Cholesterol IS Longevity II -Roger Mason

Some people (like the ones at the Life Extinction) are now making inane statements like, "cholesterol levels don't matter", or even, "low cholesterol levels are dangerous". If one wants to gorge on rich saturated animal fats, they certainly have a right to clog their arteries and fall over prematurely of heart and artery disease. Why rationalize their actions? Why make excuses for this kind of diet?  
 
The largest, most meticulous, and thorough human studies done on heart and artery disease (CHD) always come to the same clear conclusions- total cholesterol (TC) is critical, LDL/HDL ratios are critical, and triglyceride levels are critical. It is animal fats that do the damage, plain and simple. In America we eat a 42% fat calorie diet, and most of those fats are saturated animal fats.  
 
The lower your total cholesterol levels are the longer you will live and the less heart and artery disease you suffer from. The same applies to your triglyceride levels. Ideally you want a total cholesterol level of 150- not 200, but 150. Your triglycerides should under 100. This is what you should have. Any TC level over 200 is frightening. The average American adult has a level of almost 250. The average Asian farmer has a level of about 150. The Japanese city dwellers are no longer a good example, as they are busy imitating Westerners and gulping down burgers, dairy foods, French pastries, and ice cream.  
 
Please read my  Lower Cholesterol Without Drugs. Heart and artery disease is an epidemic in America and THE biggest killer of all. All the industrialized European countries have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels which lead to extreme rates of heart and artery disease and early death.  
 
Specifically what exactly is causing us to have high blood lipids and fall over from strokes, arteriosclerosis (clogged arteries), and heart attacks? Well, a lot of it has to do with stress, overloading on coffee/alcohol/nicotine, never exercising, being overweight, and overeating. Mainly it has to do with what we eat- a 42% fat calorie diet based on animal fats. Butter, cheese, beef, pork, poultry, eggs, hydrogenated oils, and fats in extreme excess. A typical breakfast for many people would be eggs, bacon or sausage, buttered toast, and coffee. A typical lunch might be a cheeseburger, french fries, and cola. A typical dinner could be a huge slab of meat, potatoes with butter, and a heavily sugared dessert. What can you expect from a diet like this?  
 
If you would like to change the way you eat, you don't have to "go on a diet". You do have to make better food choices. Please read my  Zen Macrobiotics for Americans to learn how you can eat all you want, stay slim, and keep low blood fats, all by simply making better food choices. You can't do this by willpower, as willpower is an illusion. You can do it by reading good books on healthful delicious eating. Dean Ornish, Terri Shintani, Susan Powter, Nathan Pritikin, Gary Null, Michio Kushi, and Neal Barnard all write good books on how to enjoy good food without a lot of fat. Go to the library  and get one of their books, and start making small changes every week in the way you eat. Brown rice tastes better than white rice or potatoes. Whole wheat pasta tastes better than white pasta. Whole grain bread tastes better than Wonder Bread®. Fresh lightly stir fried vegetables taste better than canned or boiled vegetables. Fresh fruits have a flavor sugared desserts can't match. Seafood is a delight instead of red meat. Vegetable oils will replace butter in most applications. You get the idea.  
 
In another article, Cholesterol Is Longevity I, we covered five "cornerstone" supplements that will lower your cholesterol and triglycerides without diet or exercise. With diet and exercise you'll get amazing results in just 30 days. Diet lowers cholesterol, but proven supplements and natural hormones (cholesterol is, in fact, a hormone) have dramatic effects when you eat well.