a person takes many different meds/drugs – cause side effects.
Side effects caused by one medication are greatly amplified by other medications that produce their own side effects.
It is a very serious problem, called polypharmacy. Check my post on it here.
I wonder if doctors regularly inform their patients that it is good to take Coenzyme Q10 while on these medications. I sure would hope so. I think a lot of people expect to get all the info they need from doctors. But it’s always good to do your own research and ask all the questions you can when it comes to your health.
Katrina,
If doctors told their patients all they know about side effects – this world would have been much safer!
And no, not many people do their own research about anything, leave alone their health.
wow thanks for all this good advice ladies
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Wendi,
Enter this giveaway. You have plenty of time getting extra points!
Do them!
I’ve already entered and did not even realize it. lol I love the canning aspect to it.
oh that is so cool i am in to win
Lower Cholesterol Naturally
Use 1-3 grams daily of no flush NIACIN (a B vitamin) to safely lower cholesterol levels. Also effective is 2 grams daily of plant sterols/stenols. Discuss these options with your doctor in place of getting a prescription for a cholesterol lowering medication.
I believe Bananas are very high in Niacin!!! I try to have them in the house always
So do all plants contain sterols/stenols?
Amanda,
Plant sterols and stanols are substances that occur naturally in small amounts in MANY grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Since they have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties, manufacturers have started adding them to foods
I read that they are added in food but most of those food are ones I wouldn’t touch because either they are processed or they contain ingredients I wouldn’t feed to my dogs or cat! LOL
Agreed on that, Amanda.
At this point, good diet and quality supplements is the way to go.
Food fortification is one of the important and controversial things that we’ve got on our hands.
Food fortification has helped to eliminate many conditions: like dystrophy (adding vitamin D to foods), scurvy (adding vitamin C to foods), Xerophthalmia – cause of blindness among young children (adding vitamin A to foods).
They put me on this after I was hospitalized 2 years ago but they never told me why. Wonder if that was the reason. Now I would ask but back then I just did whatever they said.
I LOVE Freshly Prepared Foods
I make different FOOD PLATTERS frequently at my house. We have frequent business guests, we have troves of the neighborhood kids running around with ours – for all these occasions, I make different trays that they can munch from. Trying to add seasonal veggies and fruit, plus some proteins depending who is going to be our “munchkins.”
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that looks so refreshing and yummy!! and yes follow on instagram @wendiw8
Wow! That looks so nice! When I make up a plate, it never looks that pretty! LOL
Amanda,
I find out that PRESENTATION does depend on what kind of tray you use for display.
These orange trays have been amazing to me! I love them so much. They carry a ton of stuff and hold all foods very nicely – no mess or spotting.
Just experiment and do your plating with passion – you’ll find your way of doing it. I speak from my personal experience.
That looks so delicious Laura! Yum!
Lisa,
I find these trays really save me time and appeal to our guests and kids alike.
Especially when we have work appointments at our home office, I serve big trays of fruit, seeds and nuts, cheeses, proteins, even breads and crackers – I learn what my guests like before they come – and then place that tray on a big table where we do the work.
The food lasts through the entire work day – just add water!
that sure looks like it is good and saying come eat me
No IG for me so cannot follow but that looks so appetizing. I always do trays but tend to split meat & cheese from veggies. I’ll have to make one big platter like that.
Katrina,
I find that people are exposed to a MORE variety tend to eat more of that variety without having a need to turn their attention to the neighbor tray!
Recap on CHOLESTEROL by Dr. Karen Vieira
Again, I urge you to get tested for the correct types of cholesterol tests, consult with your doctor or ask me questions if you’re not sure which blood tests are right for your specific condition, lower your cholesterol naturally and safely, and if you insist on taking cholesterol lowering medication, ALWAYS take them with CoQ10.
But ALWAYS consult with your Physician!
my next appointment in October we are doing the Cholesterol test! I have not had one in a few years! Good subject to have and reminder to get checked!!
Wendi,
What’s interesting is that people who consider themselves healthy, gotta do the cholesterol test.
What happens, the artery clogging can produce a stroke or kill a person.
Knowing the state of arteries, so to say, is a MUST and gives a peace of mind in this department.
i get mine tested i am lucky i am good there but it helps to eat the right way to
Need to set up my yearly appointment. Been putting i toff.
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Done!
Done, thanks for another great topic of discussion!
Got chya @TrinaAngele
finished
You are a dynamite, Wendi!
Have a great day!
all done have a good day ladies