Mysteries Of Cholesterol (Part 1)

The topic of cholesterol is widely misunderstood but is a major concern for people. Since it’s such a huge topic, I’m going to discuss it in a series of articles. I want everyone to understand the information, but don’t want to overload you with it all at once. I will keep these articles short and to the point so that they are less confusing.


What is cholesterol? And why is it around if it’s so bad for us? As modern medicine will tell you, there are 2 types of cholesterol:

High-density lipoprotein, or HDL: This is the "good" cholesterol that helps to keep cholesterol away from your arteries and remove any excess arterial plaque, which may help to prevent heart disease.

Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL: This "bad" cholesterol circulates in your blood and, according to conventional thinking, may build up in your arteries, forming plaque that makes your arteries narrow and less flexible (a condition called atherosclerosis).

Triglycerides and lipoproteins also make up the total count of your cholesterol.

Triglycerides: Elevated levels of this dangerous fat have been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Triglyceride levels are known to rise from eating too many grains and sugars, being physically inactive, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol excessively and being overweight or obese. (Do any of these symptoms sound familiar in this day and age?)

Lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a): Lp(a): is a substance that is made up of an LDL "bad cholesterol" part plus a protein. Elevated Lp(a) levels are a very strong risk factor for heart disease. This has been well established, yet very few physicians check for it in their patients.

So now that you know the definitions, where does cholesterol come from? Well 75% of cholesterol is made in the liver. It's found in the bloodstream and is responsible for every hormonal change in our body. Cholesterol is also part of any cell membrane repair, and is extremely important for neurons.

So then when more then 3/4 of our cholesterol is produced in our own body, why do most physicians tell you to limit eggs? Is there more cholesterol in that egg than we produce in our bodies? Instead they would recommend eating processed cereal that will magically lower your cholesterol levels (we will discuss why we may not want to lower the cholesterol in the first place, most likely in the next blog).

Myth number one, BUSTED! According to the way conventional medicine defines it, there is no good or bad cholesterol.

Ron Rosedale, MD, who is widely considered to be one of the leading anti-aging doctors in the United States, does an excellent job of explaining how the cholesterol differs.

"Notice please that LDL and HDL are lipoproteins -- fats combined with proteins. There is only one cholesterol. There is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' cholesterol.
Cholesterol is just cholesterol.
It combines with other fats and proteins, to be carried through the bloodstream, since fat and our watery blood do not mix very well.
Fatty substances therefore must be shuttled to and from our tissues and cells using proteins. LDL and HDL are forms of proteins and are far from being just cholesterol.
In fact we now know there are many types of these fat and protein particles. LDL particles come in many sizes and large LDL particles are not a problem. Only the so-called small dense LDL particles can potentially be a problem, because they can squeeze through the lining of the arteries and if they oxidize, which means they turn rancid, they can cause damage and inflammation.
Thus, you might say that there is 'good LDL' and 'bad LDL.'
Also, some HDL particles are better than others. Knowing just your total cholesterol tells you very little. Even knowing your LDL and HDL levels will not tell you very much."

So the total score of your cholesterol levels and your LDL and HDL do not tell you the whole story. In my next blog, I will discuss how to read your medical test and what to get tested for.


Questions or comments email at yuri@absolutefitnj.com