DeZwarteRidder schreef op 29 maart 2015 11:09:
In fact, avoiding cholesterol in your diet is actually more harmful to your health than helpful!
A 2009 study showed that dietary cholesterol had very little impact on blood cholesterol levels in about 75% of the population.
The other 25% were considered hyper-responders." That is, there appeared to be a connection between high cholesterol consumption and high levels of cholesterol in the blood.
But that wasn't necessarily bad news.
Even among the hyper-responders in which both LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol) were increased, the ratio was unaffected and did not increase the risk of heart disease. [1]
As Ancel Keys, who is considered the “father” of the diet-heart hypothesis, said in 1997:
“There’s no connection whatsoever between the cholesterol in food and cholesterol in the blood. And we’ve known that all along. Cholesterol in the diet doesn’t matter at all unless you happen to be a chicken or a rabbit.”
What Really Causes Heart Disease?
Now that recent research suggests cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease, what is the real culprit?
Most researchers now believe the primary cause of heart disease is inflammation and oxidative stress.Studies comparing cholesterol levels in men and women illustrate a big flaw in the diet-heart hypothesis:
Women suffer 300% less heart disease than men, and yet have higher average cholesterol levels.
The recent Conference on Low Blood Cholesterol reviewed 11 major studies that included 125,000 female participants.
The conclusion:
“There was absolutely no relationship between total cholesterol levels and mortality from cardiovascular or any other causes.”
Researchers also recently conducted more than 40 trials to determine whether lowering cholesterol levels can prevent heart disease.
In some trials, heart disease rates rose and in others, they fell.
But when the results of all of the trials were pooled together, the results were surprising …
As it turns out, just as many people died in the treatment groups (who had their cholesterol levels lowered by drugs) as in the control groups (who had no treatment).
The chart above shows that Australian Aboriginals have the highest rate of heart disease. Yet, this group reportedly has the lowest cholesterol levels.
Meanwhile the Swiss (on the far right side of the chart) have the highest average cholesterol levels … and one of the lowest levels of heart disease.
Dr. Frederick Stare, a longtime American Heart Association member and (former) proponent of the diet-heart hypothesis, had this to say:
“The cholesterol factor is of minor importance as a risk factor in (cardiovascular disease). Of far more importance are smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, insufficient physical activity and stress.”
Stay tuned, as I plan to cover the real causes of heart disease in next week’s issue.
Dangers of Lowering Your Cholesterol
As I said earlier, it can be extremely harmful to reduce or even try to eliminate cholesterol from your diet.
For starters, cholesterol is an essential nutrient required by every single cell of the body to function properly.
Second, cholesterol is necessary for every steroid hormone (which is synthesized from cholesterol), including the sex and adrenal hormones.
Third, cholesterol helps to convert sunlight to Vitamin D in the human body.
Without it, you wouldn’t be able to benefit from the Vitamin D that your body needs. This "sunshine vitamin" boots our immune systems and contributes to healthy bones and teeth, among other benefits.
Bottom line: Not only does dietary cholesterol NOT affect blood cholesterol levels, but also total cholesterol levels in general DO NOT cause heart disease.
I encourage you to get the word out about this and tell your family, friends and neighbors …
Though the government is changing its stance, I fear the majority of Americans will stick to what they've been taught about cholesterol.
So I hope for you to pass this along, and spread the truth so we can all live healthier lives.
Best,
Brad Hoppmann
Publisher, Uncommon Wisdom Daily