An Open Letter on the Essentials of Understanding
Cholesterol, Saturated Fats & Heart Disease
by: Rick Schaff
Let me first say the information contained here is not being presented for promotional purposes: simply put, these are my personal thoughts, opinions, and conclusions based on years of studying nutrition, heath, and the workings of the human body. The materials presented below were initially written to help people close to me, many of whom are struggling with the common confusion surrounding “diagnoses” of high cholesterol, high blood pressure & heart disease. In this light, the following is being offered to all who may benefit through these intentions.
Dear Friends,
The campaign to demonize cholesterol and saturated fats, started long ago, has been so successful that a significant majority of the public, the media, and most importantly clinical nutritionists and doctors believe heart disease is caused essentially by eating animal fats and by having elevated levels of cholesterol.
Despite the plethora of solid science and anecdotal evidence that substantially contradicts these findings, most conventionally trained healthcare professionals accept the standard theories promoted by the major pharmaceutical companies, as gospel. History has shown us that if flawed facts are repeated long enough, they can become the “truth” in the minds of many. However, for the small group of curious, dedicated healthcare professionals who actually conduct critical research outside of conventional medical guidelines, it has become apparent that there are serious flaws with the currently accepted saturated fat, cholesterol, and heart disease hypotheses.
A significant part of my motivation for both my initial and also my ongoing research into the cholesterol puzzle is for my personal health because I’ve have had “high” cholesterol my whole life. The health of my parents is also of great concern because they too have been “diagnosed” with high cholesterol, as have many of my friends & relatives. It has taken me many years of research to develop a clear understanding of how the human body works and more importantly, how cholesterol and saturated fats play a critical role in our health.
I now understand how most of us, including conventionally trained physicians, have been misled by well-funded marketing campaigns led by big-pharmaceuticals and other corporate interests. Their efforts have infiltrated our medical schools and our media to such an extent that most mainstream “science” and “health” news has become a commodity, bought and paid for without true concern for our health. Their vast resources also have allowed them to infiltrate and mold both medical studies and political agendas to an extent that I see little value in most “double blind placebo” studies or “peer-reviewed” medical journals.
That said, there is hope on the horizon, as many dedicated health care professionals are becoming more aware of these problems, and new science and theories are emerging that are in direct conflict with the old, tainted ideas.
In fact, I believe we are close to a tipping point in society in which many of the current ideas will be replaced with new ideas and better information, especially when it comes our nation’s #1 killer, heart disease. Hopefully, the myth that high-cholesterol and the consumption of saturated fat leads to heart disease will soon be replaced with more responsible information. New, unbiased science has begun to break through the information barriers, illustrating without doubt that chronic inflammation within the arterial walls is clearly the true culprit responsible for this disease.
UNDERSTANDING CHOLESTEROL
The first question I asked when starting my investigation is, what is cholesterol? Well it turns out that cholesterol is a pretty damn important substance in our body and NOT an internally generated poison that is trying to kill us as medical “science” would like us to believe – this idea is nothing more than a fairytale generated by big-pharma and goes against the laws of nature, evolution and/or creationism. Let’s take a look at just 3 reasons why cholesterol is important to our health:
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1) Cholesterol is vital for making our hormones, which have a profound influence over how we feel and act. If we don’t have an adequate supply of cholesterol we suffer the consequences of hormonal irregularities that can have a ripple effect throughout the body creating a plethora of problems like a slowing metabolism and a THYROID that doesn’t work as well as it should. In fact, rising cholesterol levels can be a marker for a slowing metabolism as the thyroid needs more cholesterol to do its job properly. How many of you people out there on cholesterol-lowering medications have a sluggish thyroid and a slow metabolism?
2) Our brains actually require the bulk of our cholesterol production in order to function properly. When cholesterol production is diminished by medication many people experience MEMORY problems (symptoms of early onset Alzheimers), or DEPRESSION. For those of you experiencing memory problems, Let me ask you this; can you remember if you are on cholesterol-lowering medications?
3) Cholesterol is necessary in order to build new cell membranes, and as it turns out we now know that our cells communicate with each other through the use of their membranes (the outer most layer of a cell) – this is an important point because diseases start with a breakdown in communication. If the body does NOT have enough cholesterol to make a proper cell membrane it will use the next best raw material. However, this can be disastrous and can change the way cells operate and communicate.
To sum it up, cholesterol is important for the following reasons:
- Every single cell of your body is made from cholesterol
- Cholesterol increases cell membrane integrity
- Every steroid hormone is made from cholesterol
- Cholesterol is essential for Myelin Sheath Development
- Cholesterol is an antioxidant and free radical scavenger
- Your body's ability to synthesize Vitamin D is dependent on cholesterol
- Cholesterol is necessary for the production of bile and bile acids
- Your immune system needs cholesterol to repair damaged cells, which is why LDL levels typically go up after surgeries and invasive dental procedures. The same thing happens when your cells are damaged after consuming trans fats, refined sugars, processed foods and neurotoxic substances like mercury and fluoride . Cholesterol is a response to inflammation, not a cause of it!
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THE GREAT CHOLESTEROL MARKETING SCAM
Now getting back to cholesterol and my primary question; what is cholesterol? Hmmm, this is where it starts to get very interesting because if you ask a doctor what cholesterol is the standard answer you will receive is that cholesterol is made up of “good” cholesterol (known as HDL or high density lipoproteins) and “bad” cholesterol (known as LDL or low density lipoproteins) and when there is too much bad cholesterol in the blood stream it can stick to the walls of the artery and create a blockage, which can lead to either a stroke or a heart attack.
So what exactly is HDL and LDL? Yeah, yeah we heard it was the “good” and “bad” cholesterol, but what the hell is it really and what does it do? Well it turns out that HDL and LDL are NOT even cholesterol at all! They are actually proteins that carry cholesterol to and from places in the body it needs to go. You see cholesterol does not move so well in a watery substance like our blood, so in order for it to travel in the blood an LDL protein carrier picks it up from the liver and takes it to where it is needed, and when the body is finished using the cholesterol it sends an HDL carrier to pick it up and bring it back to the liver. Ironically the body desperately wants to save it because it’s a very complicated structure to make and the body does not waste important raw materials or energy. I guess if you believe the current medical theories this process occurs so that our bodies can try and poison us all over again – but this isn’t how nature, evolution or creationism would work, is it?
A good way to understand HDL and LDL is to think of them as ambulance drivers that escort cholesterol to and from areas in the body where it is needed. That said, it is important to note that cholesterol is just cholesterol, it is neither good nor bad (unless it oxidizes, or becomes rancid of course). However, once the pharmaceutical companies realized they could easily produce a drug to lower blood cholesterol they simply bought and paid for the “science” to “prove” their theories of the “good and bad” cholesterol scam and then bribed their way into peer-reviewed medical journals and ultimately into our medical education system where this fairy tale has been allowed to firmly exist for decades.
DOES HIGH CHOLESTEROL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE OR STROKE?
In a very remote way I believe it does. However, the increased risk is very slight for several reasons that I will explain soon. More importantly however, rising cholesterol levels represent a vital warning that there may be inflammation somewhere in the body. You see your body creates more cholesterol as a response to deal with inflammatory issues within the body. That said, it is important to understand that cholesterol is not the problem, it is merely the solution your body is using to try and heal itself. Inflammation in the arterial walls is the real danger, and if left unchecked the swelling can eventually shut off blood flow to the heart or brain, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.
HOW IS INFLAMMATION CREATED IN THE BODY?
For this discussion we are primarily concerned with inflammation that occurs within the walls of your arteries and this occurs when the walls routinely come in contact with substances in the blood that aggravate them. One of the better analogies I read was from heart surgeon, Dr. Dwight Lundell. He compared the irritation to that of lightly rubbing a brush on your skin over and over again. After several days or weeks the skin will ultimately become irritated, red, and inflamed. This is similar to the type of reaction that occurs in the walls of our arteries whenever they come in contact with the following substances and/or factors on a regular basis:
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Sugar
Consuming too much sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or carbohydrates that turn to sugar rapidly create a high content of sugar in the blood. The interesting thing about sugar is that when it comes into contact with proteins, like the tissues of your arterial walls, it attaches to them and destroys them in a chemical process called glycation. If your blood is constantly full of sugar you will unknowingly create damage to the lining of your arteries and over time this will create inflammation. Glycation stands for an acronym called AGEs (advanced glycation end products). The process of AGEs is the primary reason why people with diabetes deteriorate so rapidly.
Man-Made Chemicals
We have created over 75,000 chemicals over the last 50 years and they are in everything we buy and consume. When I wrote my first book, MISLED, I knew chemicals were bad for you. However, I suspected the main reason was that they placed an overwhelming burden on your liver to detoxify. Although this is still a critical point to consider, I realize now that the ramifications are even greater because man-made chemicals in the blood actually aggravate the lining of the arterial walls and contribute mightily to inflammation.The amount of chemicals that are around us is absolutely staggering and whenever we breathe in, rub on our skin, or consume these chemicals on a regular basis we unknowingly contribute to inflammation within our arteries.
To put it in a quick perspective, by the time we wake up and eat breakfast the typical person will expose himself to the following amount of chemicals: Tap water 5-15 chemicals, toothpaste 15-20 chemicals, mouthwash 10-15, shampoo 20-25, conditioner 15-20, face soap 10-15, body soaps 15-20, shaving cream 10-15, body lotion 15-20, deodorant 10-15, body sprays or cologne 15-20. This doesn’t even include chemicals that are off-gassing from the paint on your walls, the carpets, plastic and rubber products, electromagnetic smog, and the chemicals from cleaning solutions that fill the air in your homes.
It gets even more complicated as we consume medications, foods and beverages that are loaded with chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, transfats, sugars, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrups, preservatives, antibiotics, synhtetic growth hormone, artificial colors, artificial flavors, etc. I estimate that the typical American is exposing themselves to over 500 plus chemicals by the time they leave for work in the morning.
Think about this logically for a moment; we are putting extra-terrestrial chemicals (compounds that have never existed on our planet before) into a terrestrial body. That said, can we really expect positive ramifications from this type of behavior?
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
There is a great deal of concerning data in regard to GMO foods. The biggest concern is that the Agricultural Department is allowing foods to be altered from their natural state and then refusing to label and release this information to the unsuspecting consumer. Of course the people selling GMOs have bought and paid for the “science” behind their safety. However, if one chooses to look into the safety concerns of GMOs they will find plenty of poorly-funded science to challenge this fairytale as well (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/). In fact, it is important to note that all GMOs are banned in Europe because they were found to be concerning. My best recommendation is to avoid them at all costs, and the best way to avoid GMOs is to buy organic products when possible. The major GMO crops are as follows:
Corn & Soy
75% of all corn and soy is genetically modified. This includes high fructose corn syrup, which is added to just about every food item you buy. Recently, there has been great concern that GMO seeds have contaminated all corn crops, at least to some extent. As a result, many believe it is virtually impossible to find truly organic corn in our present market. Additionally, there is great concern over the use of these crops as the primary ingredients to feed our livestock because they create serious health problems in the animals and these problems are ultimately passed on to the consumer. Additionally, hydrogenated soybean oil and corn oil is used to fry and prepare all fast foods.
Canola, Cotton, Sugar, Aspartame and Beets
When consuming these oils and sweeteners be sure to choose organic versions (aspartame is an artificial sweetener made from genetically modified microorganisms and should be avoided). It is important to note that markets like, Whole Foods and many other "healthy" markets, currently use Canola Oil as an ingredient in many of their freshly cooked foods that are ready for immediate consumption.
Transfats
Also labeled as hydrogenated oils, these are chemically altered fats that are designed to extend the shelf life of many baked goods so the producers and sellers have less waste and more profit. The hazards of transfats are widely known and a painfully slow effort to phase them out our food supply is currently underway. However, they are still abundantly found in many products like cookies, cakes, crackers, muffins, donuts, brownies, breads, tortilla chips, etc.
Omega 6 Fatty Acids in the Diet
We all need both omega 6 fatty acids and omega 3 fatty acids in our diet. A preferred ratio of 2:1 omega 6s to omega 3s is considered ideal and healthy by most nutritionists. However, due to political incentives created by corporate interest we have adopted a program called crop subsidies in our country where farmers are basically bribed to grow more crops that contain omega 6 fatty acids like soy, corn, and wheat.
As a result of both the crop subsidies program and the government-sponsored food pyramid recommendations, which advises that every American eat between 6 and 11 servings of grains a day for “radiant” health (again this is “science’ with an agenda) grains have become an overwhelming part of the typical American diet. These actions have had a devastating effect on the delicate balance of omega 6 to omega 3 ratios in the population. As a result, many people have developed lopsided ratios by as much as 50:1 – that’s 50 times the amount of omega 6s to omega 3s! This is problematic because omega 6s contribute to inflammation and omega 3s are associated with anti-inflammatory reactions in the body.
It is important to note that animals fed the standard feed of soy and corn (about 90% of all livestock) will produce meat that is higher in omega 6s and lower in omega 3s, this includes animals and products made from conventionally raised cattle, swine, chickens & their eggs, and farm-raised fish. Cattle fed a diet of grains instead of grass are a perfect example of how these actions have unknowingly contributed to inflammation in the arterial walls of many Americans.
The bottom line is that an over-abundance of omega 6 fatty acids along with a low consumption of omega 3 fatty acids will greatly contribute to inflammation.
The Particle Size of the LDL
Last but certainly not least, I want to get back to our old friend LDL, and explain how elevated levels of cholesterol can raise your risk of heart disease in a remote way. As we learned previously, LDL is a carrier of cholesterol and its job is to bring cholesterol to areas in the body where it is needed. It turns out that the particle size of the LDL can be problematic because it can either be big and fluffy, which allows it to flow easily through our arteries, or it can be small and dense. Unfortunately when the LDL particle is small and dense it has an increased risk of getting stuck in the folds and/or gaps where nutrition flows into the arteries. If it gets stuck, like anything that doesn’t flow, it becomes rancid and oxidizes. This creates inflammation and sets in motion the process of atherosclerosis; better known as heart disease.
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CAN CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING MEDICATION HELP?
It helps if you are someone whose LDL particles are small and dense because these drugs will inhibits the body from making more of these potentially dangerous particles. In this regard, cholesterol-lowering medication can slightly decrease your risk for potential problems. Ironically however, Statin drugs (cholesterol lowering meds) have no affect on the particle size of the LDL. In fact the only thing that has been shown to have a positive effect on modulating the size of the LDL particle is a proper DIET & regular EXERCISE (shocker). At least that is what the poorly-funded science will tell you, and so will hundreds of years of anecdotal evidence.
Additionally, statin drugs have a few known side effects like headaches, nausea, weakness, liver problems, etc. The following are a few side effects that many doctors are NOT aware of:
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1) Statins prohibit the body from making Co enzyme Q10. This is a substance we make a lot of when we are younger and less as we age. By the time most of us are over 40 we aren’t making very much of it at all, and if you are on statins then it is highly likely you aren’t making any. It turns out that CoQ10 is necessary for our muscles to fire correctly and many people on statins develop a host of muscular problems that include cramping, inflammation, pain and weakness. Ironically an important muscle that is typically overlooked in this scenario is our heart; a big muscle that works non-stop. Ironically, many health care professionals are beginning to wonder if long-term use of statin drugs have actually been contributing to heart-related problems! Needless to say, if you are currently taking statins you should consider supplementing with a high-quality form of CoQ10.
2) As I briefly touched on earlier, a great concern is developing around the belief that statins are contributing to memory loss, especially in the elderly population. To learn more simply do a Google search on statins and memory loss.
* It I important to note that a new generation of statins is about to emerge on the market and according to physyicians they are greatly improved, offering less side effects and greater inflammatory properties. Of course this would be helpful for short-term use, but would still only address problems on a symptomatic level and NOT address the reasons why inflammation builds up in the arterial walls. Additionally, the idea of delivering extraterrestrial chemicals into your terrestrial body is still, and will always be, of great concern to me. In short, they are no substitute for positive life style choices, especially when you calculate the positive side effects generated from both proper nutrition and regular & exercise.
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WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE WITH AN ELEVATED RISK OF HEART DISEASE HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
It has a lot to do with the man-made chemicals we are constantly exposed to, including GMOs and transfats. In order for our body to stay healthy the body must break down each chemical and render it harmless. The detoxification pathways that the body utilizes to perform these feats eat up a great deal of magnesium. As a result, our stores of magnesium become depleted. Since we need an adequate amount of magnesium to keep our muscles relaxed our muscles tighten up and this contributes to higher blood pressure. Supplementing with magnesium can be helpful, but it will not address the root cause of the problem. The best way to bring down blood pressure is to minimize your exposure to the chemicals we have just discussed and exercise regularly.
ARE SATURATED FATS REALLY BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?
This letter is already entirely too long for me to go into elaborate details regarding the benefits of saturated fats. I will however briefly share with you the critical observations of Weston A Price in his timeless book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. After a decade of studying remote tribes in every corner of the world he made some startling observations. One of them was that animal fats were eaten on a daily basis by almost every tribe he studied and it greatly contributed to their wellbeing. It is important to note that all of these tribes had virtually no incidence of heart disease. Conversely, Price noted that civilized societies that ate less animal fats and relied more on vegetable oils were beginning to experience a rise in complications during births, abnormal growth patterns, and chronic diseases.
Price, as well as other notable doctors of that time believed the misconception that animal fats were dangerous to human health was a direct result of misleading propaganda from commercial interests in the developing vegetable oil industries and the growing industry of processed and fabricated foods. For more information please visit the Weston A. Price Foundation: http://www.westonaprice.org/
For more information and to review detailed research on many of the subjects addressed in this letter please allow me to refer you to some helpful sources:
Yours in health,
Rick Schaff
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