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Ayurveda on Cholesterol, Statin Drugs and Heart Health
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | April 21, 2008
Revealed in today’s article…
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Why Eating Less Fat Can Raise Your Cholesterol: If you’re thin and avoiding high-cholesterol foods, you may be playing a deadly game… |
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At the Scene of the Crime: Why cholesterol is falsely accused of causing heart attacks when other more obvious suspects are at fault… |
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The Cholesterol Business: How statin drugs can increase your risk of heart attack by blocking an important enzyme in your liver… |
Often, when I recommend skinny people eat fatty foods (an outrageous concept, I know…), many people become alarmed. “Won’t I get high cholesterol from eating so much ghee, milk and cream?”
Okay, first thing, to all our thin-vata readers…
You need not worry about getting high cholesterol from eating fat. Instead, if you don’t eat enough, your body’s going to start consuming what little fat you have. That process causes the cholesterol in your own fat tissue to be squeezed out into the bloodstream. This is why thin people often have high cholesterol levels — especially when they are on a non-fat diet.
And, yes, that will prove unhealthy. NOT because of the higher cholesterol levels, but because your body is under so much stress from devouring its own tissue. With your high metabolic rate, it’s like sending your body into starvation mode. Starvation is a very stressful experience.
The Cholesterol Myth
Otherwise, there are a lot of myths and unproven data regarding the risks of high cholesterol. Ayurveda doesn’t concern itself with how much cholesterol is fluctuating in your blood stream on any given day. And all this nonsense about good and bad cholesterol is just as silly. It’s all good.
Now, before I go on, I do want to say that cholesterol may be “at the scene of the crime.” Often, unhealthy conditions like a high stressed lifestyle, smoking, lack of exercise and weight gain will cause cholesterol to rise. In such cases high cholesterol may be a warning sign that something else is not right in the body, but in and of itself it is innocent.
Big Business: Selling Cholesterol-Blocking Drugs
In the Western World we treat cholesterol like it is a deadly poison. That’s great for selling statin drugs. Over 12 million Americans are on statin prescriptions and some “experts” recommend another 23 million Americans could use them too. That’s more people than the entire population of Canada. They are even giving statin drugs to kids.
No wonder… just compare what was considered high cholesterol 30 years ago, to what is considered high cholesterol today, you’ll see that the bar has been lowered considerably. The lower your cholesterol level supposedly should be the more drugs big-pharma can be sell.
The truth is that cholesterol is a vital substance for keeping us alive and alert. It’s a natural by-product of fat production. Cholesterol allows our cells to remain water-proof and independent of the other cells surrounding them. This is essential for nerve cells. That’s why there is more cholesterol concentrated in your brain than in any other part of the body.
Weight Issues and Cholesterol
In a review of 70 studies Dr. Anne Dattilo and Dr. P.M. Kris-Etherton (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1992) observed that when one reduces their weight, cholesterol goes down 10%. And their heart attack risk drops. So many assume that cholesterol was putting them at risk of a heart attack, when in fact it was all that extra body weight.
Think of it this way. If you have more body mass — mainly fat — your body needs to be producing more cholesterol. More fat, more cholesterol. It’s natural.
The cholesterol was innocent. The real issue is the extra weight. Every extra pound of flesh means your heart must work that much harder, pumping blood. The more strain on your heart, the more chance it’ll go on strike.
Diabetics and Cholesterol
Another reason extra weight causes heart attacks is because it causes type 2 diabetic insulin resistance. This is usually followed by damage to the blood vessels themselves. Again, cholesterol was present, but it wasn’t the cause.
We’ve all heard of people with low cholesterol levels who’ve had heart attacks. In fact, statin drugs are well known for preventing your liver from producing the CoQ10 enzyme, which is vital for the strong pumping action of the heart. In Canada, all statin drugs come with a warning about this. In the United States, they don’t.
Nonetheless, as the BBC reported, “People with diabetes should receive cholesterol-busting drugs regardless of whether they have signs of heart disease, UK researchers say.” So even if they don’t have high cholesterol, you should take these high-risk drugs anyway.
Strong Heart Versus a Cholesterol-Free Body
Again, with exercise, your “good” cholesterol increases, and your “bad” cholesterol goes down, and, of course, your risk of heart attack decreases. But the reason your risk of coronary problems goes down is simply because exercise makes your heart stronger. It’s that simple. It’s not because your cholesterol levels went up or down a little.
Again, smoking can raise cholesterol level. But let’s not blame the cholesterol, let’s blame the cigarettes for that one. Tobacco is a major strain on your blood vessels and heart. I don’t need to argue that point.
There are many reasons why you need not fear cholesterol. Of course, if you are overweight (suffering a kapha imbalance), many foods that are high in cholesterol are not good for you in large quantities. Not because of their high cholesterol levels, but because of their high calorie levels. In order to lose weight, you can’t be eating ice cream every day. It just doesn’t work that way.
But don’t blame the cholesterol.
Three Reasons for High Cholesterol
And Some Ayurvedic Herbs to Reverse the Situation
It’s more so about fat. Cholesterol is just one type of fat. There are really three types of fats: phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol in your bloodstream it’s either because you are metabolizing fat too slow (a kapha disorder), your fat is becoming toxic (a vata disorder) or you are metabolizing fat too fast (a pitta disorder).
If you suffer from a kapha-obesity problem, then you should consider taking Triphala Guggulu.
Pitta and vatas can regulate their metabolism of fat by taking guduchi tablets, haritaki tablets or amalaki tablets. The dose will depend on the individual person. Start at one to two tabs a day and see how you feel. If you’re a pitta you know you are taking enough when the heat in your feet and hands go down.
The Sanskrit Mantra for Energizing
The Metabolism of Your Fatty Tissue
Fat is called Meda in Sanskrit, pronounced may-dah. Use the mantra Om Meda Deva Toop. Deva sounds like day-vah, and toops, rhythms with oops. Repeat this 108 times each day. Preferably when doing a self-massage with oil or a dry brush, or in the shower.
P.S. If you know anybody who is putting themselves at risk of serious health challenges because they are avoiding cholesterol rich food, please use the Share This button below to send them a link to this page.
P.P.S. Remember, we have only SEVEN days to go until the release of the Effortless Ayurvedic Beauty Program. If you haven’t joined our Discover Your Ayurvedic Beauty-Type event, you can click here to sign up for a free multi-media course leading up the big day.
P.P.S. What are your thoughts about cholesterol, statin drugs and all the hoopla surrounding this natural substance vital for your body’s health? Leave a comment below. Also let me know if you try the herbs and the mantra.
Topics: Ayurveda and Modern Medicine |
8 Responses to “Ayurveda on Cholesterol, Statin Drugs and Heart Health”
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April 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Interesting information - I’ll have to consider it in light of my low-fat / low-cholesterol diet that I adopted at the suggestion of my physician a few years ago (”Eat less fat or I’ll make you take drugs,” basically).
Although I don’t avoid fat, I do generally minimize animal-based fats and instead choose to get most of my fat from low-Mercury fish, peanut butter, and cooking with olive oil.
Since doing so, my “bad” cholesterol levels have gone down and my “good” cholesterol levels have risen. Not sure what it’s worth, but when I applied for Life Insurance I got a clean bill of health for the best rates.
Should I be drinking 1%, 2% or raw milk instead of the non-fat?
April 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Dear Dr Helen
While on the subject of Diet
we in South India use a lot of fenugreek, amla [amalika]since this fruit is indigenous to Chennai and Tamil Nadu…the properties of it are legion…
Heat expulsion is primary from the body for me, therefore being a rice based diet user,I have taken the churna Triphula and the two other churnas [i forget the names,,]which Ma used to keep in the house..I have Triphula even now with me which I take on call…
drink plenty of water. Avoid milk and milk products. Take Curds or what we call Dahi in Hindi..this has yeast and taken with water in the form of Lassi or buttermilk has proven effect of lowering heat in the body and expelling fats and toxic waste…Our food is cooked with Asafoetida mustard seeds, and condiments all greens which are powdered and mixed with the recipe..everyday from childhood.
It is now that I have steered away since the Russian culture does not permit a regular three course meal on the same pattern.
I am returning to India shortly and will rectify this…
I have done this mantra now a 108 times
and feel the benefits as I write
Will proceed to have my 4 glasses of water each glass with 160 ml and sipping water frequently through the day..to keep the lubrication and the release of the enzymes for proper functioning of the body…
I have the intake of water daily …a treatment and method proven to minimize the occurence of many diseases which thwart human race today…water works splendidly..especially with diabetes, heart and cardiac problems and rheumatic arthritis based diseases all of which owe their origin to an imbalance or malfunctioning of the lower intestines the ileum and jejium [hope these are right Dr Helen]
I so want to be with you and work with you at the clinic as a therapist..I am with Pranic Healing , Acupressure foot reflexology and the use of a diet regimen with a prescription of Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Bach Flower Remedies and Biochemic Tissue Remedies..to correct imbalances…
The latter medicines are excellent for correction and rectification. I have clinical trials and case histories with them. In Russia I found Cedar nuts and the oil therefrom to have Sanjivini..have had cures for Herpes Zoster Shingles in a lady for 47 years..She does not suffer from it anymore after the treatment…
more later Helen dear…I want to be with the downtrodden and the poor which is the reason for my relocating to India….where I rightfully belong…
yours with health consciousness beauty and wellbeing
Namaste
April 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I used to take ghee when I was in India. Here in CA, my doctor told me strictly,”NO GHEE”at all.She prescribed cholesterol medicine to me.When I asked about the side effect of the medicine on my liver,she said,oh we will monitor your liver in every three months.She said, you know the liver does not get effected so soon,it takes some time before it gets damaged.I never took that medicine,but she scared me so much of ghee that I stopped taking ghee.Now after reading your article I think I should start taking ghee again.
Thanks for information about cholestrol.
Promila
April 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Thanks for explaining how it all works. That makes more sense. I have two friends that are skinny and have high cholesterol, they both have poor diets that are very high in sugar and processed foods.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
My husband and I went on a “new way of eating” almost a year ago now. We cut out the bad fats, most white flour, and most of our white sugar. We also cut out artificial additives and preservatives. Strangely enough shortly after he had a physical and his blood pressure is high on top. Not bad high but it is slightly so but, his bottom is normal and almost to the point of low, his heart rate is great though. He hasn’t had his cholesterol checked so I’m unsure of it. My BP though is always in the normal range. Any pointers on this problem for him?
May 7th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Absolutely right on, Dr. Helen. My good friend is a personal trainer/aerobics instructor with virtually no body fat. Several years ago, she was on the “non-fat” kick–non-fat milk/yogurt/cheese, no high-fat meats, etc. Her “bad” cholesterol levels were red-flagged as astronomically high and she developed early stages of deep vein thrombosis at a relatively young age. By introducing healthy fats back into her diet, her cholesterol levels started to normalize without drugs! On the other side of the scale, I am overweight, and my cholesterol levels have always been low to even below normal. When I started to do the non-fat thing years ago, my hormonal levels went wacky, and I even stopped having periods for 9 months. Ghee and balanced fats are are so important, don’t let the “traditionalists” scare you away from them!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Hi Everybody
Thank-you for your comments. I hope you all tune into the Free teleseminar series that you can call in to for questions/answers and please tell your friends. Together we can inspire each other and help ourselves and others find and enjoy true health. Please look for my year long course info in the coming weeks. Take Care,
Talk to you soon.
Dr.Helen Thomas
October 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I got a physical and blood tests recently. My doctor got the results and told me my cholesterol level was “slightly elevated”. She did not give me a specific number, but this worried me. I am 125 lb of muscle and 5′5″. I exercise everyday between 2-3 hours. I also eat healthy and allow myself fries and chocolate, about 4-5 times a week (but not huge servings of course!) Do I have anything to worry about? Please email back: allthat7644@yahoo.com