It is often said that LDL (low
density lipoprotein) is “bad” because it causes a buildup of
cholesterol in your arteries and HDL (high density lipoprotein) is
“good” because it transports cholesterol from other parts of your body back
to your liver. Based on this outdated information, for years, the typical recommendation was to try to lower your total cholesterol
and LDL, while raising your HDL. However, many recent studies no longer support this approach. Consider the articles featured below and discuss them with your doctor before starting cholesterol medication. 1. Does cholesterol cause heart disease? New study says no. "...The debate rages on, and now we
have another publication questioning the role of LDL as the primary
cause of heart attacks and strokes. A new study published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
reviewed data from over 1 million individuals and concluded that LDL
does not cause heart disease. This is in direct contradiction to recent
publication European Society of Cardiology stating that LDL does directly cause heart disease." Read more here. The similar study says there's no link between cholesterol and heart disease: " Controversial report claims there's no link between 'bad
cholesterol' and heart disease," the Daily Mail reports, while The Times
states: "Bad cholesterol 'helps you live longer." The headlines are based on a new review which aimed to gather evidence from previous observational studies on whether LDL cholesterol (so-called
"bad cholesterol") was linked with mortality in older adults aged over
60. The conventional view is that having high LDL cholesterol levels
increases your risk of dying of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease. Researchers chose 30 studies in total to analyse. 28 studies looked
at the link with death from any cause. Twelve found no link between LDL
and mortality, but 16 actually found that lower LDL was linked with
higher mortality risk – the opposite to what was expected. Only nine studies looked at cardiovascular mortality link
specifically – seven found no link and two found the opposite link to
what was expected. However, there are many important limitations to this review. This
includes the possibility that the search methods may have missed
relevant studies, not looking at levels of other blood fats (e.g. total
and HDL cholesterol), and the possibility that other health and
lifestyle factors are influencing the link. Most importantly, as the researchers acknowledge, these findings do not take account of statin
use, which lowers cholesterol. People found to have high LDL
cholesterol at the study's start may have subsequently been started on
statins, which could have prevented deaths. " Read more here. 2. There is no consensus about definition (numbers) of Normal Cholesterol. But more importantly, "There is no such thing as good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is cholesterol. The chemical formula for cholesterol is C27H46O. There is no good version or bad version of this formula." Dr Zoë Harcombe, PhD Moreover, LDL is not a real "Bad Cholesterol". It's a formula: LDL = Total Cholesterol - HDL - (Triglycerides/5) 3. Not all "unhealthy products" are really unhealthy: This articles were posted by The Washington Post: 4. Nevertheless, If you still believe, that you have to improve your cholesterol levels, go to this web page: How to Improve Cholesterol Levels Without DrugsUseful Links: Disclaimer : All data posted on this web site is for informational purpose ONLY! Do not conduct any medical experiments on yourself, your family members or on your friends. Please contact your physician to discuss this topic. |