Think cholesterol is your enemy? Think again.
Cholesterol: Demonized for Decades
For years, cholesterol has been portrayed as a silent killer—clogging arteries and leading to heart attacks. The medical advice? Eat less fat, especially animal fat. But what if we’ve misunderstood cholesterol all along?
Is Dietary Cholesterol Really the Problem?
Let’s look at Mongolian nomads, whose diet consists almost entirely of fatty meat and dairy—365 days a year. Surprisingly, tests show their cholesterol levels are normal. Why? Because dietary cholesterol has far less impact on blood cholesterol than we thought.
The liver produces around 80% of the cholesterol in your body. When dietary intake increases, liver production decreases to maintain balance. So no, eating eggs or butter doesn't spike your cholesterol overnight.
What Actually Raises Cholesterol?
The answer is chronic inflammation. When your body experiences inflammation—from poor diet, stress, smoking, or visceral fat—it produces cholesterol to repair the damage. Cholesterol is your body's repair tool, not the cause of the damage.
A 2004 TIME Magazine cover called inflammation the “Secret Killer” behind major diseases like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. Inflammation creates the conditions that lead to cholesterol spikes—not the other way around.
So What Causes Inflammation?
- Processed carbs (sugar, white flour, junk food)
- Refined vegetable oils and trans fats
- Chronic stress and sleep deprivation
- Smoking and excessive alcohol
- Visceral fat (especially around the belly)
- Blood sugar spikes and crashes (glycemic volatility)
These lifestyle factors silently damage blood vessels. Cholesterol comes in to patch things up, just like paint over rust. So if your cholesterol levels are high, ask yourself: Where is the inflammation coming from?
Cholesterol’s Vital Roles in the Body
Cholesterol is essential for:
- Building cell membranes
- Producing hormones (like estrogen and testosterone)
- Making vitamin D
- Creating bile acids for fat digestion
- Protecting brain cells and nerve sheaths
Without cholesterol, human life is impossible.
Modern Guidelines Are Changing
In 2015, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee removed the 300mg/day cholesterol limit, citing insufficient evidence that dietary cholesterol raises blood cholesterol. Even the American Heart Association now focuses more on inflammation and insulin resistance than on fat intake alone.
Inflammation Is the Fire, Cholesterol Is the Firefighter
Trying to lower cholesterol without addressing inflammation is like shutting down a fire department during a wildfire. Instead of blaming cholesterol, treat the root cause—chronic inflammation.
How to Lower Inflammation Naturally
- Cut out refined sugars and flours
- Eat more anti-inflammatory fats: omega-3s, olive oil, avocados
- Manage stress, sleep well, and exercise moderately
- Avoid processed foods and additives
- Take supplements like curcumin, vitamin D3 + K2, and magnesium
Conclusion: Change the Conversation
—SELFLOVECLUB Team