Questions Answered: Cholesterol

I love when you, my supportive readers, ask me questions!  I always try to reply within a few days, depending on how much Internet time I get, but I will always get back to you!  Feel free to ask anything, as they say in school "no question is a dumb question."  I'm a strong believer that health is a constant learning process.  And I love the off the wall questions that really get ME thinking and researching, because it helps me to learn more right along with you.

Today's Questions Answered comes from a mom who lives in the U.P. of Michigan (home for me!).  This is great, love it, thought this will apply to new visitors to Healing Cuisine by Elise so I wanted to share my response with everyone:

Elise,
First let me tell you that I enjoy looking at your Healing Cuisine.  And it must be working because you look wonderful!  Now, I have a question.  I now have to be extremely careful of eating foods with cholesterol, salts and sugars in it.  I only eat foods with 0 cholesterol or no more that 5 to 10 grams per serving.  I am pretty good at watching those sugars and we use stevia at home.  We don't eat out very often as I know what I am putting in my mouth by cooking at home.  Do you have any recipes for someone like me?  Or are you creating anything for someone who has problems like I do?  I cannot eat cheeses, eggs, or any kinds of desserts.  So, am wondering if you have any new recipes to try?  Thank you so much Elise!  Love your page and believe in what you are doing and I also believe in Chiropractic!!!  I go weekly.  I wish you nothing but success and happiness.
                                               ~ Upper Peninsula Mom

Hi U.P. Mom,

The best advice I can give you is to read the book that I model my recipes and entire lifestyle after called Maximized Living Nutrition Plans: http://maximizedliving.com/health-products/p-26-maximized-living-nutrition-plans-book.aspx

This book provides you with everything you need to know on how to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle thru your food.  It's perfect for your situation and will answer all of your questions clearly with supporting recipes.

All of the recipes on my website will fit your needs of no-to-low sugar, only healthy salt (sea salt) and limited dairy.  Sometimes I do use organic Greek yogurt or sour cream, so watch for that, but otherwise the recipes will ALL be perfect for you.  I follow a Foods by God vs Foods by Man mentality: meaning you can eat unlimited Foods by God (foods placed on this Earth by God for us to enjoy) and limited to NO Foods by Man (boxed food, altered foods, chemicals/sugars/bad fats).

Just wondering, why do you feel the need to watch your cholesterol intake?  I realize this is a common misconception in today's society and is something I am helping my patients to overcome every day. Cholesterol is a whole subject in itself, but basically your body NEEDS cholesterol not only for cell repair, but also helping insulate nerves, producing certain hormones and helping your liver make bile acids.  Your liver makes about 80% of the cholesterol in your blood.  About 20% needs to come from your diet.  (Animal products that you eat, such as meat and dairy foods, contain dietary cholesterol.  Vegetables do not.) Cholesterol is in every cell in your body, and every cell NEEDS it.  You can't live without cholesterol, which is one type of the fat-like substances (lipids) in your blood.  Did you know your brain is made up of 60% fat? Cholesterol goes on to support the cell membranes which are composed of lipids in the brain.  The misconception lies in the source of the cholesterol, aka healthy vs bad fats.  I can discuss this more with you if you'd like, but the ML Nutrition Plans book does a great job on this subject.

I hope that answered your questions, or at least dented the surface.  If you have specific recipes you'd like transformed into Healing Cuisine, please let me know.  I'm here to help you and your family live a healthy life and still enjoy your favorites!

Blessings,

Elise