[422] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
Re: cholesterol
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (elsiedee@MIT.EDU)
Wed Mar 22 09:32:11 1995
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 95 09:30:54
From: elsiedee@MIT.EDU
I had composed a reply to Lewis' original message while the vsg list was
down, so I couldn't sent it, then my computer crashed, so here goes once
more.
I want to point out that there is absolutely _no evidence_ that says that
cholesterol should be a part of your diet. (ref: Dr. Michael Klaper, "Diet
for All Reasons"). I am surprised that thus far in people's responses to
this issue no mention of HDL cholesterol vs. LDL cholesterol has come up.
There is a distinction between the cholesterol manufactured by your body
naturally (HDL cholesterol) and that which is found in eggs, cheese, meats
(LDL cholesterol) which clogs arteries and causes arteriosclerosis. Your
level of HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol") can be raised by exercise.
This is the kind that is responsible for the body functions that Lewis
pointed out.
All plant foods contain essentially no cholesterol. (There are *trace*
amounts.) Only animal products contain substantial levels of cholesterol,
with eggs being the highest, most concentrated form. The meat and dairy
industries, knowing this, have tried to cloud the issue for the public, by
emphasizing that your body *needs* cholesterol for proper functioning. Of
course, it is the HDL cholesterol, the kind already manufactured by your
body, that you need, not dietary cholesterol.
Lastly, Lewis mentioned that the study he referred to was performed on
rats. Rats are not analogous to humans. Those of you who have read _Diet
for a New America_ by John Robbins know that the original studies from
whence spawned the general notion that we need huge quantities of protein
were performed on rats. Rats were fed eggs, "complete proteins", and it was
found that these rats grew faster than rats in a control group fed
vegetables. Of course, the study did not mention that the rats fed eggs
also died faster. Later it was discovered that rats need 1000 times the
amount of protein that humans do, but nevertheless, the damage was done.
The general public believes that you can't get enough protein, whereas
current research indicates that excess protein is very damaging to your
body and causes calcium to be lost from your body.
So, to sum up, we don't need dietary cholesterol in any way, shape, or
form, and I wouldn't pay attention to any study performed on rats that
claimed to be applicable to human nutrition.
Laura
