Cholesterol Doesn't Cause Heart Disease

The terms cholesterol and heart disease seem to be permanently linked together, almost as if the former is the main cause of the latter. Nothing could be further from the truth, though, as there is good evidence to suggest that one of the major causes of heart disease, atherosclerosis is in fact caused by ruptured scar tissue within the lining of arteries, rather than a buildup of plaque on the artery walls. Some scientists have assumed that the cholesterol circulating in our bloodstream sticks to the artery walls, and that is to blame for a heart attack in these conditions, when there is strong evidence to suggest otherwise. As much negative publicity has been given to the amount of cholesterol in our bloodstream, linked to the saturated fat content, it is said that these twin evils simply cling to the lining of the arteries and cause a dangerous blockage.

As cholesterol is an important factor in the makeup and control of our bodily cells, it has an important role as a controller of nutrient transfer, the regulation of neuro transmitters and hormones as well as a precursor to the transportation of essential vitamin D. Too little cholesterol and hormonal problems will result, which in itself can lead to disease and major health problems. As cholesterol coats nerve fibers, it is essential to help protect our nervous system and scientists have revealed that lower levels of cholesterol can lead to such awful diseases as Alzheimer's and dementia.

As we all know by now, cholesterol is measured three ways -- total, LDL and HDL. We are told that we may have high cholesterol or low cholesterol and that HDL is "good" and LDL is "bad." HDL and LDL are lipoproteins, responsible for transporting cholesterol. LDL is low-density, carrying the cholesterol from the liver, while HDL is high-density and re-circulates the cholesterol to the liver for redistribution. Remember that fat is transported through the bloodstream, along with cholesterol, in the form of triglycerides. It's inconceivable that our bodies would continue to transport and recycle cholesterol in this fashion if it was inherently bad for us, but that's what some scientists would have you believe.

It is far more likely that cellular damage and inflammation in the artery walls, leading to atherosclerosis, can be caused by high blood sugar, poor nutrition, stress, or high blood pressure, a sad consequence of our modern lifestyles. While research dating back to the 1950s tells us that heart disease is supposedly linked to the amount of fat in our diets, there's been plenty of contradictory evidence, although this has not achieved such strong exposure. Just look at the Eskimos as an example. Their diet is almost exclusively based on meat intake and yet their life spans are higher than average.

The Surgeon General advises us how to construct our diets. We're told not to eat saturated fats, but focus on polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats, but most vegetable oils have high concentrations of Omega-6 fatty acids, which few of us balance with essential or Omega-3 fatty acids, most commonly found in fish. We're told to focus on a diet low in trans fats and even to focus on high carbohydrate diets, but this can cause elevated blood sugar, which we have already discussed as being a potentially major cause of atherosclerosis.

Far too often, medication is indicated for a cholesterol "imbalance," which can often have side effects. The popular form of medication, statin, is believed by many to create more problems than it attempts to solve. It's far more likely that significant changes in lifestyle will reap rewards.