High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a natural substance found in animal and plant tissues. It is a major component of all cell membranes and it is an important building block for many hormones (such as the estrogens, testosterone, and cortisol), and vitamin D. Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver or absorbed from food in the intestine. Higher-than-normal levels of cholesterol in the blood are associated with higher risk for developing coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. High cholesterol generally refers to an elevation of LDL or total cholesterol above a predetermined normal range. LDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it is the form of cholesterol most strongly associated with heart disease. Generally, any LDL cholesterol of greater than 130 is considered high.

The Typical conventional approach to high cholesterol starts with the assumption that this LDL cholesterol elevation directly leads to early heart disease and heart attacks. Treatment is geared toward reducing cholesterol by any means necessary and emphasizes low-fat diets and cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs. Many of these medications work by interfering with the normal production of LDL cholesterol and not surprisingly, can have many side effects including muscle pain, liver injury, kidney damage and more.

Dr. Doyle's approach begins with recognizing that high LDL cholesterol is a condition associated with a higher risk of heart disease, but also, that it is not certain that high cholesterol causes of heart disease. (Remember that the common cholesterol medications are proven to improve health in only select groups of people with high cholesterol. They have not been proven to help most people live longer or feel better).

So, we aim first to identify the underlying causes of high cholesterol in each individual. Conditions related to elevated LDL and abnormal cholesterol may include weight gain, insulin resistance, increased stress levels, hypothyroidism and many more. The next step is to reduce abnormal cholesterol levels and improve health by treating the underlying causes of the condition. When needed, natural supplements can also be used to directly reduce cholesterol levels. In the minority of cases that cholesterol medications are likely to significantly improve health, Dr Doyle recommends supplements that are likely to limit the side effects of cholesterol medications.

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