Defusing the "time-bomb" of Cholesterol

Almost every adult living in an industrialized nation develops some degree of atherosclerosis.  This is where arteries harden because of fatty streaks, leading to plaque build up and ultimately blockages in the coronary arteries.  Atherosclerosis leads to stroke, heart attacks and many other serious health problems.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women.

Can food choices affect one's cholesterol level and lead to promoting or reducing overall cholesterol levels?  Every animal cell, both human and nonhumans, contains cholesterol.  Cholesterol is important in some cell functions.  However, the liver produces all the cholesterol the body needs.  There is no need to consume any in ones diet.

Cholesterol and fats move through the body in protein packages call lipoproteins.  Low density lipoproteins (LDL's) carry cholesterol to the organs through the arteries.  The LDL's deposit their loads through the inner walls of the arteries.  The process encourages the growth of deposits, called plaques, on the artery walls which narrow the artery and obstruct the flow of blood.  If the blood flow to the heart is blocked, a heart attack has occurred.  If the flood flow to the brain is blocked, a stroke has occurred.  Since LDL's promote atherosclerosis, they are know as "bad Cholesterol." The higher the LDL level, the higher the risk of heart problems.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS EVIL LDL CHOLESTEROL?
Cholesterol in foods we eat increases the levels of LDL's in our blood.  Cholesterol is found only in animal products!  Meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, and eggs all contain cholesterol, while plant products do not.  Choosing lean cuts of meat is not enough; the cholesterol is mainly in the lean portion.  Many people are surprised to learn that chicken contains as much cholesterol as beef.  Every four-ounce serving of beef or chicken contains 100 milligrams of cholesterol.  Most shell fish are very high in cholesterol.  There is no "good cholesterol" in any food.  Cholesterol in foods raise the cholesterol level in one's blood.  The best thing to do is to keep one's fat intake very low and to avoid all animal products.

THE VEGAN DIET
As suggested above, basing one's diet on plant foods - Grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits is the best way to keep saturated fat intake low and to avoid cholesterol completely.  A vegan diet is free of all animal products and yields the lowest risk of heart disease.  One study showed that people who adopt a vegetarian diet reduce their saturated fat intake by 26 percent and achieve a significant drop in cholesterol levels in just six weeks. (Masarei JR. Vegetarian diet, lipids and cardiovascular risk. Aust NZ J. Med. 1984.)  Besides the very low levels of fat eaten in a typical vegetarian diet, vegetable protein also helps decrease risk for heart disease.  Studies have shown that replacing animal protein with plant based protein reduces blood cholesterol levels dramatically.

BOTTOM LINE TO DEFUSE THE "TIMEBOMB" OF CHOLESTEROL.
A Whole foods, Plant Based Diet is the most powerful way to reduce blood cholesterol.
A Plant Based Diet is the fastest and most healthful way to reduce overall body weight.
A low-fat, vegetarian diet coupled with exercise is the best way to lower one's cholesterol levels and can even reverse heart disease for many people.

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