High Cholesterol- what’s the real cause and the best treatment?

I have long been convinced that the root cause of so much of the chronic disease in this country (specifically heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers) comes from our diet. Specifically, the disproportionate amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, chips, crackers, etc-also sugar)we eat compared to lean protein and healthy fats. In addition, the FDA’s current recommendations of 11 servings of whole grains (while better than refined grains) is still insanely high. These recommendations are based more on the fact that grain production is subsidzed by the US government (and therefore cheap) , and less on knowledge of what the human body needs, and is designed to eat. All grains are quick sources of sugar, compared to protein and fats (which are more slowly absorbed and lead to sustained energy). Yet our typical lifestyle has no need for quick sources of energy, so most of it gets stored as excess body fat, and overwhelms our cells ability to respond to insulin and handle all that sugar. The result is overweight and obesity, insulin resistance followed by diabetes and heart disease.  Not to mention all the excess inflammation from the excess sugars that damage cellular DNA and promote the formation of various cancers. There is ample evidence in medical literature to support this, yet very little is done in the practice of conventional medicine to address  it.  Sugar is highly inflammatory.  It directly causes damage to blood vessel walls when levels are elevated. This in turn leads to the production of excess cholesterol (most notably high triglycerides) followed by cholesterol “sticking to blood vessel walls” and “clogging them up”.  Soon after, tissues (like the heart, brain, kidneys, toes and feet) fail to get enough blood supply to keep them alive, and you end up with a heart attack, a stroke, kidney failure requiring dialysis, and the loss of limbs.  Traditionally, medicine has aimed at lowering the cholesterol (more a byproduct of the excessive inflammation) to reverse the disease. Unfortunatley, long term studies have found almost no benefit to this, and the medicines can have debilitating side effects and can even lead to serious long term health consequences.  I invite everyone to read the following article by Dr. Joseph Mercola, MD on the real story behind why your cholesterol may be high, why your doctor may prescribe cholesterol lowering medications, and how to really lower your chance of developing diabetes, damaging your heart,  having a stroke or developing cancer. To boot, the way to lower your cholesterol and overall inflammation in your body is also the MOST EFFECTIVE way to lose weight and melt away body fat!  I hope you find it both enlightening and frightening.

Dr. Amanda Dupont, MD

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/the-cholesterol-myth-that_b_676817.html