Myth #6: “Zero-cholesterol,
Facts” label is always a more-accurate for normal function by the body. Blindly
low-fat” foods are “heart
source of nutritional information than reducing cholesterol levels without actu-
healthy”
claims made on the package. ally assessing the risk is not a wise course
of action. Vilifying cholesterol in general
obscures the wide variety of biological
This is a myth that is heavily pro-
Myth #7: Eggs are bad for you
responses for which it is essential. While
moted by packaged food companies. As
some patients with established or advance
mentioned, dietary cholesterol is not the
On the contrary, a special edition pub-
coronary artery disease can indeed bene-
source of most blood cholesterol. By say-
lished in the American Journal of Clinical
fit from reducing cholesterol, others may
ing “low-fat” or “zero cholesterol” on the
Nutrition contained nine separate articles
not, and pharmaceutical interventions
package, however, they hope to convince
demonstrating the importance of high
are not without risk. Having a doctor that
the consumer their product is good for
quality protein in the diet to maintain a
can accurately determine the cardiac risk
your health and will protect your heart.
healthy body composition. A major find-
through measurements like carotid inti-
Unfortunately, this can be a very
ing was that inadequate protein in the diet
ma-media thickness (CIMT), sub-particle
poor assumption. Typically low fat means
contributes to increased risks for obesity,
lipid profiles such as the VAP panel or
increased carbohydrates; and frequently
muscle wasting (sarcopenia) and chronic
LPP test, and inflammatory markers gives
highly refined carbohydrates and simple
diseases. Eggs are a source of all natural
the best chance of having guided, target-
sugars. The heart disease epidemic in the
and very high quality protein that keeps
ed intervention with optimal results. The
US mirrors our obesity epidemic. These
you satisfied longer. More than half of the
Institute of Medicine estimates that more
modern phenomena coincide with the
eggs’ protein is found in the yolk.
than 90% of all cardiovascular disease is
dramatic increase in the consumption of
Another recent study reported in the
preventable through appropriate lifestyle
sugar and other highly refined carbohy-
European Journal of Nutrition followed
modifications.
drates. This excessive carbohydrate diet
a group of overweight but otherwise
leads to excess insulin production and in-
healthy adults given 2 eggs daily for 12
sulin resistance, predisposes to type-2 di-
weeks while on a calorie restricted diet.
Desmond Ebanks, MD is a board certi-
abetes and metabolic syndrome, reduces
A control group followed the same diet
fied internal medicine physician special-
the size of LDL and HDL particles and
but avoided eggs altogether. Both groups
izing in age management medicine: a
science-based approach to preventive
results in increased inflammatory cytok-
lost the same amount of weight and had
wellness, bioidentical hormone modu-
ines. Reading the standardized “Nutrition
drops in their blood cholesterol levels.
lation and optimizing health at Alternity
Lead researcher, Dr. Bruce Griffen, stat-
Healthcare, LLC in West Hartford. Dr.
ed, “There is no convincing evidence to
Ebanks has developed a unique program
link an increased intake of dietary cho- to detect the earliest signs of cardiovas-
lesterol or eggs with coronary heart dis- cular disease and is the first physician
ease through raised cholesterol. Indeed,
in Connecticut to offer the HeartSmart-
eggs make a nutritional contribution to a
IMTplus; a state-of-the-art, non-invasive
healthy, calorie restricted diet. We have
diagnostic scan measuring the thickness
shown that when two eggs a day are
of the wall of the carotid artery. He can
eaten by people who are actively losing
be reached at 860-561-2294 or www.
alternityhealthcare.com.
weight on a calorie restricted diet, blood
See ads on page 2 and 27.
cholesterol can still be reduced”.
Does all this mean that cholesterol is
a scam, or that it is perfectly OK to eat all
the saturated fat one wishes? No. The bot-
tom line is this: cholesterol is necessary
28 NaturalNutmeg www.naturalnutmeg.com
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