What is the cause of high cholesterol? Does it come from your Aunt Jamima pie or Aunt Jamima? Many people have seen this commercial which alludes to the fact that the 2 main contributors to elevated cholesterol are diet and genetics. Unfortunately, many people are led to believe that these are the only 2 causes for elevated cholesterol and that the only way to reduce it is through medication if diet does not work.
Out with the old and in with the new
Many years ago, it was shown that dietary influence on elevated cholesterol is not that strong and the genetic basis for elevated cholesterol only occurs in a small segment of the population. Around the early 1990’s, two doctors, Linus Pauling and Mathias Rath put forth a new theory on the reasons for elevated cholesterol.
Dr.Pauling and Dr.Rath suggested that when arteries become weak, the liver will up the production of cholesterol to strengthen these blood vessels. They discovered a certain type of cholesterol called lipoprotein A (LpA) is increased and begins to repair damaged arteries. The unique thing about LpA is that conventional medicine acknowledges LpA as an independent risk factor for heart disease but there is nothing in conventional medicine that can lower LpA. In addition, Dr.Pauling and Dr.Rath showed that the body will start to deposit calcium into arteries to further strengthen them. While this does make arteries stronger, the end result is the build up plaque in the arteries which conventional medicine then recognizes as a recipe for heart attack.
What can result in a weakening of blood vessel integrity?
Dr.Pauling and Dr.Rath knew that collagen, a type of protein, was crucial to the integrity of blood vessels. They suggested that a deficiency in key nutrients that make up collagen could contribute to weakening of blood vessels. And what are these key nutrients? Vitamin C, Proline and Lysine. In addition, diets high is refined sugar and a smoking lifestyle further weakens blood vessels.
What is the proof?
It is a known fact that unlike most mammals, humans have lost the ability to make their own vitamin C. In addition, sugar and vitamin C are structurally related and often compete for absorption. Thus, if someone has poor blood sugar control as in diabetes, their bodies are essentially vitamin C deficient and their blood vessels pay the price. Also, the build up blood sugar promotes oxidation in the body which further weakens blood vessels. It is no surprise then that many diabetics end up with high cholesterol and suffer from heart disease. But diabetic are not only at risk. Since most people eat a diet high in refined sugars, these people are at risk as well, and people who smoke are weakening their blood vessels because of the oxidative power of cigarette smoke.
What is the answer for weakened blood vessels?
Dr. Pauling and Dr.Rath showed that by strengthening the blood vessels naturally through optimum intake of vitamin C,proline and lysine, the liver’s production of LpA would decrease, and the damage to arteries could be reversed. This is a safe and effective alternative to conventional drugs to lower cholesterol.
Men’s Health: BPH, infertility Women’s Health:PMS, Menopause, Infertility.He can be contacted at The Retreat Women’s Health Center, in Goshen Indiana, 574-537-5000.
