Dr. Stephanie Seneff, a Senior Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), completed research in 2017 that concluded: “People who take cholesterol lowering drugs had over 2.5 times the risk of developing Alzheimers.”
The brain contains approximately 25% of the body’s total cholesterol, so restricting this essential fat is not good for the mind. Cholesterol is also a necessary precursor for many of our hormones, without which life is just not up to par. Read Hormones Make You Happy to understand more.
Add to this recent finding the fact that 50 YEARS ago, research showed that high cholesterol had little to do with arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, and therefore heart disease.
Dr. Kilmer McCully discovered that cholesterol and clogged arteries are not the causes, but rather the symptoms of heart disease. McCully’s research, published in the American Journal of Pathology in 1969, linked elevated homocysteine levels to heart disease, NOT cholesterol levels. Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is damaging if it accumulates in the blood.
Despite McCully receiving numerous awards for his research, including the 1998 Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Award, he lost Harvard University funding and was denied further research jobs for more than two years.
McCully says: “My suggestion was that the cause of arteriosclerosis in the general population was an underlying deficiency of certain B vitamins—B6, B12 and folate (B9), (leading to elevated homocysteine levels). The role of cholesterol and fats was secondary. This was too much for the establishment to take.”
His research unfortunately coincided with industry and pharmaceuticals investing multi millions into the low cholesterol fad, low cholesterol foods, and cholesterol lowering drugs. In other words, it was very un-profitable for this research to be released to the public. B Vitamins are not expensive. Statin drugs sell billions of dollars per year.
When Lorene Benoit first started teaching this in the 1990’s, homocysteine blood tests were rare. They have now become common place for doctors and patients in the know. So if you are at risk of the number 1 North American disease, Cardiovascular Disease, you would be wise to consider taking quality B vitamins and other lowering cholesterol naturally. Do you want to risk having a healthy heart , but spending your golden senior years with Alzheimers? Not many people do.
McCully was also one of the earlier researchers to also suggest that genetic defects can play a significant role in the metabolism these B vitamins—B6, B12 and folate. As genetics studies increase and are refined, more defects have been discovered, indicating that at least 12% of the population are affected. This increases both the amount and type of folic acid needed to keep homocysteine levels in the normal range. Leading edge supplement companies are now producing better assimilated methylated forms.
We have seen significant positive results using either Methyl B Combo, (B12 and folate) and Liquid Methyl B12 ( B12 plus Bs: 1,2,3 & 6).
Please contact our office to access the best natural supplements for you at the best price with direct delivery anywhere in North America. This will include our member pricing for expert professional personal assistance.
Other Factors Contributing to Cardiovascular Disease
When homocysteine levels rise, they damage the cells and tissues of artery linings. In an attempt to repair the damage to arterial walls, the body stimulates growth of artheriosclerotic plaques. This is similar to the body’s process of forming scar tissue to heal an external wound – the plaque is like applying glue to fill in the damaged areas. This is what leads to arterial clogging and heart disease.
Besides lack of or poor metabolism of B Vitamins, there are several other factors that can increase homocysteine levels, leading to greater chance of arteriosclerosis:
- Toxic factors such as cigarette smoking, pharmaceutical drugs, environmental and industrial toxins
- poor nutrition, especially inadequate intake of anti-oxidants required to neutralize free radical damage
- stressful lifestyles – read more about stress and cortisol effects on cholesterol.
Solutions to these are well explained in Chapter 6, “The Road to Wellness: The 4 Pillars of Health” in Lorene Benoit’s book, The Paw Paw Program .
Note that some links may be for Canadian products, some for US; some may have changed.
This is why we suggest for more information, or to get yourself on a daily Health and Vitality Program, contact Lorene Benoit, MHH.
