Raena Morgan: Let’s talk about cholesterol. How does diabetes affect cholesterol?
Frank Murray: Yes, well type two diabetes have generally have what we call metabolic syndrome. We used to call it syndrome X.
Raena Morgan: Right.
Frank Murray: But now, metabolic syndrome is that the preferred name. And if you have three of five constituents, which I will elaborate on—3 of the 5, you're susceptible to heart disease. And those five are: if you are obese, if you have high blood pressure—
Raena Morgan: Okay.
Frank Murray: f you have high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels. So you try to get those down. And insulin resistance is the fifth one. Insulin resistance is where the body—the pancreas is producing some insulin. But it’s confused about what the stuff is. Anyway, if you have three of those five conditions, you're susceptible to heart disease. Now personally, I think cholesterol is a lot of bunk. And I would remove cholesterol from the five and put in homocysteine, which I think is more dangerous cholesterol. The deal is, it’s an amino acid, usually benign, but if it builds up into toxic levels it can cause all kinds of problems including heart disease. So for me, cholesterol is not that big ofdeal. But, as you know, sorry to say, the drug companies are peddling all kinds of drugs to lower our cholesterol and it can be done naturally—with the exercise, with supplements, with fiber, a lot of—even yogurt, sugar–free yogurt so, a lot of good ways to lower cholesterol. I've been writing about cholesterol since the sixties, and as I mentioned, 250 was normal back then—now, it’s 200 or below. Well, you know were those early researchers really off the wall? I don't think so.
Raena Morgan: Times have changed.
Frank Murray: Yes.
Raena Morgan: Thank you, Frank.
Frank Murray: Thank you.
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