Cholestrol and your thyroid

Those who know me will know that I have a low functioning thyroid I found this article on the web and found it helpful and informative. Veronica www.yourday2day.com

Cholesterol And Your Thyroid By Hal Ewing, B.Sc. in Nutrition Abstract The thyroid gland is one of the chief regulators of metabolism in the human body. This gland is very sensitive to chemicals, which are toxic agents. In 1940, in the United States about one million pounds of new synthetic chemicals were produced. The figure rose to 50 million pounds by 1950, and 500 billion pounds by 1980, including a wide range of toxic, carcinogenic, neurotoxic and other chemicals. Most of these chemicals have never been tested for toxic, carcinogenic or environmental effects. Today invisible chemicals in everything are overwhelming our bodies. When chemicals damage the thyroid gland, it does not correctly release or produce enough of the hormones that regulate a person’s body metabolism. A healthy liver protects the thyroid gland by eliminating chemicals that enter a person’s body. When the liver is overloaded with too many toxins, the thyroid is affected as well. Broda O. Barnes, M. D., Ph. D. a pioneer in thyroid research and author of over 100 research articles on this gland was among one of the first to recognize the link between the thyroid and liver. Dr. Barnes discovered that many of his patients who suffered from an under active thyroid also had a malfunctioning liver. This and other indicators suggested to Dr. Barnes that liver and thyroid functions are closely related. Most Americans have damaged livers. A person can have an extensively damaged liver and not know it. Dr. Jack Tips, N. D., Ph. D., says, “Unfortunately, only about one in 1000,000 Americans have a truly healthy liver.” The cholesterol scare all began in 1913 with the Russian physiologist N. Anitschkov, who drew an erroneous conclusion from one of the most flawed experiments ever designed by a scientist. To gain information of use to human beings, the experimenter usually selects a member of the animal kingdom whose physiological processes closely resemble those of human beings. Anitschkov’s history-changing work revolved around rabbits fed huge doses of cholesterol. Rabbits are vegetarians. No self-respecting rabbit would ever eat cholesterol-containing foods. Their livers are not equipped to handle them chemically. As a result of this unnatural diet, the cholesterol content of their blood skyrocketed by several hundred percent and, in the end, these high concentrations of cholesterol proved toxic to them. This severe biochemical stress caused some atherosclerosis and the appearance of cholesterol in arterial lesions. To Anitschkov’s credit, he realized that his research results did not necessarily apply to human beings, and he never suggested a low-cholesterol diet to control atherosclerosis. Another biochemist, I.B. Friedland, a student of Anitschkov’s, did much research on cholesterol and fats and in 1933 published a comprehensive report, representing five years of study. He made a significant discovery. When he fed rabbits large amounts of cholesterol as Anitschkov had done, he was able to prevent the development of high levels of blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis by administering thyroid hormone to them. He concluded that thyroid hormone controls blood fat and cholesterol levels and recommended thyroid therapy in human beings with elevated fats in the blood serum. 1 Reject or Embrace The Cholesterol Theory Many decades later, in 1964, an explanation of the rabbit findings emerged from Anitschkov’s laboratory through one of his protégés, L. V. Malysheva, who, in a published paper, reported that huge doses of cholesterol suppressed rabbit thyroid function as thoroughly as surgical removal of the thyroid gland. 2 However, subnormal thyroid function comes about, the result is the same: the development of atherosclerosis. Malysheva explained that deteriorated arteries in the rabbits were due to low thyroid function, not to cholesterol itself. Researchers in Anitschkov’s lab, Malysheva included, rejected the cholesterol theory, and American physicians embraced it. There are things one can do to protect your self from this life threatening cholesterol. In addition, GNLD makes a product called Carotenoid Complex that is patented. The USDA proved that it prevents the fats in the blood from oxidizing. If the fats are not oxidized, they do not form an ash and thus do not make plaque. We are so nutritionally deprived; we lack the building blocks for the body to handle things properly! FOLLOW A HEART HEALTHY DIET • Harvard researchers found that people who ate breakfast every day were less likely to be overweight and less likely to develop insulin resistance, both risk factors for heart disease. • Omega-3 fats in tuna help strengthen heart muscle, lower blood pressure, and prevent clotting - as well as reduce levels of potentially deadly inflammation in the body. Plus, tuna’s high in protein. • Beef contains immunity-boosting selenium as well as homocysteine-lowering B vitamins. And up to 50 percent of the fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety. • Beans are a great source of homocysteine-lowering folate and cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. • Garlic has heart-protecting antioxidants • A British Medical Journal found that people who eat six or more small meals a day have 5 percent lower cholesterol levels than those who eat one or two large meals. • A study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who consume the recommended amount of B vitamin each day have a 16 percent lower risk of heart disease than those whose diets are lacking in this. Asparagus and broccoli are good sources of folic acid. • Eggs are low in saturated fat, and packed with betaine, a compound that helps lower homocysteine levels in the blood by as much as 75 percent. They are one of the few good food sources of betaine. • Leafy greens are good sources of lutein, a phytochemical that carries heart-disease-fighting antioxidants to your cells and tissues. • Bananas, sweet potatoes and spinach are loaded with potassium. Other good sources of potassium include raisins, tomatoes, and papayas. Low potassium levels can set you up for high blood pressure. • University of Connecticut researchers recently discovered that fresh grapes provide cholesterol-lowering, artery-clearing protection • Diets that include as much as 2 ounces of olive oil a day have a lower risk of having a fatal first heart attack than those who consume little or none. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats - known to hinder the oxidation of LDL cholesterol into its artery-clogging form. • The lycopene in tomatoes prevents harmful buildup of cholesterol on artery walls. • People who lose weight slowly keep it off many times for good. Adopting the diet-of-the-month weakens the heart and hinders blood flow. I. B. Friedland, “Investigations on the Influence of Thyroid Preparations on Experimental Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis”, Zeitung Ges. Exp. Med (1933): 87:683 L. V. Malysheva, “Tissue Respiration Rate in Certain Organs in Experimental Hypercholesteremia in Atherosclerosis”, Federation Proceedings Translation Supplement (1964): 23:T562 Interestingly enough tests revealed that my liver wasn't functioning normally and that my cholestrol was too low. I think there is still so much that we need to learn on this condition.