The truth about cholesterol.

I am going to let you in on something really shocking. Cholesterol is not the major culprit in heart disease. I know this is probably hard for some of you to to believe, after all we have heard about the dangers of high cholesterol from our doctors, and the media. But sadly the reality is, it is not the cholesterol levels themselves or the cholesterol containing foods that are the culprits implicated in heart disease, it is those foods and any other thing that causes inflammation in your body, that is the major cause of heart disease (as well as diabetes and high blood pressure).

So what is cholesterol and why do we need it?

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It’s an important part of a healthy body system because it’s used to form protective cell membranes. Cholesterol is also used in the manufacture of bile (which helps digest fats), and is also important for the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K.
It is the major precursor agent for the synthesis of vitamin D, and of the various steroid hormones (which include cortisol and aldosterone in the adrenal glands, and the sex hormones progesterone, the various estrogens, testosterone, and derivatives ).

How could something so good be so bad?

It seems Cholesterol has been wrongly accused because, upon inspection of the arteries of someone at risk for a heart attack, levels of cholesterol and plaque build up are very high. Cholesterol is actually being transported to tissues as part of an inflammatory response that the body uses to repair damage. It will only lodge itself onto the artery and cause plaque if the artery has become damaged. Inflammation in the artery is what causes this damage. In fact, it is now known that the coronary disease that causes heart attacks is now considered to be caused mostly from chronic inflammation.

So trying to blame cholesterol for heart attacks would be the equivalent of blaming an increase in  police security in a high crime area. It was not the police that caused the crime, they were just put there in response to the crimes.

A more important question to ask ourselves, is how do we decrease the amount of inflammation in our bodies so that cholesterol will not bind to our arteries in the first place?

We must decrease all of those things that we do that cause inflammation and increase things that decrease inflammation. First and foremost we must stay away from foods that cause inflammation in our bodies. All foods that causes a fast rise in blood insulin levels will quickly cause inflammation in the body. These foods (You've guessed it) are sugar, white breads, most dairy products and almost all packaged and processed foods. What does this leave us with?
Fresh, wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean animal proteins, nuts, and lots and lots of water. Also, taking in lots of omega-3 fatty acid  rich foods will dramatically decrease inflammation in the body (salmon, trout, organic eggs, walnuts and oily fish such as sardines, pilchards etc).

What about your cholesterol medication?

Some of you may be thinking, it is just easier to take a pill and not have to change what I am eating. But you may want to think twice considering the side effects of statin's (cholesterol lowering drugs). The most common side effects reported are diabetes, fatigue, headaches, nausea and the most common of them all, severe muscular pains and muscular degeneration. If you remember that cholesterol is essential for the formation of cell membranes, It may seem crazy taking a drug that is drastically lowering cholesterol may be causing membrane damage in neural and muscle tissue. So many people taking statin's complain of neck, back or leg pain, new research also suggests an increased risk of cataracts.

Millions of people worldwide are now on cholesterol lowering drugs such as statin's, but the number of people suffering from heart attacks and heart disease is only increasing. Let’s take some personal responsibility for our health and truly get to the root of the problem. Managing your diet more effectively and staying away from those foods that are causing an inflammatory response in your body is your first step to decreasing your chance of heart disease and heart attacks.