I had my first cholesterol test in 1958 and now have 50 years of data. Back then only the total and Triglyceride were measured - no one knew much about HDL and LDL, but I followed the literature as I still do. (I also have EKG traces from that era to the present - I always make the doctors either run a copy for me or Xerox.)
There was a well done study, about 25 years ago, that showed the cholesterol level was not nearly as important as the total Cholesterol/ HDL ratio, so I started to track mine. (I have copy of the study filed away, but hope someone will give a link to more recent update.)
The CAUSAL importance of cholesterol has steadily decreased with the passage of the years. It is now considered to be more a secondary to infections* in that the plack, rich in it, is sort of the body's natural attempt to provide a protective cover to an area of the vessel wall with chronic mild infection.
There have been many epidemiological studies - for example Orientals have less trouble with heart disease, but when they move to San Francisco, eat and live like Americans, they die like Americans. Some Mediterranean peoples, especially some on the Greek islands, get more than 1/3 of the caloric intake from fats; yet have some of the lowest rates of heart problems. When I read that study about 5 years ago, I changed to my current breakfast, which was already a one minute micro-waved banana with about equal volume or raw oats mashed into it to include about an equal volume of Canola oil also mixed in. - It is nutritional essentially the same as olive oil (that the Island dwelling Greeks eat) but much cheaper.** Ever since my C. /HDL ratio has been pleasingly low. In fact the blood taken on 5May08 had the best ratio ever - slightly less than 3.00 with C = 210 and HDL equal 71, in common units of measure.
I swim laps at least three times each week and take brisk walks for half an hour before going to bed with shot of vodica, first used first as a mouth wash, but followed with full glass of water as a chaser. (I live in a high-rise, one of 6 inside a private park - a secure area - I would not go on the Sao Paulo streets that late.)
I like Brazil as there are many good, cheap fruits and vegetable year round. I eat a lot of fish, smaller ones usually, as I fear the Hg accumulation that builds up in the bodies of the bigger ones like sharks. Red meat less than twice a month. I had my first exercise stress test recently. - I had only one problem - I wanted the doctor controlling the machine and busily making notes, to make the tread mill go faster. - But he would not - the machine was at its safety limit - people tend to fall off he said if it goes faster. Keep your worries low and your sex activity high. (I get annual PSA tests and they are low. I think it reasonable that failure to void the prostrate on a regular basis could cause it to enlarge, but that is just a simple physics POV. - never read that.) Masturbate if you need to, but I have beautiful and sexy Ph.D. wife.
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*Probably why a baby asprin each day is often now recommended. _ I do not take - I avoid all medicines. I think my body is smarter than medical science still. I try to do what I suppose my evolutionaly ancestors did - if food scrap falls on the floor, I eat it. I bet my immune system is strong. Bring on your "bird flu." I am ready. I had and anti-biotic once in Brazil, about a decade ago (Some germs have evolved to be good at their job too. Probably one not present in the USA got me.) but that was the first in more than 50 years. I took it because my body was not winning the battle and five days was enough of mild fever.
**I have no money worries now but habits that were necessary in college are still deeply ingrained in me. My kids / grandchildren say I am "cheap," but I prefer "frugal," and see no reason to change - that would be un-natural for me and a stress producing conscious effort. I get irrational, but significant pleasure, when I buy something I NEED on sale.
There was a well done study, about 25 years ago, that showed the cholesterol level was not nearly as important as the total Cholesterol/ HDL ratio, so I started to track mine. (I have copy of the study filed away, but hope someone will give a link to more recent update.)
The CAUSAL importance of cholesterol has steadily decreased with the passage of the years. It is now considered to be more a secondary to infections* in that the plack, rich in it, is sort of the body's natural attempt to provide a protective cover to an area of the vessel wall with chronic mild infection.
There have been many epidemiological studies - for example Orientals have less trouble with heart disease, but when they move to San Francisco, eat and live like Americans, they die like Americans. Some Mediterranean peoples, especially some on the Greek islands, get more than 1/3 of the caloric intake from fats; yet have some of the lowest rates of heart problems. When I read that study about 5 years ago, I changed to my current breakfast, which was already a one minute micro-waved banana with about equal volume or raw oats mashed into it to include about an equal volume of Canola oil also mixed in. - It is nutritional essentially the same as olive oil (that the Island dwelling Greeks eat) but much cheaper.** Ever since my C. /HDL ratio has been pleasingly low. In fact the blood taken on 5May08 had the best ratio ever - slightly less than 3.00 with C = 210 and HDL equal 71, in common units of measure.
I swim laps at least three times each week and take brisk walks for half an hour before going to bed with shot of vodica, first used first as a mouth wash, but followed with full glass of water as a chaser. (I live in a high-rise, one of 6 inside a private park - a secure area - I would not go on the Sao Paulo streets that late.)
I like Brazil as there are many good, cheap fruits and vegetable year round. I eat a lot of fish, smaller ones usually, as I fear the Hg accumulation that builds up in the bodies of the bigger ones like sharks. Red meat less than twice a month. I had my first exercise stress test recently. - I had only one problem - I wanted the doctor controlling the machine and busily making notes, to make the tread mill go faster. - But he would not - the machine was at its safety limit - people tend to fall off he said if it goes faster. Keep your worries low and your sex activity high. (I get annual PSA tests and they are low. I think it reasonable that failure to void the prostrate on a regular basis could cause it to enlarge, but that is just a simple physics POV. - never read that.) Masturbate if you need to, but I have beautiful and sexy Ph.D. wife.
-----
*Probably why a baby asprin each day is often now recommended. _ I do not take - I avoid all medicines. I think my body is smarter than medical science still. I try to do what I suppose my evolutionaly ancestors did - if food scrap falls on the floor, I eat it. I bet my immune system is strong. Bring on your "bird flu." I am ready. I had and anti-biotic once in Brazil, about a decade ago (Some germs have evolved to be good at their job too. Probably one not present in the USA got me.) but that was the first in more than 50 years. I took it because my body was not winning the battle and five days was enough of mild fever.
**I have no money worries now but habits that were necessary in college are still deeply ingrained in me. My kids / grandchildren say I am "cheap," but I prefer "frugal," and see no reason to change - that would be un-natural for me and a stress producing conscious effort. I get irrational, but significant pleasure, when I buy something I NEED on sale.
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