Preface
Toward the end of the 20th century, an all-out war was declared on cholesterol, a kind of waxy substance found in our bloodstream and body cells, but scientific evidence and some collected facts about cholesterol (that were conveniently forgotten) paint a very different picture today.
Interesting Facts About Cholesterol
Here are some things we knew and chose to forget or have recently learned about cholesterol:
Of all the cholesterol in our bodies, only 15% comes from what we eat. 85% of the cholesterol in our bodies at any given time is made by our bodies. 25% of all the cholesterol in our body is in the service of our brain.
Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the production of what people mistakenly call “vitamin D,” which is actually a hormone, not a vitamin.
Studies over the last century have shown that cholesterol is a major contributor to our immune system.
Research has shown that people with high cholesterol live longer.
Cholesterol was found to rise after injury or surgery, linking it to our healing process.
A high cholesterol diet used to alarm doctors. However, we now know that a high cholesterol diet is not associated with high cholesterol. As mentioned above, most of the cholesterol in our bodies is made by our bodies and does not come from what we eat.
You can see this interesting experiment (which comes with a really good scientific explanation from this medical student):
Low cholesterol has also been linked to emotional instability (which would make a lot of sense given that 25% of our body’s cholesterol ends up in our brain).
I found this interesting blog post by Dr. Diane Roberts Stoler, Ed.D:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-resilient-brain/201802/cholesterol-is-it-the-villain-its-made-out-be
Scientists tend to talk about HDL (high-density lipoprotein) which they used to call “the good cholesterol” and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) which they used to call “the bad cholesterol”.
What you may find most interesting is the following link and quote, they are from a study published in the year 2020:
https://meddocsonline.org/annals-of-epidemiology-and-public-health/the-LDL-paradox-higher-LDL-cholesterol-is-associated-with-greater-longevity.pdf
I will be considerate and TL;DR it for you or actually, in this case, just quote from the conclusion of this study:
“The hypothesis that high LDL-C is the major cause of CVD, the leading cause of death in most countries, is unlikely because follow-up studies of more than half a million patients and healthy individuals have shown that those with the highest LDL-C live as long or longer than those with low LDL-C.”
Final words
We live in a confusing time, a time when people around us are busy vilifying nature’s greatest gifts to us. We should choose our sources of education carefully.
Something I heard an environmental scientist say in a movie about climate stayed with me: Science is not about consensus. If you hear a lot of scientists agreeing on something, question their integrity and the results they are trying to market.
I have chosen just a few articles and one scientific study to make a point, but there are many more available, just search for them online.
If you have been avoiding foods such as eggs because of rumors of “bad cholesterol”, now is the time to reconsider, eggs are a wonderful source of nutrients.
Stay educated,
Aviram
