Understanding Cholesterol

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The word cholesterol often is associated with obesity, disease, heart attacks and death. Foods high in cholesterol are avoided and labeled bad for you. The reality is all nutrients are useful to the body in some ways and are essential. It is when consumed in excess, that nutrients can become bad. Cholesterol is one of the most vilified nutrients. Many of our preconceptions about cholesterol are based on myths and misinformation. Some of the most common myths are addressed below.

Myth Number One: Many believe that cholesterol is bad for your body. It is actually vital for human life and health. It is a water insoluble that serves as a stable ingredient in a variety of structures within the body. Cholesterol is a part of very living cell and it prevents the cell’s contents from leaking out. It also keeps harmful chemicals outside the cell from getting in and plays a role in forming key hormones. When an infection or inflammation is in the body, cholesterol is concentrated in the areas that are getting healed. It is important repair substance.

Since cholesterol is essential in so many functions, inadequate levels may lead to some health problems. Low levels have been linked to depression because of the role cholesterol plays in the metabolism of serotonin, an important mood-regulating chemical in the brain that is lower in people with low cholesterol. Low cholesterol levels can also be indication of other serious health problems such as overactive thyroid glands, liver disease, anemia, malnutrition, cancer and poor absorption of foods from the digestive tract. A healthy liver can manufacture all the cholesterol it needs so abnormally low cholesterol levels are rare. In addition only a fraction of cholesterol consumed in foods is actually absorbed into the body.

There are the labels of “good” cholesterol – high density lipoproteins (HDL) and “bad” cholesterol- low density lipoproteins (LDL). They are actually not cholesterol but fat molecules that transport the cholesterol throughout the body. LDL moves cholesterol from the liver where t is made through the bloodstream and then depositing it into the tissues where it is needed. HDL moves cholesterol from the tissues back to the liver where the majority is secreted in the bile used to break down foods. Both LDL and HDL are good in the proper ratios. The reason LDL is called “bad” is that a too-high ratio of LDL to HDL is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease. But LDL is needed by the body.

Myth Number Two: Many believe a cholesterol level above 200 is too high. Determining what an unhealthy cholesterol level is can be confusing. . The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have the following guidelines:

Desirable: LDL less than 130 mg// Total Cholesterol less than 200 mg (ideally 180)

Borderline High: LDL level 130-159 mg// Total Cholesterol 200-239 mg

Too High: LDL 160 mg or above// Total Cholesterol 240 mg

However, the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel recently published new, lower guidelines recommending that LDL levels be brought to below 100 mg for high and moderate risk patients.

There are many who believe the numbers are simply irrelevant. The normal levels depend on the patients. They base their beliefs on studies which indicated there may be no connection between high cholesterol levels and heart disease. Some researchers even believe relatively high cholesterol levels may actually prevent coronary heart disease by defending against the infections that may contribute to the disease.

Evidence now indicates the quality of LDL particles may be as important as the number. Some are big and fluffy and are less likely to deposit on an arterial wall. Others are small and dense and are more likely to. Some studies indicate moderate exercise may improve the quality of LDL particles.

Myth Number Three: Many believe that cholesterol is the main cause of coronary heart disease. In fact the majority of the risk is not explained by cholesterol. The old standard belief was that cholesterol coated and clogged arteries, which in turn caused potentially fatal problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

LDL’s are small particles, and those that are especially small can infiltrate the lining of the artery and get deposited on its wall. There are a number of reasons cholesterol might end up there, including preceding damage to the artery caused by infection, previous inflammation or the presence of free radicals. Some of the LDL that gets trapped in artery walls can then get damaged by any number of factors and then provoke a complex (secondary) inflammatory response. These trapped fats are subsequently ingested by the immune system’s white blood cells, which accumulate within the artery wall. Over the years these accumulation along with fibrous material, calcium and other substances, can partially or fully block the artery. This condition is atherosclerosis. A complete blockage can cut off blood supply to the heart or brain resulting in stroke or heart attack.

The important thing is that LDL levels alone do not develop atherosclerosis. It is common in individuals with low cholesterol levels also. Likewise, people with high LDL levels may have perfectly healthy arteries. Generic predisposition is a main factor in coronary disease. Other main indicators are family history of disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking.

Myth Number Four: There is a direct link between eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol and having high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. While some saturated fats do appear to negatively impact lipid blood profiles, there is a lot more to the diet and heart disease connection.

Saturated fat appears to raise LDL by down-regulating LDL receptors in the liver, which are then cleared out of the bloodstream more slowly. It also raises the “good” HDL. Most importantly cholesterol levels and heart disease risks are affected by a combination of other dietary factors.
• Trans-fatty acids raise LDL and lower HDL and therefore have a worse effect than saturated fats on the overall cholesterol ratio.
• Monounsaturated and other healthy fats in nuts, fish , olive oil and avocados, increase the level of LDL in the blood
• Overeating and not exercising raise cholesterol levels by increasing abdominal fat stores.
• B vitamins reduce blood levels of homocysteine, an intermediate in amino acid metabolism. Elevated homocysteine levels are an important risk factor for CHD.
• Plant sterols and stanols reduce cholesterol levels by blocking cholesterol absorption, as does dietary fiber.
• Antioxidants do not reduce cholesterol levels, but they do reduce the oxidation of LDLs in the bloodstream.

It appears the problem rests not with eating too much saturated fat but with eating too much food. A diet need more fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains which are the best sources of monounsaturated fats, B vitamins, fiber, plant sterols, and antioxidants.

Myth Number Five: Drugs that lower cholesterol prolong life. More than 20 million Americans now take some type of drug to lower cholesterol. The most prescribed is Lipitor. While they slightly lower LDL in everyone, they slightly lower heart-disease death rates only in middle aged-men who already have CHD or are at high risk for it.

In addition there are many side effect of this medication including muscle pains and weakness, fatigue, deteriorating cognitive function, liver toxicity, and neuropathy. These problems may be due to the fact that the medication lowers the level of coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like nutrient that plays a vital role in providing energy to the muscles and brain.

It will take awhile before the full story of cholesterol is truly known. But it is evident cholesterol must be considered in a wider content than previously explained. But for now eat a well balanced diet, exercise, maintain a healthy body weight, limit stress, and take prescription medication only if needed.

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