Check your thyroid function. Avoid thyroid toxins and inhibitors, including excess polyunsaturated fats (soybean, safflower, canola, flaxseed and fish oils); raw cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage; lightly steaming them destroys the thyroid inhibiting substances they contain); fluoride (check toothpaste and mouthwashes) and mercury in silver amalgam fillings. A low protein diet also promotes hypothyroidism.
Control your weight. Obesity interferes with the normal assimilation of fats, causing a tendency toward increased cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids or fats formed from fatty acids and glycerol travel in the blood along with cholesterol).
Avoid stress. It increases cholesterol, which may be nature’s way of increasing the pathways to the stress hormones such as cortisol. This may require taking a hard look at your job and/or lifestyle. Take a 30-minute walk, join yoga or exercise classes, keep a journal or indulge in a deep tissue massage.
Avoid synthetic fats, such as margarine and butter substitutes, produced from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, which cause increased cholesterol. A better choice is raw butter, organic coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.
Eat foods high in fiber. Low fiber diets promote high cholesterol. Water-soluble fiber found in fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes binds intestinal cholesterol and inhibits its re-absorption. It is far better to get your fiber from whole fruits and vegetables than supplements whenever possible.
Get sufficient food enzymes. Enzyme-deficient diets lead to increased cholesterol and triglycerides. The need for lipase, the fat-digesting enzyme, may be necessary.
Eat whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Nutrient deficiencies associated with high cholesterol include Vitamin C, the B-complex vitamins (especially B6 and B3), and certain minerals, such as chromium, zinc and magnesium. Note that taking nutritional supplements while continuing to eat a nutrient-deficient diet will not address these nutritional short-comings. A nutrient scarce diet leaves you enzyme-deficient and without enzymes (as are found in whole foods), vitamin and mineral supplements cannot be utilized by the body and are therefore wasted.
For more information, please contact Jill Redfern RN, CNHP of Women’s Health Advantage at 661-310-7373 or womenshealthadvantage@msn.com .