Xanthelasm are tiny plaques which are usually yellowish in colour that are slightly raised from the surface and they appear on upper or lower eyelids. They are caused by tiny deposits of fat in the skin and are associated with abnormal blood fat levels (hyperlipidemia). When looked at through a microscope the are seen as histocytes, cells which contain lipid material in their cytoplasm (non-nuclear part of the cell). This links them to hypercholesterolemia (high levels of cholesterol in the blood).
I currently have a student studying with me who has started suffering with xanthelasma very recently under his right eye and above his left. He's fine with me using his case as a study as it quite handily lets us look at the history behind his case. He began following a primal/paelo diet in 2006/2007, and has been following it ever since. His initial results were, apparently impressive but in recent years, like so many he has been chasing the dragon, getting more and more extreme in an effort to match the initial results.
THis type of cholesterol deposit is also linked with other issues such as biliary cirrhosis, diabetes, pancreatits, renal disease, and hypothyroidism which proves to be interesting in our quest to understand the real cause.
We know (or you do if you read my blog) that cholesterol isn't specifically a problem and that its supposed link to animal fat consumption is a complete con. However, its plain to see that the body is out of balance, but why?
Well my Dear Watson, my deduction is that once again it is the liver which isn't functioning correctly. We did a full test and discovered poor liver function and a lack of pancreatic enzymes (lipase & amylase). So, while meat isn't specifically a cause, it is linked. Remember the initial phase that my student reported from the beginning of his primal lifestyle. He said that he felt amazing, looked amazing and then sadly the results dropped off.
Meat is undeniably essential for us to survive but its also very tough to digest. What this guy had done, like so many will, was made his body work too hard. His liver wasn't able to keep up with the level of production required to keep his gastric juices in store to digest and metabolize such a heavy diet.
So the answer isn't to remove meat from his diet (although we may do this short term to allow his body to repair and restore). Its also not a signal to start on statins. It tells us that a plan is needed to correct liver function. I won't go into the specifics of what he needs to do as its obviously very specific to him. What this highlights is that the evidence is right before our eyes, when backed up with the test data that something is going wrong. The real work begins with investigating the real cause though.
1. We see signs of xanthelasm. This shows us that their are some fatty deposits.
2. We know meat is safe, and that not everyone who eats meat suffers the issue.
3. This leaves us investigating why its happening to this individual.
4. Upon investigation we find that xanthelasm is linked various organ issues so it seems sensible to perform some tests.
5. This confirms the suspicions and shows us how to progress the individual to a healthier state.
I currently have a student studying with me who has started suffering with xanthelasma very recently under his right eye and above his left. He's fine with me using his case as a study as it quite handily lets us look at the history behind his case. He began following a primal/paelo diet in 2006/2007, and has been following it ever since. His initial results were, apparently impressive but in recent years, like so many he has been chasing the dragon, getting more and more extreme in an effort to match the initial results.
THis type of cholesterol deposit is also linked with other issues such as biliary cirrhosis, diabetes, pancreatits, renal disease, and hypothyroidism which proves to be interesting in our quest to understand the real cause.
We know (or you do if you read my blog) that cholesterol isn't specifically a problem and that its supposed link to animal fat consumption is a complete con. However, its plain to see that the body is out of balance, but why?
Well my Dear Watson, my deduction is that once again it is the liver which isn't functioning correctly. We did a full test and discovered poor liver function and a lack of pancreatic enzymes (lipase & amylase). So, while meat isn't specifically a cause, it is linked. Remember the initial phase that my student reported from the beginning of his primal lifestyle. He said that he felt amazing, looked amazing and then sadly the results dropped off.
Meat is undeniably essential for us to survive but its also very tough to digest. What this guy had done, like so many will, was made his body work too hard. His liver wasn't able to keep up with the level of production required to keep his gastric juices in store to digest and metabolize such a heavy diet.
So the answer isn't to remove meat from his diet (although we may do this short term to allow his body to repair and restore). Its also not a signal to start on statins. It tells us that a plan is needed to correct liver function. I won't go into the specifics of what he needs to do as its obviously very specific to him. What this highlights is that the evidence is right before our eyes, when backed up with the test data that something is going wrong. The real work begins with investigating the real cause though.
1. We see signs of xanthelasm. This shows us that their are some fatty deposits.
2. We know meat is safe, and that not everyone who eats meat suffers the issue.
3. This leaves us investigating why its happening to this individual.
4. Upon investigation we find that xanthelasm is linked various organ issues so it seems sensible to perform some tests.
5. This confirms the suspicions and shows us how to progress the individual to a healthier state.
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