Fats - True Culprits
of High Cholesterol
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk may be two of the
biggest culprits in skyrocketing rates of high cholesterol? Cholesterol
is actually being produced by our own bodies all of the time as a
natural mechanism to combat oxidation when our bodies are diseased.
Therefore, if we are not well, our cholesterol levels are likely to be
higher regardless of what we eat that contains cholesterol. Having too
low of a cholesterol level is just as bad as having too high.
Avoiding eggs and other foods that naturally contain cholesterol may
not be the best solution, nor taking cholesterol-lowering drugs with
their plethora of harmful side effects. For example, eggs are actually
extremely healthy in moderation, being that they contain nutrients
present at the beginning of life. Fatty meats are often harmful simply
because fats store toxins, and animals not raised naturally have often
been injected with antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and graze on grounds
containing pesticides and fertilizer residue.
Two of the most harmful, and most common, everyday products we are
ingesting that contribute to high cholesterol, and thus plaque in the
arteries, are homogenized milk and chemically-treated tap water.
The explanation is far more complicated than I will cover here, but
basically homogenizing milk involves the breaking down of fat particles
to such a small size that the milk looks nice and smooth with no chunks
of cream, but these smaller fat particles can permeate the intestines
and end up in your blood stream. On the other hand, fresh unhomogenized
milk from the farm, assuming the cows have not been exposed to
chemicals, with its cream floating to the top, is natural and not a
harmful form of fat. The larger fat molecules pass through the digestive
system and nutrients are properly absorbed without fat entering the
bloodstream. This cream, of course, can also be skimmed off the top of
the milk and used for other purposes.
Studies have shown that many of the chemicals present in tap water
that were added to kill bacteria, such as chlorine, often react with and
oxidize cholesterol already in the body, forming a gummy substance
(plaque) that actually sticks to, and clogs, the arteries. And there are
many more dangerous side effects of drinking chemically-treated water.
What can you do about it? If you want to lower your cholesterol,
which is not an easy task once your body is not functioning properly
regardless how much cholesterol you eliminate in your diet, first
eliminate homogenized milk and stop drinking and cooking with tap water
whenever possible. If you can't always get unhomogenized milk, such as
from a health store or organic farm, then fat-free regular organic milk
is the next best choice so you're not getting chemicals nor as much
cholesterol. If you can afford it, put a good filter in your bathtub or
shower and/or install a whole-house distillation system, as even bathing
in chemically treated water is harmful because it absorbs through your
pores, and chemicals in the steam are inhaled.
And don't think you can turn to bottled waters -- sometimes bottled
waters are no better, as they can contain runoff from groundwater
containing pesticides and fertilizers that are not removed and do not
have to be reported. If the bottle says it has been purified by both
reverse osmosis and carbon/charcoal treatments, it may be less
contaminated. The healthiest water available today for purchase is
probably distilled water, which most closely mimics the sun's natural
way of purifying water.
The best way to bind and pull cholesterol out of your body naturally
and avoid chemicals is by eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
(preferably organic and chemical-free) that haven't been processed or
"enriched" by synthetic means such as bleached white breads, white rice,
white pasta, etc. Since your body has been overoxidizing, antioxidants
may help speed recovery, and hence indirectly lower cholesterol. There
are natural and safe cholesterol-lowering supplements available at
health stores, including plant-based polycosinol, but always check to
make sure there are no supplement, herb, or drug interactions if you
are, or plan to continue, taking medications concurrently. Never stop
medications abruptly. And lastly, since much of our soil has been
depleted of minerals from chemicals, and most processed foods lack
sufficient vitamins, most people should always take a potent natural
vitamin and mineral supplement to help speed healing and to maintain
their health.
To view a version of this article containing links to free
informative resources that will help you combat high cholesterol, please
visit the original article on the NatureGem web site at
www.naturegem.com,
where you can select the article title.
Deb Bromley is a science and technology researcher and
the President of NatureGem Nontoxic Living, an
organization devoted to promoting awareness of toxins in
our food and environment that can cause disease, and
providing access to nutrition information, natural
remedies, and alternative health resources. Article
Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deb_Bromley
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