is not one of the Essential Fatty Acids that the body needs daily. It is a different form of fat found in human and animal tissues only. It can accumulate in arteries, leading to progressive reduction in the diameter of blood vessels and hence to a reduction in blood flow. This gives rise to heart attacks, angina, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure, and may affect blood supply also to the brain, legs and kidneys. Cholesterol is dissolved and held in suspension in a free-flowing liquid state in the blood in the presence of adequate essential fatty acids. (see Fats)
Because the melting point of cholesterol is 300 deg F, it is deposited on arterial walls as an insoluble substance at the normal body temperature of 98.6 deg F. In the presence of the fatty acid lecithin (see Health Foods), the melting point of cholesterol is reduced to 180 deg F, - still insoluble at body temperature. But when the EFAs, linoleic and linolenic acid, are in sufficient supply, the melting point of cholesterol is reduced to 32 deg F, well below body temperature. In this liquid state, cholesterol cannot be deposited as harmful arterial plaque and does not promote the degenerative diseases.
It should also be noted that the homogenization of cows milk is another mechanism that may encourage over-production of cholesteraol in our bodies. Homogenising milk allows an enzyme associated with milk fat, known as xanthine oxidase, to become free and penetrate the intestinal wall. Once xanthine oxidase gets through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, it is capable of creating scar damage to the heart and arteries, which in turn may stimulate the body to release cholesterol into the blood in an attempt to lay a protective fatty material on the scarred areas. This can lead to arteriosclerosis.
The body can make all the cholesterol it requires to assist it to make cell walls,
hormones, and bile acids. Cholesterol is therefore not an essential nutrient:
avoid or trim animal fats as much as possible, and consider alternatives to drinking homogenised milk. (see Homogenizing Milk)
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It now appears that cholesterol is not the full answer to heart disease. For ground-breaking research and new findings on additional factors implicated in heart disease Click Here and be sure to listen to the Audio on Atherosclerosis by Dr Rob Robertson.
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