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    SHARAN/Good or bad? Unlocking the truth about cholesterol

Good or bad? Unlocking the truth about cholesterol

 
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From the desk of Dr Nandita Shah

Few understand cholesterol, yet many worry about it.

Cholesterol is a substance that is produced by our body and is needed for the proper functioning of the brain. It has other uses too. When the blood becomes thick due to dietary fats, the artery walls are injured. These injuries are then ‘bandaged’ with cholesterol. Over years of bad eating, the arteries get progressively narrowed, thereby also raising blood pressure. Despite this, a blood test may not show high levels of cholesterol just because it is lining the arteries and not free in the blood.

When we change to a low-fat, whole plant-based diet the blood becomes thin again and helps dissolve the cholesterol that is lining the arteries. Serum cholesterol levels may show a rise then. This rise is not harmful. When you are no longer adding cholesterol to your body through the diet, you are now creating the conditions for the arteries to reopen.

Although there are many drugs to fight cholesterol levels these days, they only give us better-looking reports. They neither help in the healing process nor do they create a healthier body. They do however create a few side effects and can even raise blood sugars.

The best way to control cholesterol levels is to stop adding it to your body and to assist the accumulated cholesterol to find its way out. This can be done without any medicines, through a sensible diet plan.

The early bird price of our 21-Day Health Retreat in September ends on Tuesday, 25th July. This is truly the best health holiday you will ever experience and your body will thank you for it. Do take out this time to care for your body that has been supporting you since birth and will continue to do so for the rest of your life. For more details, click here

 
 

So many misconceptions about our diet got cleared here https://youtu.be/ho9q7Ns57VE

In our 21-Day Health Retreat, Kenya-based Satinder and Resham Bain learnt that only animals produce cholesterol. Human beings are also animals, and so we produce it too. However, all the excess cholesterol comes from animal products, including dairy, in our diet. Cutting out all animal products will bring down cholesterol levels naturally. 

Broccoli in White Sauce  

This deliciously healthy white sauce is going to leave you surprised!

Ingredients

  • 250 g broccoli, broken into florets
  • ½ a medium-sized cauliflower
  • Unrefined salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ a leek, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • Home-made khakhra bits to sprinkle

Method

Steam the cauliflower and blend half of it into a paste. Add salt, pepper and oregano, to make a ‘white sauce’. In a pan, sauté the leek until softened (add a little water if necessary). Add the white sauce and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli and the remaining cauliflower and season with basil. Take it off the heat once the sauce thickens slightly and the broccoli is tender. Sprinkle with broken bits of khakhra and serve.

Serves 2-3

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant-based journey. We offer 2 possibilities.

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

 

Cholesterol: The Good and the Bad of It                          
                  

One of the biggest myths is that nuts are high in cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and plants don’t have livers! But animals do – so meat, dairy, eggs and even fish are full of cholesterol. Humans are animals so we also need, and therefore produce, cholesterol. However, too many of us have high levels which may lead to problems.

High cholesterol per se isn’t harmful. It’s only when the cholesterol lining the arteries narrows them, that the blockages cause the problems. Is it possible to reverse or prevent this? Absolutely!  

The answers to these 6 simple questions will help you understand cholesterol.

1. What is cholesterol?

It is a waxy, fat-like substance found in animal cells. A certain amount of cholesterol is needed as it has important natural functions.

2. What does it do?

Cholesterol has four main functions –

  • Contributes to the structure of the cell walls
  • Helps to produce digestive bile
  • Allows the body to make Vitamin D
  • Enables the body to create certain hormones

3. What is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol?

Cholesterol is oil-based, so it doesn’t mix with blood, which is water-based. It is carried around the body in the blood by lipoproteins – LDL (low-density lipoprotein known as ‘bad’ cholesterol) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein known as ‘good’ cholesterol).

4. Why is it called ‘good’ or ‘bad’ cholesterol?

High levels of LDL lead to a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, which blocks the blood flow, creating a major risk factor for heart disease. HDL carries cholesterol to the liver for removal from the body and therefore higher levels of this are good.

5. What causes high cholesterol?

The two major causes are – a diet that includes animal products and a lack of exercise. Certain conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, polycystic ovarian or pregnancy may cause an increase in LDL. Also, certain drugs like steroids increase LDL and even reduce HDL.

6. How should one maintain a balance between good and bad cholesterol?

Going on the whole food plant-based diet that SHARAN recommends is ideal to maintain this balance. One then stops consuming animal products, saturated fats in processed foods and trans-fats in fried foods. Also, one begins to consume high-fibre foods which helps.

Do note that when the body starts cleansing by switching to a plant-based diet, the cholesterol level may rise initially. This is due to the LDLs which were stuck to the walls of the arteries getting flushed into the bloodstream on the way out.

 
 
https://sharan-india.org/people/reyna-rupani/

This newsletter was compiled by SHARAN Head of Mumbai, Reyna K Rupani. She facilitates the Six Weeks to Health Gain & Weight Loss program and also conducts health talks for schools, groups, corporates and more.

Edited by Seema Nayak, who has benefitted a great deal by going on a whole food plant-based diet.

Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature (SHARAN) is a social enterprise with the goal of spreading awareness about holistic health and an ecologically sustainable compassionate lifestyle.
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