Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a vital substance for the body, often misunderstood as a cause of heart disease. In reality, it is a protective source of cholesterol, used for producing essential hormones such as progesterone and DHEA, which are crucial for overall health and well-being 1.

Research has shown that people who are chronically deficient in cholesterol have a remarkable absence of atherosclerosis, and mice genetically deficient in pituitary hormones, which regulate cholesterol production, live two to three times longer than normal mice 2. Furthermore, when pituitary glands are removed from animals and they are given a thyroid supplement, they live much longer than animals with their pituitaries 2.

The ratio of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) to LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) cholesterol is often cited as a measure of heart health, but this is misleading. A high HDL ratio can actually be a sign of increased cancer risk and dementia risk, as it is a defensive response to stress and toxins 3. In contrast, LDL is a protective source of cholesterol, and a ratio of two or three LDL to one HDL is generally considered reasonable 7.

Cholesterol is also essential for detoxification, and both HDL and LDL have anti-inflammatory properties. However, HDL has more specific antitoxic effects, and toxins such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, radiation, estrogen, and alcohol can increase HDL relative to LDL 2. Additionally, DHEA can lower LDL cholesterol by increasing metabolism and redirecting it away from cholesterol production 8.

It's worth noting that dietary cholesterol does not increase biomarkers for chronic disease, and in fact, a hypercholesterolemic diet applied to rat dams has been shown to protect their offspring against cognitive deficits 6.