What Causes Heart Disease? Part 3

Fats And Fast Oxidizers 

Fast oxidizers often develop problems with cholesterol. There are several reasons for this. One cause of elevated cholesterol or high LDL levels in fast oxidizers is a diet high in sugars and carbohydrates. The problem occurs because carbohydrates further unbalance their fast oxidation rate. This places more stress on the body, which in turn can increase the cholesterol level. 

One might think fast oxidizers would have low cholesterol because they burn their fats and other nutrients faster. In theory, this is true. However, many people with a fast oxidizer pattern on their hair analysis are in fact slow oxidizers under stress. The stress is of a type that causes a temporary speed-up of their oxidation rate. We know this is true because on a retest the oxidation rate often slows. Stress of any kind can elevate the cholesterol level as the body seeks to produce more raw material to make stress hormones. 

Fast oxidizers often require some fats or oils in their diet. These often do not further elevate the cholesterol level. Fast oxidizers may become irritable, hungry and nervous if they go on a very low-fat diet. 

If your hair analysis indicates fast oxidation and you wish to restrict your fats, use high-quality vegetable oils which contain no cholesterol. These include avocado, palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil and health store oils like flaxseed and hempseed. Although palm and coconut oils contain saturated fasts, they contain no cholesterol. It is best to avoid processed vegetable oils, like corn, soy, sunflower, safflower, and peanut oils sold in the supermarket. These have had all their vitamin E removed, and can cause more problems. 

Some health authorities recommend restricting all fats and oils when the cholesterol is elevated. However, fast oxidizers often note a reduction in cholesterol when some fats and oils are added to the diet, substituting for high carbohydrates in the diet. 

Fast oxidizers are often deficient in copper, zinc and magnesium. Any of these deficiencies can contribute to cardiovascular disease. Fast oxidizers may also develop excessive constriction of the coronary arteries due to excessive adrenal activity, and low calcium and magnesium levels. This can precipitate sudden and massive heart attacks. 

Slow Oxidation 

Slow oxidizers have more difficulty converting cholesterol into adrenal and sex hormones. The body may compensate by raising cholesterol to help produce more stress hormones. This is one possible cause of elevated cholesterol levels. The solution is to improve glandular activity. Slow oxidizers do not feel as well on fats. Therefore, they do best restricting fats and oils of all types. Slow oxidizers may be under stress for other reasons, which can elevate their cholesterol level. They may also have zinc deficiency and/or high levels of toxic metals such as cadmium, which can lead to arterial disease. 

Low Sodium/Potassium Ratio 

A hair analysis pattern often associated with cardiovascular disease and elevated cholesterol is a ratio of sodium to potassium less than 2.5:1. This is a chronic stress pattern, associated with excessive tissue breakdown, fatigue, diabetes, and heavy metal toxicity, all of which may contribute to cardiovascular disease. 

Other Hair Analysis Patterns 

Other mineral patterns associated with heart disease include low copper, low magnesium, low zinc, elevated cadmium.  

Margarine And Other Plastic Foods

Many people think they are doing themselves a favor by eating margarine. They are not. All margarine is made by heating vegetable oil and bubbling hydrogen through the mixture to produce an artificially saturated fat. (The advertising about polyunsaturated oil used in margarine is misleading. The oil is saturated by the time they finish with it.) The problems with margarine are:

   

• Nutrients in the oil such as vitamin E are destroyed when the product is heated. (Vitamin E deficiency from overeating on refined vegetable oils increases the risk of heart disease).
•  Hydrogenation produces trans-fatty acids. These are non-naturally occurring fatty acids that contribute to inflammation, one of the causes of heart disease. (Some margarines today claim to have the trans-fatty acids removed).
• Nickel is added as a catalyst in making margarine. Nickel is a highly toxic metal - fine for making coins, but not for eating.
•  Artificial color and flavor must be added to margarine to make it palatable. These chemicals have their own toxic effects.
• A recent study showed that margarine elevated the undesirable LDL cholesterol.

The problems with margarine apply equally to commercial peanut butters, vegetable shortening such as Crisco, fake whip cream products such as Cool-Whip, and many fried foods, salad dressings and crackers made with hydrogenated oils. These artificially saturated fats are worse for the body than naturally-occurring fats. 

Reducing Elevated Cholesterol And Triglycerides 

Reducing cholesterol and increasing the HDL/LDL ratio can usually be accomplished with nutritional methods. Here are some guidelines: 

• While some fat restriction may be helpful, other dietary factors are often much more important. A properly performed and interpreted hair analysis will provide much information about diet as well as mineral deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity and supplement recommendations to correct stress patterns.
• Food products containing refined white flour and white sugar - in all its forms - should be totally eliminated from the diet.
• Extra nutrients may be helpful including vitamin C, niacin, chromium, ginger, lecithin, omega-3 oils and extra fiber.
• Conditions such as dental infections and diabetes need to be addressed. 
• Lifestyle considerations are important, including exercise, weight control, adequate rest and sleep, and smoking cessation.

Such a holistic approach is endorsed by Jonathan Wright, MD, a leading holistic physician and former medical columnist for Prevention Magazine. He writes: 

"Only a few patients of the hundreds I've treated for high cholesterol have had to severely limit dietary intake (of fat). Usually, it is a matter of correcting the metabolism rather than the diet".(13)

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs 

Several classes of drugs are used to lower cholesterol. Unfortunately, many have significant side effects. For example, in one study, patients placed on gemfibrozil did have reduced cardiac events than a placebo group. However, the overall death rate was almost identical. Those taking the drug had a higher incidence of violence, accidents and intercranial hemorrhages.(14) Note that studies show that a low cholesterol level, below 130, is not beneficial either.

New recommendations suggest the use of medication whenever cholesterol is over 200 mg.(15) This ignores the research that total cholesterol is not nearly as important as LDL and its ratio to the total cholesterol.

Drugs do not address the biochemical causes for high cholesterol in most cases. This means that pathology in the body may continue to progress, despite the use of these drugs. Drugs ought be used as a last resort, only after natural methods have been tried.

Natural approaches to cholesterol and heart disease have no side effects, except perhaps improved general health. Also, they address deeper causes to create a more permanent correction. Before stopping any medication, we recommend consulting a physician.

Conclusion 

In summary, high cholesterol can often be a symptom of stress or imbalanced chemistry, but not necessarily the cause. If you are healthy and your cholesterol level is within normal limits, don't be a fat hater and abandon all eggs, butter and meats. Do skip refined foods such as white flour, sugar, margarine and other hydrogenated oil products. Fats and oils are not all the same, by any means. Eating healthful fats and oils often pose no problem, whereas the refined oils can cause significant heart problems.

Some people need to restrict fats, including slow oxidizers and at times those with elevated cholesterol. A mineral analysis will provide more information in this area. By combining a scientific nutrition program with healthful lifestyle and appropriate diet most people can reduce their cholesterol and their risk of heart disease 

without drugs.

References: 

13. Wright, J., M.D., Dr. Wright’s Book of Nutritional Therapy, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pa. 1979.

14. Frick, M.H. et al, Helsinki Heart Study. Primary Prevention Trial with Gemfibrozil in Middle-aged Men with Dylipidemia, New England Journal of Medicine, 317 (1987), pp. 1237-45. 

15. Journal American Medicine Assn., May 16, 2001;285:2486-2497.