The Truth about Cholesterol

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Buddha

Cholesterol is not the major culprit in heart disease or any disease. If it becomes oxidized it can irritate/inflame tissues in which it is lodged in, such as the endothelium (lining of the arteries). This would be one of numerous causes of chronic inflammation that can injure the lining of arteries. However, many good fats are easily oxidized such as omega-3 fatty acids, but it does not mean that you should avoid it at all costs. In fact, cholesterol is being transported to tissues as part of an inflammatory response that is there to repair damage.

The fixation on cholesterol as a major cause of heart disease defies the last 15 years of science and deflects from real causes such as the damage that sugars such as glucose and fructose inflict on tissues, including the lining of arteries, causing chronic inflammation and resultant plaque. Cholesterol and heart disease has been almost synonymous for the last half-century.

When it comes to cholesterol facts, there is a diverse amount of information out there. We will focus on the cholesterol facts that relate to its function in your body.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can be both essential and damaging to your body's function. It is essential for things like cell membranes and production of hormones. Cholesterol is a high molecular weight sterol. Cholesterol is not a fat. (It is fat soluble.)

High cholesterol is not a disease. It is the body's way of compensating for something wrong. It is a protective mechanism. It is one of many signals the body gives us when it needs help.

Cholesterol is coined as a risk factor for heart attacks because there is too much cholesterol in the blood. But.......it may be that the risk factor existed before, and the cholesterol is the result of insult, injury or imbalance that triggers an increased need for cholesterol in the cells involved.