I have received a few questions of late asking which foods will reduce your cholesterol. Today I want to discuss why reducing your cholesterol using foods is the correct approach but the wrong focus.

That you are searching for cholesterol lowering foods means that you are concerned with your cardiovascular health.

The reason that I believe it is the correct approach, is that eating correctly, along with increased exercise, must be your primary focus in restoring your cardiovascular health, rather than taking prescription drugs with their myriad side effects. The foods that you can eat that specifically lower cholesterol, also directly affect your overall health in a very positive way, and help reduce the inflammation (as measured by the C-Reactive Protein CRP) that is the real cause of most degenerative health problems we face today including cardiovascular disease. These foods include:

1. Oily fish, such as sardines, which increases the amount of omega-3 fatty acid in your body that directly influence the inflammation
2. Rolled Oats – not the precooked versions that line the supermarket shelves
3. Virgin Olive Oil – use in preference to other vegetable oils.

The reason I believe this is an incorrect focus is because multiple studies carried out over the last few years have shown that cholesterol is not the cause of cardiovascular problems no matter what the “experts” say. As many people who die from heart disease have normal cholesterol levels as have elevated cholesterol. Cholesterol is a symptom of some underlying condition, not the cause. It is this underlying condition that is also the cause of the cardiovascular disease and leads to usually inflammation and/or metabolic syndrome.
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Furthermore, cutting out foods that are high in cholesterol will mean avoiding foods that are very high in nutrition that will directly benefit your health immensely. A typical example is eggs, which contain some very important compounds that are really good for you health – such as leutin that helps protect your eyes, your heart, prevent cancer, prevent arthritis, your skin, plus other benefits too numerous to mention.

That cholesterol is made the “bad guy” is a conspiracy of the medical/pharmaceutical complex. Nine of the experts on the panel in the US that recently recommended reducing cholesterol to a minimum have connections, and make money from, the pharmaceutical companies producing the statin drugs they recommend you take.

Cholesterol is a normal and important part of the function of your body. Cholesterol is necessary for the repair and creation of cells in the body. The reason it is elevated is that it is being transported to your tissues to repair damage caused by the inflammation. That is why it is elevated. Lowering it abnormally with Statin drugs will create other problems that can actually increase the danger of heart attacks. Statin drugs depress the production by the liver of the very important vitamin CoQ10. One of the jobs of CoQ10 is to protect the heart muscle. Taking statin drugs will actually increase the risk of heart attacks. Also lowering cholesterol below normal levels will affect the brain. All, and I mean everybody, who is taking statin drugs will suffer some loss of cognitive function.

I suggest that you take the nutrition route beyond just cholesterol reducing foods and address the underlying cause. Don’t focus solely on lowering your cholesterol. Here are some things you can do that will improve your health dramatically at the same time increasing your life span:

1. Get plenty of exercise – both aerobic and resistance. At least 25 minutes per day and, at least twice a week, enough effort to make you break out in a sweat.
2. Alter your diet to reduce complex carbohydrates – refined grains such as bread, cookies, cakes, rice, etc., potatoes in all their forms, sugar in all its forms (this includes soft drinks).
3. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
4. Reduce the amount of vegetable oils in your diet and increase oils that contain Omega-3 such as fish oils. The best source is a can of sardines twice a week (pour of the oil they are packed in).
5. Do the emotional work required to reduce your stress levels.
6. Increase your vitamin D levels by getting more exposure to the sun – don’t listen to those that say sun exposure will cause cancer – sunburn causes cancer and a lack of sun on your body will cause heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
7. Reduce caffeinated drinks and alcohol consumption.

David Gore Graham

Author of Wellbeing Matters - A Personal Guide to Radiant Health and Wellbeing

Tags: C Reactive protein, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, food pyramid, inflammation, omega-3 oil, organic foods