BodyLogicMD’s Hormone Therapy Blog

Concentrated quantities of cholesterol within the blood-stream often lead to hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism, which is the insufficient production of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.  Some common symptoms include, increased sensitivity to cold temperatures, fatigue, poor muscle tone, depression, muscular cramps and joint pain, abnormally low heart rate (<60BPM) and  decreased perspiration.  The diagnostic testing for thyroid disorders is a process of calculating how much thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is being produced by the pituitary gland – high levels TSH indicate that the thyroid is not producing adequate levels of thyroid hormone (mainly thyroxine). Click here for more information on the diagnostic testing of cholesterol levels.

In humans and mammals alike, we rely on cholesterol; a lipidic, waxy steroid which establishes a proper “membrane permeability” and “fluidity”.  The permeability of the membrane refers to the ease at which molecules pass through the membrane itself.  Cholesterol is materialized from scratch, thus the synthesis of more complex molecules are byproducts of simpler molecules such as sugars and amino acids. 

Although cholesterol is indeed an essential material, high levels of cholesterol flowing through the bloodstream can actually lead to the development of a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the gradual build-up of plaque along the inner walls of veins and arteries.  In fact, 34.5 million American adults are currently suffering from high cholesterol levels – that’s nearly 12% of the population! That’s not even to mention the 60 million Americans suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease. 13.6 million Americans living in the United States suffer from coronary artery disease – as a result 2.5 million suffer heart attack and stroke – 50% of which are fatal.

Cholesterol is also referred to as a lipoprotein which is an assembly of both proteins and lipids.  There are two fundamental forms of cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).  LDL is the cholesterol that you have to watch out for; it’s often referred to as the “bad cholesterol.” The LDL transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to the peripheral or “blood” tissues. LDLs pump cholesterol-rich blood through the arteries and are in turn retained by the arterial protoglycans, forming plaque and ultimately a myriad of cardiovascular issues.

HDL cholesterol or HDL-C on the other hand can actually protect against cardiovascular complications. HDLs are the smallest of the lipoproteins – this is because they are densely compacted with the highest proportion of protein.  On the contrary to LDL, HDL cholesterol primarily transports cholesterol to the liver or “steroidogenic” organs that commonly refer to the biological synthesis of steroid-based hormones, such as the adrenals, ovaries and testes. 

Although some cholesterol is indeed materialized naturally by the human body, the majority of our cholesterol issues are a direct result of our dietary routines.  In order to avoid the “bad” cholesterol or LDL cholesterol, it is important to monitor your intake of foods that are high in saturated fats such as beef, poultry, shrimp, pork, cheese, egg yolks, etc.  These animal fats contain a higher concentration of triglycerides and henceforth have a lower proportion of cholesterol and phospholipids. While saturated fat is natural in most animal products, trans fats however, should be avoided at all costs.  Trans fats are the result of the partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fat and our body identifies these materials as foreign.  Trans fats can be found in most fast food, “junk” foods, fried and baked goods and pose a much greater threat to our bodies than that of natural oils.

There is much more to the implementation and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle than the strict abstinence from fatty foods.  In fact, a lot of what you can do to improve your lifestyle actually involves taking in more cholesterol – HDL of course!  Did you know that mushrooms can lower cholesterol levels by 25% after only 4 weeks?  Eating two servings of fatty fish – that’s right, fatty fish, such as salmon, herring and sardines can increase your HDL cholesterol by 4% after just one month – and the kicker is, it actually lowers your LDL!  Other great food include, garlic cloves, soy protein such as tofu, soy nuts and soy milk, pinto beans and Popeye’s favorite; spinach!

What you put into your body is conducive to what you get out of it.  Nutritional yet varied dietary habits are the key to living a healthy lifestyle.  You could spend all day, every day slaving away at the gym and the results will be few if any and you’ll feel even worse in lack of the adequate nutrition and dietary requirements.  Eat right, keep fit and stay healthy!