The Truth About Cholesterol
By: Dr. Skip Hellen ND, CNC (Health Doctor)  Rev. 11/15/2013

Currently, the statin drug industry generates well over $20 billion dollars annually on this drug alone. In fact, the pharmaceutical industry (big pharma) produces more annual revenues from this single class of drugs (statins) than all the USA professional sports entertainment enterprise annual revenues combined. It may come as no surprise that this represents a huge incentive to perpetuate these profits regardless of the ill health side effects and health damaging consequences. These large profits has given rise to an enormous propaganda advertising machine to protect these revenues.

The medical industry has been corrupted by big profits and has lost sight on their sworn Hippocratic oath “DO NO HARM.” Big pharma not only is focused only on maximizing profits, it effectively controls the medical industry and corrupted it in the process. There simply are no short cuts to health. There are however, effective ways to bring the body back into balance with nature (homeostasis - optimal health) Optimal health, like illness and disease, is a process and requires a specific belief system, education, discipline, healthy behavior and a strong commitment to keep the body in biochemical balance (optimal health), in harmony with nature.

Pharmaceutical prescription drugs are best utilized for very short durations and only when life is threatened. Long term use of any drug has never been in the best interest of a patient and serves only to further destroy the users health and perpetuate profits for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Unfortunately, a dramatically reduced drug utilization model is diametrically apposed to the best interests of the medical and big pharma industries future profits and enormous power base. Sadly, the powers that be, believe that power, big pharma and medical profits are vastly more important than public health. If this is difficult to comprehend, read "Death by Medicine", the most comprehensive study done on the modern allopathic medical industries.

With all the cholesterol advertising hype and propaganda designed largely to keep the public in the dark regarding this alleged health problem, cholesterol remain among the most misunderstood health subjects for the average consumer. What's worse, cholesterol lowering statin drugs are among the most over prescribed and the most dangerous medications currently on the market.

Understanding the difference between HDL and LDL
Understanding the difference between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and how they influences human health, is the key to avoiding confusion and not becoming a victim to all the advertising hype and propaganda designed to increase use, revenues and profits. Misunderstanding HDL or so-called "good" cholesterol, and LDL or so-called "bad" cholesterol, is where most of the confusion begins. LDL is referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it is solid at room temperature, and combines with other substances that can accumulate on interior arterial walls called "arterial plaque." Left unchecked, arterial plaque accumulation can narrow arterial pathways, restrict blood flow, increase blood pressure and encourage local calcium accumulation or hardening of artery walls (atherosclerosis).

Recently, it has become apparent that age, consumptive habits, lack of exercise, gender, tobacco and alcohol use, heredity, lifestyle, weight, and stress have enormous impact on natural HDL and LDL cholesterol level management in the body. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, HDL (good cholesterol) levels of 60 mg/dl or above are considered high and provide protection against future heart disease, while levels below 40 mg/dl are considered low and are associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Important cholesterol facts
- A healthy body produces precisely the amount of cholesterol required
- Animal product consumption such as red meat, dairy, poultry, and some sea foods have particularly high concentrations of cholesterol
- Cholesterol is insoluble in water and blood
- Cholesterol is present throughout the body in the cells
- Cholesterol produced in the body serves to build new cell membranes/walls
- Cholesterol is a key component in producing certain hormones
- Excessive consumption of foods rich in cholesterol can increase blood serum levels
- When constantly consuming a cholesterol rich diet, the liver is overwhelmed, the blood thickens (hypercholesterolemia), significantly raising blood pressure and increasing the chance of not only developing arterial plaque (arthrosclerosis), but increases the risk of heart attack and stroke

With cholesterol constituting an extremely important part of cardiovascular and heart health, a prudent cholesterol management program should be part of any healthy lifestyle.

Effectively managing the following factors can help reduce and preventing heart disease
1. Significant risk factors for coronary heart disease