Ever been to Bali? Me neither. But we all know someone who did!
Leslassa reigns! And how magnificently she represented us at the Ms. World Pageant in that Pacific island paradise! Although such competitions as not usually my thing, like everyone else, I anxiously followed her progress every step of the way. I saw how hard she worked out at the gym. I saw how she swept the regional pageants. Furthermore, I saw how passionately she favored vegetarianism in her interviews – just in case you were wondering the connection to our topic today.
What happens when you put leftovers of a delicious beef stew in the fridge? The fat that tasted so good yesterday is now congealed into an unappetizing waxy layer on the gravy. The ‘cholester-oil’ had literally turned to lard, the very material that block up our arteries. Once deposited on the lining of blood vessels, it calcifies, eventually turning into brittle atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Yet, how long ago was it that we would scoop the stuff to use again for frying? How long ago did we prize it for greasing baking pans for fruit cakes en route to the Christmas oven? Imagine that!
A glance at our leading causes of death, gives the impression that Dominica is a very developed country: Heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and strokes. The fact that two of the top four are directly related to cholesterol and overeating suggests that we ought to sharpen our understanding of how we deal with that ever-present danger.
Dominicans are not stupid. Clearly, the average citizen has a very good grasp of where cholesterol comes from. Red meat, pizza, KFC, they eagerly recite the litany – Rastas even more so. My online search for cholesterol, yielded 77, 000, 000 hits in 0.21 seconds. The goal of this article is not simply to add to that number. It seeks rather to do something more challenging: How to help move the masses from just knowing the facts to somehow actually living out a lower cholesterol, abundant life.
So we begin by to finding out our cholesterol score. Below 200 is normal. But wait! That is not only from what we eat. The body itself generally manufactures half of the amount. In some cases though, it overproduces a far, far greater portion. I had the honor annually to be a science fair judge for high school competitions in the States. Many of the poster-board displays and experiments were quite intricate and innovative. One, however, was stunningly simple, yet quite unforgettable. A muscular, sixteen year-old football player had six large pills laid out on the desk – two, three times a day. His poster showed what happened when, under his doctor’s supervision, he did not take his medication as prescribed. After one week his cholesterol climbed from normal to about 300. By the second week, it had shot up to 700. By the third week, it had blasted past 1100! OMG! My own pulse was racing as my eyes darted across the graph to see… the fourth week was not recorded. The experiment was cut short. Whew!
All that cholesterol had almost nothing to do with what the young man was eating. As it turned out, several of his aunts and uncles had suffered heart attacks and strokes in their twenties and thirties. They had an inherited disorder in cholesterol metabolism. In fact, the whole family was being monitored by researchers from a large university halfway across the country. That’s how crucial family history is. There are many other factors that affect cholesterol levels such as: EXERCISE (the sharp decline in activity levels is perhaps the biggest culprit), obesity, dietary fiber (provisions, oats), fish consumption, tobacco, alcohol, stress and other co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism. What are your risks?
Then again, I operated on an 80 year Indian lady who suffered a gash in her right thigh from a motor vehicle accident. We had to do emergency repair of a lacerated femoral artery. The wall of her blood vessel was a smooth as a baby’s bottom and as pliable as the inner tube of a bicycle tire. She was vegetarian. For most other patients her age on the standard American diet (S.A.D), operating on their blood vessels was like sewing eggshells.
Does that mean we should not eat meat? Was Van Gogh right to shun animal protein after seeing the pain inflicted on these poor creatures in an abattoir in France? Was the father of the Prodigal Son wrong to order the slaughter of the fatted calf? Do the exclusive carnivores of the jungle drop dead of heart attacks? Did Ma Pampo eat meat? People watch me enjoying a steak and whisper, “Eh, eh; see what the doctor is eating?!” Let me eat my meat garcon! You have no idea how balanced (or not) my nutrition has been the rest of this week – whether my meat consumption is occasional or routine. It’s a lot more complicated than “eat this; don’t eat that.” It’s a lot more than just about getting your cholesterol checked at a health fair. Follow dietary advice on lowering cholesterol naturally http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/guide/cholesterol-lowering-foods. And never forsake the privilege of discussing your unique case with your healthcare professional.
Nevertheless, Leslassa advocated her vegetarian philosophy with consummate grace, profound thoughtfulness and strength of character. Cholesterol is a topic of continuing debate which I have researched and even written a chapter in my nutrition book, Mannafast Miracle. Like Leslassa, you too can practice mindful eating and sparkle with good health for years to come. Nail down that commitment by participating in an event such as the Walk against Cancer from Massacre and Pointe Mitchel to Dame Eugenia Charles Blvd this Saturday at 4:30pm. Boost your knowledge by attending Mrs. Jacqueline Lancaster Prevost’s insightful Nutrition lecture at the Jolly’s Pharmacy Training and Development Room October 10th at 4:30 pm. I’ll be there, seeking to learn more, as always.
Dr. Sam Christian is an American-trained surgeon who runs the newly opened Urgent Care on 137 Bath Road. It offers general medical care, minor surgery, acupuncture and microdermabrasion. To schedule your free wellness visit and tour of the facility, call 440-9133 or write [email protected].
Dr Christian – I love your articles, always find them well written, and I applaud you for taking the time to write and publish them.
Personally, I love meat and fish, and so could never be a vegetarian, but I don’t eat a lot of either, and when I cook any kind of stew, I cook the meat first, and then drain off the fat. (which I put on our dog’s rice!)
I rarely fry food – or eat fried food. I love the taste, but don’t need the extra fat! I have lost count of the number of times I have tried to explain to my friends that fried food is not good for you! Not only is the chicken and fish fried, but so are the bakes, and sometimes the vegetables! (but fried plantain tastes so nice!)
In fact my quite overweight friend has been put on a diet by her boyfriend, who has banned her from eating chicken. So he brings fish for her – and then promptly fries it! I am trying to explain about the different ways of cooking fish and vegetables (steaming, roasting, poaching) with herbs, that does not involve fat. And removing the chicken skin – chicken is a low fat food source if treated right.
Then again, there is the difference between good fats and bad fats – it is a very long subject! Most of my friends add vegetable oil to their rice and meals. But never use olive oil.
Perhaps there should be a weekly recipe page on DNO – tasty, but healthy versions of old favourites?
could hav jus said fried chicken FC…so no kfc i’ll buy some fried chicken by dravinas
Im a dominican, and not living in dominica,it hurts me to see the kind of senseless comments that some of these people make on serious matters. To me I think we as a people we are becoming more ignorant and selfish. Come on people this is the modern world let at lease try to be a little more civilize.
I am a little disappointed with this piece on cholesterol. I was hoping for a ball by ball commentary as to how to prevent or control high cholesterol.
I always wondered why some people can eat whatever they want and still live long while some nutrition and fitness freaks still die young. Thanks Doc for your article. It helps me understand its not that simple and its good to discuss these things with a professional.
Thank you for your great work and advice sir!!! May the good Lord continue to bless your efforts!!!
Insightful and educational. Thanks Sam, you the Man
You’ve done it again Dr. Sam, after reading your article on Cholesterol, it has help me to be much more mindful of my Cholesterol readings. A healthy life is a happy life. Thank you Doctor Sam! Continue to educate Dominicans!
Dr. Christian, thanks for the information. My cholesterol level is high, I watch what I eat but as you mentioned this is not only a result of what we eat. I am taking a low dose of crestor 10/mgs; however, I am going to follow the link you posted, hopefully I will find more ways in lowering my cholesterol without having to take any medication. By-the-way, I take it when I remember (not good) but I cook my own foods, which is what the majority of people should be doing.
Healthy living people.
“Majority” meaning especially those at risk.
Interesting article
I doubt if everyone alive were vegetarians, there would be no cardiovascular disease such as arteriosclerosis (arteriosclerotic); since the human system naturally produces cholesterol, which is the likely cause of arteriosclerosis
Note: there are two types of cholesterol I will simply say “good, and bad” no need to elaborate! However we need to remember that all steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol, which is a complex molecule composed of three six-membered carbon rings, and one five-membered carbon ring; it resembles a fragment of a chain-link fence. The hormones that promote the development of the secondary sexual characteristics are steroids.
They include cortisone and testosterone, as well as the hormones estrogen, and progesterone, which are used in oral contraceptives. (Note: Steroid hormones enter a target cell, bind to a cytoplasmic receptor, and penetrate the nucleus, where they initiate the transcription of some genes while repressing the transcription of others).
Now; arteriosclerosis is a group of diseases characterized by thickening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls; popularly called “hardening of the arteries. There are three main forms of arteriosclerosis: (1) Atherosclerosis, in which plaques of fatty deposits from in the inner layer (intima) of the arteries; (2) Monckeberg’s arteriosclerosis, called also medial calcific sclerosis because of involvement of the middle layer (medial coat) of the arteries, where there is destruction of muscle, and elastic fibers and formation of calcium deposits; and (3) arteriolar sclerosis (arteriolosclerosis), which is marked by thickening of the walls of small arteries (arterioles).
All three forms of arteriosclerosis may be present in the same patient, nonetheless in different blood vessels.
Of the three types, atherosclerosis is the most common; when reference is made to hardening of the arteries, in most instances, it is atherosclerosis that is meant. Frequently, the terms arteriosclerosis, and atherosclerosis are used interchangeable.
It does not matter, vegetarian, or total indulgence in meat, or other fatty substances; due to the fact that the human body produces both good, and bad cholesterol naturally, the chances are we may be vulnerable to such diseases, diabetics are more in particular should have their cholesterol monitored, and treated when found out of limits, that’s not for discussion at the moment.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Dr. Christian, Great article however,I suggest you shorten the article and ensure that you end with a continuity note for readers to look forward to the next article. Most people who need this very important information does not have a long attention span to read through this long article. Good stuff might be lost in the length
Why should the man shorten his program, are you that limited, without the capacity to take in and retain what you read?
To me you may have a retention problem, which prevents you from coping; I know how you can deal with that, but I am not going to say, since I do not have a medical degree oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha: Some of us like to read, and realize sometimes in order to make sense we have to channel it in a way so that a child can understand, and in doing so it has to be lengthy!
FET.
Food for thought DR. We are what we eat. But its a tough call when the World over, our foods are filled with all sorts of chemical and we are bombarded thru the media with myths and follies as to what is good or not good for us. But it`s all about the individual and the choice we make to put certain foods in our bodies it sure feels good cause they make it smell so in the end it is going to haunt and affect us and our bodies as we advance in age all sorts of things are happening to us and the way we feel about our bodies. My granny used to say. We are what we eat” so developing good eating habits at an early age is the best gift in sustaining good health and living a long life. Bring back the Milk and honey coconut and lets eat what we grow. Stop making those dumb choices or else the burden lies on our Health system.
Excellent, very relevant, and information packed.
The topic should be of particular interest to Dominicans because of the high carbohydrate, high cholesterol content of our diet.
Also, the article should serve to encourage a trend that has gained some traction in Dominica in recent times: Incorporating exercise into our daily routine. This trend needs to continue if we wish to make progress in the fight against diabetes and related diseases.
Continue writing, Dr. Sam. Your literary style is refreshing and energizing and I trust that Dominicans will latch on to your every word in their quest for better health.