If you have been paying any attention to the prevailing medical attitudes towards cholesterol you are no doubt very familiar with popular belief that eating foods with lots of cholesterol is horrible for you heart and overall health.

Nothing however could be further from the truth.  In face, low fat diets in general have been shown to be very detrimental to overall health.  Some doctors are even saying that the low fat guide lines should never have been created in the first place!  Cholesterol is actually a healing molecule with strong anti-oxidant properties. It is used in many places in the body and is the backbone of stress and sex hormones and vitamin D.

As the prevailing wisdom slowly shifts and accepts that low fat (and low cholesterol) diets are detrimental lets take a look at 3 of the biggest myths about cholesterol.

Myth #1: Eating foods high in cholesterol increases blood cholesterol levels.

The truth is that what you eat does little to effect your blood levels of cholesterol.  You liver tightly regulates cholesterol levels so if you eat plenty one day the liver responds by not producing as much.  Your body actually prefers to be spoon-fed cholesterol than to have to produce it in the liver.  It is actually unchecked inflammation caused by excess blood sugars that causes cholesterol to increase in the blood as a reaction to the systemic damage done by high blood sugar levels maintained over time.

Myth #2: Eating cholesterol will increase my risk of heart attack or stroke.

Blaming cholesterol for a heart attack or stroke is like blaming the band aid for the cut on your finger.  When damage to the blood vessels occurs due to excess inflammation cholesterol is sent there to help repair the cells involved.  When the inflammation is constant the cholesterol cannot be used and piles up creating the plaques often associated with heart attack and strokes.  The problem is not that cholesterol is in the blood but that it cannot be fully used due to rampant inflammation.

Myth #3: Foods containing cholesterol are unhealthy anyways.

Cholesterol is naturally found in animal products like eggs, meat, cheese and dairy.  While its true that highly processed foods are unhealthy (because of preservatives, nitrates and other chemicals added to the meat) whole foods are the exact opposite! Eggs in particular are like natures multivitamin.  Meat contains many vitamins and minerals and butter contains healthy fats.  The take home message here is “eat real foods and be healthy.”

I hope you found this article interesting.  There is so much exciting research going on regarding cholesterol and its benefits.  If you liked this article like and share on Facebook.  Also, don’t forget to sign up for my email list and like our Facebook page!

For more information about our office visit www.arvoldchiro.com