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Another day, another myth! No wonder our blood pressure is rising with all this information-overload and it may not even be caused from cholesterol. Studies will be ongoing and conflicting reports are not uncommon. However, it does trigger the memory box. For the ones old enough cast back your mind to the fifties and sixties where breakfast consisted of bacon and eggs with the odd sausage drawn in or even a lamb chop or a small piece of steak, washed down with a coffee. Can you remember seeing many obese people or any of the severe sickness that we are having today? Remember: All this was good; diet wasn't an issue, the word stress was hardly known then. Along came the advisers and experts telling us we should change to better food for breakfast like cornflakes, rise bubbles and coco pops etc. This was the beginning of the processed food industry, the start of sickness, disease and cholesterol. Expert opinions got us to where we are today; many times wrong information, wrong treatment and addicted to drug medication. Informing ourselves, even with the entire information-overload, its good some time rehashing old ideas that have fallen by the wayside over the years. The role of cholesterol: What are they telling us now? We've been told that cholesterol comes from saturated fats; it blocks the arteries and causes heart disease. Through a mixture of varying reports and confusion we have put too much focus on saturated fats and cholesterol. This has made many believe that a diet low in fat and medication to lower cholesterol is the best treatment for heart disease. However, some cardiologists are challenging these reports; they are saying saturated fats in "unprocessed" foods such as dairy, meat, butter, and eggs are healthy and not harmful to the heart. A number of studies have shown there are no direct links between saturated fat from "unprocessed" foods and cardiovascular problems. This does not mean to go from one extreme to another. A good balanced diet is important and should consist of whole foods, variety of fats, proteins, vegetables, fruits etc. In place of carbohydrates our body needs fat for different functions. However, limit the intake of sugary foods, carbohydrates and processed foods. According to data cholesterol numbers are a pretty poor prediction of heart disease; more than half the people with high cholesterol levels have perfect normal hearts. While putting all attention on cholesterol we are missing the point what really causes heart disease. It is more likely inflammation caused from foods and drinks loaded with sugar, oxidation being another one, and better not to forget stress of which life is full of. Every day we're exposed to stress; stress can come from many things such as friction within family, friends, financial worries, work and many more. How you are able to cope with stress can have a huge impact on your health and is many times the trigger point for illness. High LDL level is not a death sentence! Having a "high" LDL level is not to say all this is bad. It depends, how much of that LDL is the dense or the small kind ("harmful one") and how much is the big fluffy kind ("not at least harmful"). Most of the time they measure the total LDL number not considering the size and type of it. Just because the number is slightly higher does not mean all of that LDL is bad cholesterol. This is a mistake often made and used as a signal to exercise the prescription pad. We've been told over the last fifty years or more the best way to lower the risk of heart disease or any cardiovascular problems is to control cholesterol. This saturated fat issue and cholesterol in heart disease could very well turn out the biggest myth in medical history. Using your own discretion and common sense in lowering the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease is simply by curbing sugary food. With a heart condition or recovering from a heart attack obeying the right diet (include a moderate amount of red wine) is almost three times as powerful in reducing mortality as taking drug medicine. Did you know that exercise is more effective for people recovering from heart attack or stroke than medication? My name is Josef Bichler. I have a passion for wellness and showing others how to live healthy lives. I have corrected my own health problems with the use of alternatives only and helping others to achieve their health objectives through lifestyle changes, detoxifying their body and through understanding the benefits of eating healthy. For more ongoing health information subscribe to my free weekly newsletter; this also gives you the opportunity for comments, suggestions and questions you may have, as well download my free e-book to help making better choices: www.healthythenaturalway.com
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