Recent Newsletter on Myths of Cholesterol

Greetings! With the ever increasing number of people with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, we all have to think…is what we are doing really working? Is what society eating, not eating (good fat) and living working for most? We all would mostly agree..NO! If you look around, the so called “elder diseases” are now affecting children in elementary school. So, it is time we step up and really look into what we are doing or being recommended by MD’s and nutritionists. In my opinion, what they recommend and tell you to stay away from, is what is causing this epidemic.In the last issue we covered the myths and issues with dieting. In this issue we are going to cover the many myths of cholesterol.

Cholesterol Myths

What is cholesterol? Why do we have it? Is it that dangerous? These are some of the most common questions that most Americans do not know the answers to. All they know is that their MD told them that their cholesterol is high and that they need to go onto a medication. But how many ask “what is normal, what is my HDL:LDL ratio, why may it be high, high according to what standards, what are the side affects of the medications??”Did you know according to JAMA that in the 90’s normal cholesterol was considered around 200. Today normal is considered 120! The interesting thing is that is nothing to do with the total number. It is more important to focus on the HDL to LDL ratio. Example: if we both got tested and had a total number of 300, most MD’s would say that would be high. But what is my ratio of HDL to LDL was better than yours. Who needs to focus more on their nutrition and lifestyle principles? Myths:1. Cholesterol is what causes heart disease2. Cholesterol is bad3. Having high cholesterol means you are unhealthy4. You get high cholesterol from eating bad foods5. Lowering your cholesterol is healthy6. Fat is bad for youQuick tips to think about:1. Every hormone in your body requires cholesterol as a precursor 2. It has been found that about 80-90% of all cholesterol in the body is endogenous (meaning:  it has been produced inside the body and does NOT come from the foods we eat). 3. Due to the many different climates different ethnicity’s of humans evolved under, there is a phenomenon called “biochemical individuality” trying to pin-point high cholesterol as being the same for everyone is absolutely impossible, just as trying to assign the same diet to everyone is impossible, hence the need of Metabolic Typing. 4. Cholesterol raises due to any one of a number of causes such as:     a.. Inflammation most commonly in the form of “leaky gut syndrome” where the tight gap junctions of the cells in the gut wall become lose allowing for undigested food particles called “antigens” to be allowed to pass into the blood stream triggering an immune response.      b.. Malnourishment by consumption of to many refined carbohydrates/sugars (even the obese are malnourished!).      c.. Seasonal changes due to the fact that the body will raise its cholesterol levels in order to lower the freezing point of cells in preparation for winter!      d.. Excess stress by way of any of the primary 5 forms:  PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, PSYCHIC, NUTRITIONAL  5. Paralleled to the facts above, cholesterol then plays MANY vital roles in the body such as:      a.. Precursor to sex hormones, vitamin D, and bile production     b.. Powerful antioxidant to control free radical damage     c.. Cell membrane integrity help maintain proper permeability     d.. Vital to child development in mother’s milk     e.. and more.. … So, the question ultimately becomes: WHY is the cholesterol too high? (if indeed is actually is); rather than:  What can be taken to lower the cholesterol.  If your  cholesterol is indeed too high (which again is very relative), than the problem is not the cholesterol, as the body has raised its levels in order to play some type of ESSENTIAL role(s) for your  survival.  The problem(s) is the stressor(s) that originally caused the cholesterol to rise abnormally in the first place.  Your cholesterol may be high for a very good reason(s), and this reason(s) may make it dangerous to tamper with mechanically via drugs.  The key is to rebalance the system(s) that are operating under excessively stressful conditions to allow the body to lower its cholesterol on its own. What to do:1. Eat more good quality fats (raw butter, coconut oil, avocados, extra virgin olive oil, ghee) 2. Decrease the amount of grains (which are Omega 6 FA and can cause inflammation in excess = increased cholesterol). 3. Take daily Cod Liver Oil: 4000-6000mg per day for 1-2 months.  4. Reduce the amount of stress in your life by adding in daily meditation. 5. Get some lab testing done to see where there may be hidden inflammation.

Lesson learned!

Well fokes, I broke one of my own rules. I always recommend take Norweign Naturals or Carlson’s Cod Liver or Fish Oil. I know from research that they are the highest quality organic oils there are. Well I wanted to try a new product to sell out of my office. If clients take capsules, I always tell them to prick the first one with a pin and taste the oil. If it tastes like oil, than it is fine. If it tastes bad, then it is rancid.

 So last week I decided to try this new brand prior to selling it. They were capsules and I did not follow my own instructions. All week I never put 2 and 2 together, but I had a bad stomach ache, diarrhea issues, fogginess in the head and did not have that much energy to do anything. Then on Sunday, after 1 wk of taking them, I put it together. THE PILLS WERE RANCID! The second I stopped taking them, almost all my symptoms went away.

So, what did I learn…practice what I preach no matter how much I think I know. What will you learn, to either take the oil straight or test the first pill before ingesting in order to prevent the above.

 With qi,

Josh Rubin

R.E.S.T Therapy (www.resttherapy.com)

Today I had the pleasure of receiving a sound healing. It is mostly with Reiki, a drum, but most of the time the Shaman was chanting through me. It was very relaxing and brought me to a DEEP place of stillness inside. As John McMullin says, it was like speaking the unspoken word! I am sure you all have or have tried sound healings, but my experience of this was amazing. As well, it is something to try in conjunction with your next journey!

When you come to realize the intense place of inner stillness that exists inside, life is blissful! I think we all work more, pay attention less, read more, etc in order to deflect self from reality. Reality is where it is at. That solitude that is felt, is when we are not most alone. That is the fear that is created and why most deflect it with external means. All I can say if you have a chance to do a sound healing of any sort, go for it. The chance to see and communicate with your inner self and stillness gives you a new appreciation for self and your life.

 With love and qi!

Depression and BiPolar

Questions: I have read a lot out there on depression, SSRI’s, BiPolar and lithium. I have found more of it not working, than working??

 The reasons things like this happen is because depression is just not simple depression. According to Dr. Larson in Depression Free Naturally, causes of depression are:

a. NT depletion
b. EFA deficiencies in the brain
c. Vit and mineral depletion
d. Hypothyroidism
e. Hypoglycemia
f. Brain allergy reactions and food/env sensitivities
g. Systemic buildup of fungal molds in the body
h. Elevated histamine levels in the body
i. Build up of heavy metals in the brain
j. Brain damage from ETOH and drugs

So you can see, it is not so linear. So that is why drugs, among other reasons DO NOT WORK!

There is a lot research showing the manic-depressive people are highly sensitive to Actylcholine (carries messages to the brain). MD’s use lithium to decrease Acetylcholine transmission, but the side affects are endless. A natural substance that does the same things besides nutrition and lifestyle principles is Taurine. As well, bipolar people have been shown to have low B12, folic acid, slow uptake of inositol, are anemic, and have been shown to have higher levels of vanadium in their blood (research shows 80% of manic-depressive’s have these deficiences).

Not saying that I cure anything or anyone with mental disorders. What I use is lab testing to get to the bottom of why, nutraceutical grade supplements, herbs, mental/emotional techniques to healing self, as well as establish a line of communication with clients MD’s or Psychologists.

Atrophied ACL

Hello,
I am working with someone who has been told by his doctor that a segment of
his ACL has atrophied. Has anyone ever run across this condition? How have
you worked with it? The fellow also has early stage glaucoma. He also gets
cold very easily.Could the atrophied ACL and glaucoma be related to
circulatory issues? Thanks, Liz S.

As they (whoever they is) say, if you don’t use it, you loose it! Same
principle as why most people have a weak post longitudinal ligament and
other spinal ligaments. I think it would be hard not to use the ACL, as it
is being used most of the time. But if you client sits all day, is a
workaholic, eats crap and does not drink water, well the proof is in
the pudding!

Here is an interesting point for you:

In Chinese medicine, the liver stores the blood of the body.

The liver’s main physiological functions and indicators are: (1) storing
blood; (2) creating unrestrained conditions for qi; (3) controlling the
tendons and the luster reflected in the nails; and (4) opening into the eye.

Storing Blood

The liver stores blood and regulates the volume of blood circulation
according to the needs of various tissues and organs. During rest the amount
of blood required by the body decreases and the surplus is stored in the
liver. During vigorous activity blood is released from the liver to increase
the volume of circulating blood. As Wang Bin’s Annotations on the Suwen
notes, “The liver stores blood, the heart circulates blood. When the body
moves blood circulates in the channels, when at rest it flows back to the
liver.” If the liver’s blood storage function is abnormal, there will be an
affect on normal body activities causing hemorrhagic diseases. For example,
if liver blood is deficient the following problems may appear: the symptoms
of vertigo, contracture of spasm of muscles and tendons, impairment of
flexion and extension of limbs or scanty menstruation and amenorrhea.

Controlling the Tendons and the Luster Reflected in the Nails

The tendons, fascia, and ligaments of the body all rely on the nourishment
of liver blood. The movements of limbs and joints are not only the result of
tendon flexing but are also related to the strength or weakness of liver
blood. Only if liver blood is ample, can it nourish and supplement the
tendons to continue the normal movements of the limbs. If the liver blood is
insufficient and fails to nourish the tendons, the patient might experience
symptoms such as tremors of the hands or feet, numbness of the limbs, or
even difficulty in flexing and extending the limbs. If pathogenic heat
exhausts the body fluid leading to the consumption of blood, then this will
cause convulsion,, opisthotonos and lockjaw (trismus). As the Suwen notes,
“various kinds of wind diseases causing the eyes to state upwards,
twitching, dizziness, and vertigo, belong to the liver.”

It is said that, “Nails are the remains of the tendons,” The dryness or
moisture of the nails can reflect the sufficiency or insufficiency of liver
blood. When liver blood is plentiful the tendons are supple and the nails
appear hard and moist. If liver blood is insufficient and incapable of
nourishing the tendons, then the nails may be thin, soft, brittle, and pale.
The Suwen records, “The liver communicates with the tendons. The health of
the liver is reflected in the luster of the nails.”

So what do you do from here? I would focus on NLC, getting some regular
acupuncture and herbal treatments, as well as teaching him some holding qi
gong postures. These help to strengthen the sinews of the body. I use
postures from the Universal Tao system, but align yourself with what works
for you