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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Problem with Low Cholesterol

Q: I am worried about my cholesterol. My doctor tells me it should be lower then it is for my age but I don't want to take any medication yet. I am only 35 years old and lead a fairly healthy life style. Do you have any suggestions for doing this naturally?
Signed, Will Scarborough

A: Many of my patients are very concerned about their cholesterol levels. I am often asked about how many eggs one can eat per week, what kind of eggs to buy or what their doctor says cholesterol levels should be. The one important fact that is often overlooked is that cholesterol is mostly produced by our body regardless of what we eat. Approximately 2000 mg of cholesterol a day is synthesized in the liver. When we are under stress, cholesterol requirements increase rapidly.

In today's stress-filled society, many choose to take a cholesterol lowering drug religiously out of fear of dying of heart attack or stroke. Although it is true that high cholesterol is thought to cause health problems, it has been my experience that problems associated with low cholesterol are rarely discussed. Most cancer patients I have seen never have high cholesterol. Wonder why? Cholesterol is the required precursor to a number of essential steroid hormones and are the integral part of forming the cell membranes. Low cholesterol is bad for your immune system. It is also bad for a number of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis. Low serum total cholesterol is also associated with heightened risk of major depression. Research has shown that elderly individuals over the age of 85 and older with high cholesterol levels have reduced rate of death from cancer and infection.

For peace of mind, I recommend to my patients that they do a full cholesterol profile including homocystein (which can be a problem but often is not tested and is not covered by OHIP). I always start my cholesterol concerned patients on a liver cleanse. The liver is involved in cholesterol production, so I begin the treatment here. After a successful liver cleansing and detox, I then make sure my patients maintain optimal liver function, eat a sensible balanced diet, exercise and take good quality supplements. For those with stubborn cholesterol levels, plant sterol supplements are also useful.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist