The Truth About Cholesterol

In the1960s, George Mann, a prominent researcher from Vanderbilt University, found that the full fat milk-drinking, red meat-eating Massai tribesmen had some of the lowest blood cholesterol levels ever measured. Here’s what Mann has to say about all of this saturated fat-phobic tomfoolery: “The diet-heart hypothesis has been repeatedly shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of price, profit, and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies, and even government agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest scam of the century.”

Eating fats and animals is what got us here. Sometimes we forget that—for many of us—our ancestors lived in freezing conditions many months out of the year. With no fruits and veggies springing forth from the frozen earth, animals were where it was at! This is how life was for literally millions of years before us. Saturated fat consumption has nothing to do with heart disease. And the link between blood cholesterol and CHD is highly debatable with 50% of all heart attack victims having “normal” cholesterol scores (below 200).

Cholesterol: Did You Know? 

• Every cell in your body requires cholesterol for membrane fluidity and proper function. 

• Cholesterol makes up one-quarter of your brain and is critical for optimal mental function 

 and memory. 

• Cholesterol is the precursor to bile acids, which help with the digestion of fat-soluble vitamins. 

• Cholesterol is the precursor to your steroid hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. 

• The ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is a much better marker for heart disease than  

 total cholesterol. 

• There are several different types of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Large, buoyant LDL does not   

 damage the arteries. Small, dense LDL does. Excess refined carbohydrates increase the latter. 

• Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol is a clear sign of excess refined carbohydrates in the diet.


source: "Dark Side of Fat Loss" by Sean Croxton