Cholesterol: Fats, Brain, Liver, Fat Accumulation – Myths, Truths – Side Effects of Statins

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Conventional medicine has established that cholesterol is the enemy of health, but the truth is more complicated. And if we take into account that laboratories change the reference values every few years, the rates of increase in brain and neurological diseases… we will see that doctors do not inform us very well…!

Today we’ll analyse the reference values of cholesterol, the role of fats in the prevention of Diseases, the effects of statins and the substantiated studies that invalidate conventional advice.

What Is Cholesterol and What Are the Current Laboratory Reference Values – Total, HDL, LDL and Triglycerides. What Do the Values Mean?

Total Cholesterol

Total cholesterol in the blood, transported by lipoproteins.

Reference values: <200 mg/dL (ideal), 200-239 mg/dL (moderately elevated), ≥240 mg/dL (high).

Increase: Diet rich in saturated fats, Obesity, Smoking, Alcoholism, Hypothyroidism, Kidney disease, Diabetes mellitus, Familial hypercholesterolaemia, Medications (e.g. corticosteroids), Pregnancy, Cancer.

Decrease: Hyperthyroidism, malabsorption syndrome (nutrients), severe liver disease, Anaemia, Malnutrition, Medications (e.g. statins), Cancer, Autoimmune diseases.

* Notably, a few years ago the upper limit was 300, they gradually lowered it and brought it to 200. The reduction happened in parallel with the increase in the rates of the diseases I mention below.

I explain here about the so-called autoimmune diseases: https://www.thomais.gr/post/autoimmune-diseases-everything-we-need-to-know-hormonal-imbalances-pms-prostate-skin-conditio 

HDL Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol)

Cholesterol that transports lipids from tissues to the liver for elimination.

Reference values: Men >40 mg/dL, Women >50 mg/dL (ideal >60 mg/dL).

Increase: Exercise, Balanced diet (e.g. omega-3), Alcohol (in moderation, e.g. wine), Medications, Hyperthyroidism, Smoking cessation.

Decrease: Obesity, Smoking, Diabetes mellitus, Hypothyroidism, Kidney disease, Inflammatory diseases, Medications (e.g. beta-blockers), Dyslipidaemias, Alcoholism, Malnutrition.

LDL Cholesterol (Bad Cholesterol)

Cholesterol that transports lipids to tissues and can accumulate in arteries.

Reference values: <100 mg/dL (optimal), 100-129 mg/dL (near optimal), 130-159 mg/dL (moderately high), 160-189 mg/dL (high), ≥190 mg/dL (very high).

Increase: Diet rich in saturated fats, Obesity, Smoking, Alcoholism, Hypothyroidism, Kidney disease, Diabetes mellitus, Familial hypercholesterolaemia, Medications (e.g. corticosteroids), Pregnancy, Cancer.

Decrease: Exercise, Diet rich in plant fibres and omega-3, Hyperthyroidism, malabsorption syndrome, severe liver disease, Anaemia, Malnutrition, Medications (e.g. statins), Cancer.

Triglycerides

Lipids that store energy and come from diet or synthesis in the liver.

Reference values: <150 mg/dL (normal), 150-199 mg/dL (moderately elevated), 200-499 mg/dL (high), ≥500 mg/dL (very high).

Increase: Diet rich in carbohydrates and alcohol, Obesity, Diabetes mellitus, Hypothyroidism, Kidney disease, Inflammatory diseases, Medications (e.g. beta-blockers), Pregnancy, Cancer, Familial dyslipidaemias.

Decrease: Exercise, Low-carbohydrate diet, Hyperthyroidism, malabsorption syndrome, Severe liver disease, Anaemia, Malnutrition, Medications (e.g. fibrates), Cancer.

Good Fats, Brain Health, Dementia, Alzheimer's, Multiple sclerosis

Our brain needs good fats to be healthy and functional. Given that cholesterol values are adjusted in laboratories (at the whim of pharmaceutical industry revenues), reference values have been set at low levels. Doctors, who (I reiterate) have not been taught Nutrition, and Dieticians are informed by the curriculum, which is determined by the Pharmaceutical Industry, recommend that people remove fats from their diet! The result is a tragic increase in dementia, Alzheimer's and other central nervous system diseases!!

According to the Alzheimer's Association (2023), dementia cases have increased by approximately 10-15% in the last 10-20 years worldwide.

Alzheimer's cases have increased by 20-30% in the last two decades.

Multiple sclerosis has increased by 15-25% in the last 20 years, linked to dietary changes and reduced cholesterol.

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures 

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/multiple-sclerosis-ms 

How Omega-3 and Beneficial Fatty Acids Protect the Nervous System from Diseases

Following the reduction in cholesterol reference values, we have an increase in neurological problems!

Let's analyse it in detail.

Myelin sheath

Nerves are covered by myelin, which consists mainly of lipids (such as phospholipids and cholesterol). "Good" fats (e.g. omega-3 and omega-6) help in the development and maintenance of this sheath, allowing rapid transmission of nerve signals.

Beneficial fatty acids

Omega-3 (especially DHA) are essential for brain and nerve health. They help in anti-inflammatory action, neurotransmitter synthesis and protection from oxidative stress.

Studies show that omega-3 deficiency is linked to neurological disorders such as depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, adequate intake of good fats supports nerve health.

Diseases that benefit from omega-3 fatty acids

Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Type 1 diabetes, Cystic fibrosis, Childhood asthma, Adult asthma, Allergic disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Psoriasis, Multiple sclerosis, Atherosclerosis, Acute cardiovascular events, Obesity, Neurodegenerative diseases of ageing, Systemic inflammatory response in surgical intervention, trauma and critical illness, etc.

The studies are "endless": https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3257651/ 

The Secret of Liver Health: Fats, Carbohydrates, Toxins – How They Affect Detoxification

The liver, to function properly, to regulate balanced hormones, to metabolise others, and to neutralise toxins, converting them from fat-soluble to water-soluble so they can be eliminated from the body through breathing, urine, skin, needs to be fed with 3 elements.

The 9 essential amino acids

The body uses them to produce protein.

Histidine

Isoleucine

Leucine

Lysine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

*Let me say it again. No - protein is not meat. It is animal fibre… but ignorance often prevails over knowledge.

Adequate hydration 

With high-quality water, free of toxins. From a source, not from a plastic bottle, from a good filter.

Good fats.

You can find details here: https://www.thomais.gr/post/which-fats-are-beneficial-which-are-toxic-in-our-diet-myths-truths-analysis

Effects of Wrong Diet: Fat Accumulation and Increased Cholesterol from Toxins

Fat Accumulation

Therefore, when we feed on carbohydrates, because they are metabolised much faster than other foods, the liver uses them to meet the cells' energy needs, resulting in fats accumulating.

Notably, this leads to an increase in triglycerides in our tests.

https://www.ironman.com/news/fat-most-misunderstood-fuel-source 

This also leads to fatty liver (due to carbohydrate consumption).

https://news.berkeley.edu/2012/12/06/gene-converts-carbs-to-fat/ 

Cholesterol

When there are toxins in our body that the liver cannot break down and eliminate, they are released into the bloodstream. To prevent them from causing more harm, the body sends cholesterol to "cover" them. This results in an increase in cholesterol in our tests.

The Study That Disproves Cholesterol Reduction: Vegetable Oils and Increased Risk of Death

Approximately 10,000 people participated for >1 year.

Results: 14% reduction in cholesterol, but 22% increase in death per 30 mg/dL reduction. Coronary disease or heart attacks did not decrease; on the contrary, 90% higher heart attacks in the vegetable fats group.

Findings show that cholesterol is not a reliable risk indicator, and replacement with vegetable oils increases the risk of death. Linoleic acid oxidises easily, damages mitochondria, increases antioxidant needs, is linked to insulin resistance and inflammation.

Contained in oils such as corn oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil (in processed foods, fried foods, restaurants). They remain in the body for up to 3 years.

Conversely, oils with low linoleic acid and antioxidants (e.g. olive oil, raw avocado) are linked to better health and lower cardiovascular risk.

Study: Cholesterol, Mortality and the Effects of Pharmaceutical Interventions

The intervention group showed significant reduction in total cholesterol compared to the control group, but there was no benefit in mortality or atherosclerosis or heart attacks. On the contrary, a 22% increased risk of death was found with cholesterol reduction by 30 mg/dL. The systematic review of five studies confirmed that cholesterol-lowering interventions did not reduce mortality from coronary disease or overall mortality.

*Interventions = drugs/statins

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27071971/ 

Statins: Side Effects and Health Risks – What Doctors Don't Tell Us

The classic management of Western medicine regarding cholesterol reduction, beyond recommending fat reduction, is the chronic administration of statins. And from what I observe, they are not very concerned about what these cause to health!

Let's see for ourselves.

Potential Side Effects

Muscular

Pains, weakness, cramps, spasms, stiffness, tenderness, atrophy or muscle weakening (myopathy), rarely rhabdomyolysis (muscle dissolution, risk of kidney damage), difficulty moving, muscle pain or weakening, weakness in limbs, hands, feet.

Hepatic

Increased liver enzymes (ALT/AST), hepatitis or cirrhosis, dark urine, light-coloured stools, yellow eyes or skin, abdominal pains, side or belly (possibly radiating to the back), upper right abdominal pain.

Metabolic

Increased blood sugar and risk of type 2 diabetes, increased hunger, thirst or urination, breath odour like fruit, unexplained weight loss.

Neurological/Cognitive

Memory disorders, confusion, dizziness, fainting, rapid or irregular heart rate, blurred vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty chewing/swallowing/speaking, peripheral neuropathy (burning, numbness, tingling, pins and needles), loss of consciousness, headache, burning sensation, itching, numbness, pins and needles.

Gastrointestinal

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, stomach pain, bloating, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, dry mouth.

Respiratory/Otolaryngological

Cough, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat, difficulty breathing, tightness in chest, ear congestion.

Dermatological/Allergic reactions

Skin rashes, hives, itching, blisters, peeling or loosening of skin, large swellings like hives on face/eyelids/lips/tongue/throat/hands/feet/genitals, swelling of eyelids or around eyes/face/lips/tongue, red skin rashes with purple centre, irritated red eyes, ulcers or white spots in mouth/lips, unusual bleeding or bruising, anaphylaxis, pale skin.

Cardiovascular/Vascular

Tachycardia, arrhythmia, fainting, loss of consciousness, swelling, joint oedema, fluid retention, myocarditis.

Urological/Renal

Bladder pain, bloody or cloudy urine, difficult/burning/painful urination, frequent urination, back or side pain.

Other

Insomnia, headache, fatigue, reduced libido or erectile dysfunction, or cancer, fever, chills, sweating, weakness, insomnia, joint pains.

Cancer

…..!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/simvastatin-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20069006 

Summarising: Why We Avoid Statins and Choose Good Fats

Instead, of doctors and dietitians advising us to minimise (to the minimum) carbohydrates, and avoid toxins from our diet, our skin, personal care products etc. and harmful fats, they advise us to deprive ourselves of beneficial fats, e.g. good olive oil!! Which, as I analyse in my article, work extremely therapeutically for the human body!

Not to mention dietitians (of all kinds) who instead of calculating the body's needs in macro-micro nutrients create diets based on calories…!! Let's not even go there…

The result: cardiovascular, dermatological (as we said, the body eliminates toxins through the skin), dementias, psychological issues and depression, neurological and other diseases!!

At the same time, they prescribe statins, which are a major threat to health, and usually people take them long-term, if not for life!!

Dangerous Dietary Fats That Harm Health in the Long Term

There are other "trends" that are destructive to health, and these are diets like Keto, Vegan etc., which are applied by ignorant or fanatic people, without adequate information.

For example, some people choose the Ketogenic diet to help with issues they face, and end up in absolute carnivore diet, with all its harms (toxins, hormones, antibiotics, mucus in intestines, allergies, chronic inflammation, etc.).

It improves the problem they had, but they will see the consequences in a few years…

*Animal fibres (wrongly called protein) and dairy products create inflammation and mucus in the intestinal walls, from where we feed. Plus the toxins, added hormones and antibiotics that weaken our immune system.

Stay tuned, soon I will write in detail about "trendy" diets and the dangers lurking.

Guide to Healthy Eating and Health Monitoring Without Fear

First, we do not neglect to have our tests done, and monitor.

Here I have a guide to basic tests, and how to understand them.

At the same time, there is no need to panic when our cholesterol is somewhat elevated, values go up and down every few years, and now they are at very low levels, with the consequences we read about.

We ensure to follow a diet rich in:

Plant fibres

They keep us full for many hours, protect and clean the intestine, give us the essential amino acids for protein synthesis. E.g. legumes, seeds, nuts, always soaked for 24 hours.

I explain here:

Minimal Carbohydrates

so that fat does not accumulate, and good fats are utilised for energy supply with longer duration.

Good fats

as we analysed.

Adequate hydratio

with quality water, as we saw previously.

Physical Exercise

even mild, or intense walking.

We monitor our Health with tests

and check our minerals and vitamins, so we can adjust Nutritionally.

I believe I have covered the topic of cholesterol, don't forget to inform yourselves about beneficial and toxic fats in our diet.

Thank you for visiting, your trust and wonderful messages! They give me strength to continue defending our Health against the industry that profits from our illness.

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Loads of Love,

Thomais

Internationally Certified Holistic Therapist

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