Archive for cholesterol

I recently returned from the First Line Therapy certification workshop in Denver, Co. What an intense and wonderful experience! The training provided by the Metagenics team was impressive. We received training from Lyra Heller, Chris Katke, Dr. Kenneth Browning,DO, Dr. Kristi Hughes,ND, and Michael Alosso.

Here are some of the things I learned:

The National Institute of Health Guidelines recommend that prior to the start of a cholesterol reducing drug therapy program, patients be provided with 12 weeks of Therapeutic Lifestyle Change education by the physician, a health coach, a nutritionist, or other lifestyle educator. Unfortunately, this does NOT appear to be the way most physicians follow the guidelines. As I wrote in Why it’s Important to Question Your Doctor, this was certainly NOT how my husband’s endocrinologist handled his case.
I worked side by side with doctors on specific case studies. This gave me, as a Health Coach and a Lifestyle Educator, experience with how a doctor approaches a patient in regards to their nutritional needs. I found out that most doctors only have one course on nutrition while in medical school. ONLY ONE COURSE! How are they expected to guide us in our goal of achieving great health? It’s no wonder that most will prescribe medication as opposed to prescribing a therapeutic lifestyle change.
I learned the importance of body composition as opposed to weight-loss. Many times I cringe when I see weight loss challenges in corporations, on TV, etc… I have always been concerned with quick weight loss schemes. I, too, have had a life filled with weight challenges. When the person gets off the scale, do they know how much fat they lost? Or how much muscle they lost? Or how much of the weight loss was water?
I receive training on an amazing process that focuses on common sense, balance, nutrition, & body composition which is backed up by clinical research and scientific data.

Most of all, I received an incredible confirmation that the work I do is IMPORTANT and NECESSARY, if we, as a Nation, are to get back on track with our health.

My next step is to pass the First Line Therapy Certification exam with flying colors. Once I have done so, I plan to work in partnership with my client’s physicians, to provide health coaching as a Certified Lifestyle Educator. I focus on NOURISHMENT of body, mind & spirit.

I am so EXCITED about my work!!!! I am a Health Coach and a Lifestyle Educator. I am helping to change the world one client at a time!!!

Cholesterol – what is “bad”? what is “good”?

January 28, 2011

Cholesterol – what is “bad”? what is “good”?

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fatty substance that resembles wax. It is made by the liver and found in every cell in the body.

Do we need cholesterol? Cholesterol is important. Without cholesterol, our bodies would not be able to function. For example, cholesterol is needed by the body’s cells to maintain a healthy wall structure; it produces bile, which is crucial in the digestion process; it produces hormones, which guide and control organ function; and it produces Vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones and a strong immune system.

What is the total cholesterol count? The total cholesterol count is the sum of LDL, HDL, TriGlycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol in your blood:

LDL & HDL – Since cholesterol is not dissolved in the blood, it is carried to the various cells by lipo-proteins. There are two kinds of lipo-proteins: low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL). The LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol and the HDL cholesterol is the “good”cholesterol. If there is too much LDL in the blood, the lipids, along with other substances in the blood, can slowly build up along the inner surface of the arteries leading to the heart and brain.
Triglycerides – Triglycerides are fats made by the body. High levels of Triglycerides are usually found in people who are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes, live a sedentary life, smoke, drink or eat a diet that is high in refined carbohydrates. According to the American Heart Association, “Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body.”
Lp(a) cholesterol – Lp(a) is short for Lipo-protein (a), which is a low-density lipo-protein that is usually an inherited factor but may be found in people with kidney disease.

What are the target levels for HDL cholesterol?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the MINIMUM target for HDL cholesterol is 60mg/dl (milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood).

What increases HDL levels?

increased physical activity
weight loss
healthy fats, whole grains, nuts
Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish, fish oil supplements, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil)

References:

www.amearicanheart.org

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lowercholesterol/LC_whatis.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hdl-cholesterol/CL00030

Why it’s important to question your doctor

January 25, 2011

Why it’s important to question your doctor

Over the past several years, my husband has been under the care of an endocrinologist for the treatment of diabetes. My husband’s overall cholesterol level is good, but his LDL/HDL ratio is not, so at almost every visit, the Dr. has tried to sway him to utilize a statin medication.

What is a statin?
Statins are usually used to lower cholesterol.They work by blocking the body’s ability to produce cholesterol and by helping your body reabsorb plaque that has built up on the artery walls, hopefully preventing additional blockage in the artery and thus preventing heart attacks. However, the use of statins does not come without side effects, which may include depression, muscle pain and weakness, neuropathy, heart failure, dizziness, cognitive impairment, cancer, pancreatitis and liver damage). According to the National Health Alliance, “a recent study shows that the statin drug simvastatin, which the government is advocating we take to lower cholesterol levels, actually weakens our immune system and makes it difficult to fight off bacterial infections.” and that high cholesterol actually protects us against infection!

Now, getting back to my story:

At our first visit, we questioned the Dr. at length about the source of the clinical studies on which he based his recommendation, we felt that the potential risks involved by far outweighed the KNOWN benefits of the drug for a man his age. At almost every visit, my husband listened to the recommendation for a statin drug, but walked away without taking the Rx. A few months ago, my husband was seen by a Nurse Practitioner (NP) instead of by the Doctor. The NP was very patient in answering all of our questions. We asked her about the use of Red Yeast Rice or Niacin in lieu of a statin. She said that she has seen positive results from both and suggested that he try the Red Yeast Rice first and if that did not help, that he try the Niacin.

Last month, the Dr. was still recommending the use of a statin medication. We asked him if it would not be wise for my husband to try Niacin instead, as we had previously discussed with the NP, and he looked at the latest lab results before answering. I must say that I was quite surprised at his response:

He said that he usually prescribes statins to his diabetic patients because it is believed that the statins reduce the risk of coronary disease. However, in my husband’s case, the statins wouldn’t work. In fact, Niacin would be a better option.

He further explained that the reason he recommends niacin instead of a statin is because, in his case the bad cholesterol is fine but the good cholesterol is low. So why did he not recommend niacin earlier?

What if we had never asked?

By the way, when someone begins to take a statin, he/she will probably take the medication for LIFE. Imagine the economic implications associated with this – for both the patient and the pharmaceutical companies. More about this later…

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statins/CL00010
http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-diseases/cardiovascular-disease/581-dangers-of-statin-drugs.html
http://www.anh-usa.org/statin-drugs-open-us-up-to-foodborne-illnesses/

*Note – My husband has graciously given me permission to write about him on this very important topic.