High Cholesterol.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is starting material for building the steroid hormones in your body including pregnenalone, DHEA, and progesterone which further can be converted into estrogen, testosterone and even the corticosteroid, cortisol.
A form of cholesterol is also converted to Vitamin D under the skin with exposure to sunlight. Cholesterol is therefore an extremely important building block for the body.

Why then is there so much focus on lowering cholesterol? I believe there should be more emphasis on preventing stress, modifying the diet and exercising which can have profound balancing effects on cholsesterol. From the disease model perspective, excess stress can cause the liver to over-produce cholesterol in the bodies attempt to create more stress hormones. Some individuals also have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol that can put them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. While cholesterol has been getting all the media attention it is perhaps more wise to focus on the ratios of good cholesterol (HDL) versus bad cholesterol (LDL) since for every 1% drop in LDL levels, there's a 2% drop in the risk of heart attack and for every 1% increase in HDL the risk of heart attack drops 3-to-4%.

Cholesterol is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. The major categories of lipoproteins are very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). VLDL and LDL are responsible for transporting fats (primarily triglycerides and cholesterol) from the liver to body cells, and elevations of either VLDL or LDL are associated with an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, the primary cause of heart attack and stroke. In contrast, HDL is responsible for returning fats to the liver, and elevations of HDL are associated with a low risk of heart attack.

Currently, experts recommend that your total blood cholesterol level should be less than 200 mg/dl from a fasting blood sample

Dietary:

• decreased animal fats
• increase fiber in diet-oatmeal has been shown to reduce cholesterol
• increase fruits and vegetables
• increase nuts and seeds-peanuts, almonds, walnuts
• switch from butter to olive oil as a general rule.
• add ground flax seed to your diet

Lifestyle:

• Exercise regularily.
• Include both aerobic and weight training.
• Reduce Stress- see disease model.

Nutritional Support:

1. Basic Protocol
2. Pantethine Plus- one three times daily

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Medical Disclaimer

• Dr. Dyler's recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
• The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
• If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
• Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
• Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
• If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.