CHOLESTEROL, THE TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES!
The topic of cholesterol is one that is often very controversial, and a subject that is misunderstood by many. This will be a three-part series allowing me to shed some light on the subject and hopefully dispel some misconceptions, as well as offer an opposing viewpoint on some misleading information.
First, I would like to have us all begin on a level playing field with the understanding that cholesterol is not "Bad" or "Good". It is "Appropriate". Cholesterol is necessary for the normal physiologic functions of numerous processes in the body. For example, cholesterol is a necessary constituent in the production of most hormones that your body manufactures. It is also a major component required in the manufacture of vitamin D, which if discovered today would be considered a hormone itself, and not a vitamin. That however is the subject for me to discuss at another time.
The medical/pharmaceutical industry has demonized cholesterol itself without transparency as to what this substance does and without recognizing that we would literally die without cholesterol. The fact that they coined the terms "Good, and Bad cholesterol" to describe high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) forms of cholesterol was an effort to demonize this substance. I would prefer instead to label these two forms of cholesterol as "appropriate high-density cholesterol" (AHC), and "appropriate low-density cholesterol" (ALC).
Let's now take a brief look at the physiology of cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced in the liver. Here we have the production of both AHC and ALC. Interestingly, the liver produces 2-3 times more ALC cholesterol than AHC. If ALC were truly bad for us, then why would our bodies be producing that much more of what they call the "Bad" form than the good form of cholesterol? Are our bodies preprogrammed genetically in all of us to kill us as rapidly as possible???? Of course not. There must be another reason. Well it just so happens that there is, and it is not based on self-destruction, but rather on self-preservation. You see ALC (LDL) cholesterol is used by the body to "heal" damage to the tissues. It is also used to quell areas of the life killing inflammation occurring in the tissues of our bodies.
The fact of the matter is that we literally have NO evidence that normal ALC (LDL) cholesterol is pathologic (indicative of or caused by disease). In fact, for cholesterol to be considered a pathogenic substance to our bodies it must first be modified and take on a "free radical form". This must occur before it can cause any type of cardiovascular, or musculoskeletal pathologies. This form of ALC (LDL) stimulates the immune system to form antibodies against it. In other words, it acts like an invading foreign body, like the way that a virus or bacteria would be attacked by your body's immune system.
The question in your mind should be; "Well then how does large, soft, buoyant non-pathogenic ALC (LDL) become a small, dense, free radicalized, disease promoting form of ALC (LDL)?" The answer my friends is the dreaded culprit of many disorders, or if you would prefer diseases, from which millions in our society suffer today, that is INFLAMMATION. And, people with "metabolic syndrome" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, increased abdominal body fat, and high cholesterol and triglycerides) suffer from chronic inflammation which is indeed killing them!
So, now you should be asking; "Just where does all of this inflammation come from?" Now that I have piqued your interest, stay tuned for that answer and more, in my next installment.