RE: cholesterol & cardiac risk factors

[Guest guest]

There are 3 kinds of cholesterol that are measured. The HDL cholesterol is

the " good " cholesterol, that which you want to be high. The LDL cholesterol

is the " bad " cholesterol, which you want to be low. Then the total

cholesterol is the number that people often report. Triglycerides are also

measured, these are the " backbone " of cholesterol formation in the body.

 

Another blood value that is currently recommended for monitoring is the

c-reactive peptide. This is believed to be another predictor of cardiac

risk, and can indicate those who may be " at risk " whose cholesterol levels

seem to be normal. Mine were " sky-high " during my transition to raw, but

are normal now.

 

Also it is important to take into consideration other risk factors.

Hopefully those of us on this discussion board generally do not have the

standard dietary risk factors that would contribute toward cardiac risk,

such as high intake of fatty meat and dairy and fast food. There is not

lots of research into the raw diet, and not much establishing cardiac risk

or lack thereof. I have read a research article, however, which showed that

avocadoes thin the blood, thus reducing cardiac risk, also there have been

articles published about nuts showing similar results.

 

Family history is another important consideration, and one about which we

can do nothing. Heart disease is rampant in my family, which was my

original motivation for going " veggie " in the first place.

 

Stress levels, regular physical activity, and smoking (or lack thereof) are

other risk factor considerations. Smoking causes so much damage to the

body, it's unbelievable. Our next-door neighbors smoke, and the woman is

constantly coughing, a very sick cough. I have to think back to an article

that was in the Sunday Times a few weeks ago on the back of the " Northwest

Living " section, titled, " Are you killing your lungs? " That's exactly what

people are doing when they smoke. Even if a person quits smoking, often the

damage is irreversible. The person can die years later of smoking-related

illness, COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

 

Sue

 

There are different kinds of cholesterol, I have been told. So you have to

know which kind is coming up short. Maybe ask your doctor to clarify, or

find someone more knowledgeable.