U.S. children showing hardening of arteries

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 11-15-2006, 00:49

Well everyone knows you need fat in your diet and that going low fat won't get you to lose weight.

But I don't understand why, when disputing the claim that high LDL levels are bad for your heart, people keep quoting the Framingham study saying "high cholesterol levels are not associated with heart disease". It's not the same thing. Junk science yourself.

**Xiahou** · 11-15-2006, 00:53

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

But I don't understand why, when disputing the claim that high LDL levels are bad for your heart, people keep quoting the Framingham study saying "high cholesterol levels are not associated with heart disease". It's not the same thing. Junk science yourself.

Well surely there are studies to support that then.... right?

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 11-15-2006, 00:58

Originally Posted by Xiahou

Well surely there are studies to support that then.... right?

I quoted the Framingham study earlier saying that. I haven't read the study myself so it's a quote of a quote.

**Adrian II** · 11-15-2006, 01:05

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

But I don't understand why, when disputing the claim that high LDL levels are bad for your heart, people keep quoting the Framingham study saying "high cholesterol levels are not associated with heart disease".

Simple. It is because LDL and HDL are not like Castor and Pollux. If LDL goes up, HDL has to go up as well in order to preserve the homeostatic balance. The result is a rise in total blood cholesterol. If high total cholesterol is no indicator of heart diseas risk, then LDL level isn't either.

Maybe you should worry more about your homocysteine level. That seems to be a serious indicator of coronary trouble. There is no medicine against it available, so there is no commercial reason to promote the issue. But you might consider stacking up on avocado's, grapefruits or spinach that lower your homocysteine level.

**Sasaki Kojiro** · 11-15-2006, 01:10

Originally Posted by Adrian II

Simple. It is because LDL and HDL are not like Castor and Pollux. If LDL goes up, HDL has to go up as well in order to preserve the homeostatic balance. The result is a rise in total blood cholesterol. If high total cholesterol is no indicator of heart diseas risk, then LDL level isn't either.

Maybe you should worry more about your homocysteine level. That seems to be a serious indicator of coronary trouble. There is no medicine against it available, so there is no commercial reason to promote the issue. But you might consider stacking up on avocado's, grapefruits or spinach that lower your homocysteine level.

Isn't that a bit like saying alcohol isn't unhealthy because your liver will return your body to homeostatic balance?

**Adrian II** · 11-15-2006, 01:15

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

Isn't that a bit like saying alcohol isn't unhealthy because your liver will return your body to homeostatic balance?

It isn't, unless the honourable Sasaki Kojiro has been drinking heavily.

**Kralizec** · 11-15-2006, 01:24

Originally Posted by Adrian II

Simple. It is because LDL and HDL are not like Castor and Pollux. If LDL goes up, HDL has to go up as well in order to preserve the homeostatic balance. The result is a rise in total blood cholesterol. If high total cholesterol is no indicator of heart diseas risk, then LDL level isn't either.

So you're saying that if you increase your HDL, the body automaticly raises LDL to bring back the old ratio of HDL vs LDL?

*also lights a fag*