Thread by @coookwithchris

THE TRUTH ABOUT CHOLESTEROL

& how we’ve been lied to about to causes of heart disease

(Thread)

“High cholesterol causes heart disease”

How many times have you heard this? Probably a lot.

But what if I told you that cholesterol is actually necessary for good health?

And that everything you’ve been told about cholesterol is a lie?

Let’s get into it

Without cholesterol, we die. It’s that simple.

It is needed to synthesize hormones like cortisol, testosterone, progesterone, estrogen and even vitamin D.

It strengthens your cell membranes, helps break down your food, and so much more.

Cholesterol-containing foods are also some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

So if that is the case, why has cholesterol been demonized for so long?

Well, like most things, you can follow the money.

The American Heart Association has demonized foods containing cholesterol and saturated fats, while encouraging people to eat “heart healthy” vegetable oils.

This is horrible advice, considering those vegetable oils DO increase risk of heart disease, and foods with saturated fat are some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet.

Imagine thinking that a grilled mushroom with canola oil on a bun is healthier than a grass fed steak?

According to healthline:

“New statistics predict that 45 percent of people in the United States will have at least one issue related to the disease by 2035.

That’s up from earlier predictions from the American Heart Association (AHA) of 40 percent by 2030.

The AHA predicts that costs related to the disease will double from $555 billion in 2016 to $1.1 trillion in 2035.”

This is very interesting considering their donors make billions off of cholesterol lowering pharmaceuticals.

The truth is, dietary cholesterol has little to no effect on your blood cholesterol.

Your body regulates the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

When you eat less cholesterol, your body makes more.

When you eat more cholesterol, your body makes less.

I’m sure you’ve heard that there is good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL), which is just more outdated advice.

Many doctors are still claiming that elevated LDL is causing heart disease.

This study shows that LOW LDL levels are actually associated with HIGHER risk of all cause mortality:

nature.com/articles/s4159…

So if it isn’t LDL, what is the cause of heart disease?

Enter: oxidized LDL

“Oxygen in our blood can attack things flowing in our blood, including the fatty acids in LDL. After oxygen has attacked the fatty acids in LDL, the LDL particle is said to be oxidized, or basically burnt.” - @drcateshanahan

The oxidized fat and cholesterol can be toxic to your cells.

If your LDL is oxidized and your arteries are continually exposed to oxidized fats and cholesterol, it becomes a large plaque, eventually causing a heart attack or a stroke.

drcate.com/cholesterol-wh…

ApoB

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a more accurate indicator of cardiovascular risk than LDL because it directly reflects the number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles (LDL, VLDL, IDL, and Lp(a)) circulating in the blood.

This is becoming more and more common on routine bloodwork which is awesome!

Your triglyceride to HDL ratio is a much better indicator of heart disease risk than your LDL levels as well.

“Research has shown that people with the highest ratio of triglycerides to HDL “good” cholesterol has 16 times the risk of heart attack as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL.”

journal-advocate.com/2012/02/27/the…

So, what can you do to prevent lower oxidized LDL, triglycerides and risk of heart disease? It’s simple: live a healthy lifestyle:

-Eating a diet consisting of whole, nutrient dense foods (including animal fats)
-Lowering inflammation
-Weight management
-Exercise
-Sunlight
-Proper sleep/circadian rhythm
-Avoiding trans fats, refined sugars, and seed oils in high quantities
-Blood sugar control
-Avoid smoking

Overall, this doesn’t mean you need to just go ahead and start eating a pound of steak every day, or drop your statins immediately.

And if your LDL is through the roof it is still something you should address!

My goal for this thread was just to change the way you view cholesterol and saturated fat, show you that it doesn’t need to be demonized, and has its place in a healthy, balanced diet

If you know me, you know I always advocate for a mixture of unprocessed, meat, seafood/fish, eggs, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

And before making any decisions, always consult with your doctor!