Lower Cholesterol Naturally

New This Week — CFS/Fibromyalgia News: September 30, 2008

Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Dear Reader,

Heart and blood vessel diseases are the number one killers in the U.S. Increasingly, heart disease is occurring because of the heart muscle not making enough energy. This can occur because of a number of changes, and is a part of the "human energy crisis" occurring worldwide. This is why decreased heart function is a part of CFS (the heart muscle has trouble making energy just like the rest of the body), and CFS/fibromyalgia improve (often dramatically) using the nutritional energy powerhouses discussed in Treating Heart Disease Naturally.

The treatment that most of the public hears about for heart disease, namely cholesterol-lowering medications, are fairly useless for lowering heart disease unless you have had a previous heart attack or angina. To put it in perspective, cholesterol medications lower the risk of heart attack death by less than 2%, while owning a cat is associated with a 30% lower risk of heart attack death, and having high vs. low normal thyroid function is associated (in women) with a 69% lower risk of dying of a heart attack.

So why all the fuss about cholesterol? Two main reasons:

	1.	We have a test to measure it, and

	2.	Drug companies make over 10 billion dollars a year on these medications.

The second reason is the main one.

Meanwhile, taking cholesterol medication can cause muscle pain (including fibromyalgia) and heart failure, which the physician will usually mistakenly blame on something else. Except for those with a history of heart disease, or cholesterols over at least 250, I WILL NOT USE CHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS IN CFS OR FIBROMYALGIA! Often, when the medication is stopped, the CFS/fibromyalgia symptoms lessen over the next month or two—making it clear that the medication was a factor.

A few key points:

	1.	Cholesterol can often be optimized safely and naturally without the medication.

	2.	If the cholesterol is high in a woman, optimizing thyroid function will often lower it (and likely protect the heart WAY more effectively than cholesterol medications)—even if the thyroid tests are "normal."

	3.	In men, if the testosterone level is under ~ 350-400, using natural testosterone (not the dangerous high dose synthetics some athletes use) will often markedly lower cholesterol while also decreasing diabetes and high blood pressure—and leave you healthier overall.

	4.	If taking cholesterol medication, be aware that they cause Coenzyme Q10 deficiency. I strongly recommend that you take 200 mg of Coenzyme Q10 daily as well. After you stop your cholesterol medication, I would continue the Coenzyme Q10 for 3 more months. Stopping any medication should be done with your physician's OK. See the American Board of Holistic Medicine to find a knowledgeable holistic physician if yours will not work with you.

	5.	Cholesterol serves a critical function in your body, as it is essential for making stress hormones (e.g., cortisol and DHEA), estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Lowering it too much is not healthy.

Let's look at safe and natural ways to lower your cholesterol.

DR. T ON BLEND RADIO THIS SUNDAY

Listen to the Web This Sunday for Live Interview with Dr. T

"Champagne Sundays" Talk Show on Blend Radio

Dr. T will be interviewed on the "Champagne Sundays" live Internet talk show this Sunday, October 5th, for approximately 25 minutes beginning at around 12:15 pm PST. Topics to be discussed include:

* What is chronic fatigue syndrome—symptoms and causes?
* What is fibromyalgia—symptoms and causes?
* Statistics/number of Americans suffering from CFS & FMS?
* SHINE Protocol
* 5-carbon sugar ribose
* Pain relief
* Understanding the mind-body connection

You can listen to the show from any PC with Internet access. Simply click here and bookmark the page. Return to the page when the show begins (and remember to turn up your speakers).

RESEARCH BRIEFS

Insomnia Increases Inflammation

Low Vitamin D May Increase Heart Attack Risk

Low vitamin D levels are linked to overall mortality and dying of a heart attack. In those who have heart disease, simply optimizing vitamin D may be 40 times more effective at preventing heart attack deaths than cholesterol lowering medications—without the cost or toxicity! Read more »

Low Vitamin D Increases Early Death by 26%

Don't have heart disease? Another study (from Johns Hopkins) showed that having vitamin D levels in the lowest quarter of the population increase the likelihood of dying (over the 6-12 years of the study) by 26%. This study was in healthy people 20 years of age and higher. Read more »

Vitamin D and Chronic Widespread Pain (i.e., Fibromyalgia)

Could vitamin D deficiency contribute to fibromyalgia pain? Read more »

Even Artichoke Leaves Lower Cholesterol

Daily Egg Consumption May Increase HDL Cholesterol

Will eating eggs raise your cholesterol? Yes, but only your good cholesterol (HDL)! Most people with high cholesterol can enjoy their eggs—safely. Read more »

Macadamia Nuts Lower Cholesterol

Living in Hawaii, I am also proud to note that (Hawaiian) macadamia nuts lower cholesterol—a lot! Read more »

Cholesterol Lowering Medications Can Cause Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency

FEATURED QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Q: What does low cholesterol mean? Answer »

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Tomato Garden

An old gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,

I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.

Love, Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop,

Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.

Love, Vinnie

At 4 am the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop,

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love you, Vinnie