Inflammation to Blame, Not Cholesterol
Dietary fats, cholesterol, and the levels of serum cholesterol in relation to the development of CVD have been somewhat demonized.
It is not serum cholesterol that influence the endothelium but the inflammatory response that affects the integrity and functionality of the endothelium.
Inflammation that causes endothelial dysfunction seems to be the underlying player for the onset and development of subsequent inflammation-related chronic disorders such as atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD), renal disease, cancer, diabetes, infections, and other comorbidities.
Heart surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell explains that cholesterol and saturated fat DO NOT lead to heart disease, but inflammation does. He goes on to say..
“The injury and inflammation in our blood vessels is caused by the low-fat diet recommended for years by mainstream medicine. What are the biggest culprits of chronic inflammation? Quite simply, they are the overload of simple, highly processed carbohydrates (sugar, flour and all the products made from them) and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower that are found in many processed foods.”
There are many different causes of inflammation, some of the biggest contributors are…
- Diet, think sugar, fast food, processed oils high in omega-6 fatty acids, conventionally farmed meat, processed/packaged food, and alcohol
- Stress and lack of sleep
- Environmental toxins and other chemicals in cleaning products, cosmetics, and other topical agents
The inflammatory response serves a useful purpose within the body as it aims to reduce the offending agent that can cause tissue damage by encouraging wound healing and restoring tissue homeostasis.
And cholesterol itself isn’t all bad. We need cholesterol for certain biological functions. Cholesterol serves as the precursor molecule for the synthesis of vitamin D, steroid hormones (e.g., cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenal androgens), and sex hormones (e.g., testosterone, estrogens, and progesterone). Cholesterol is referred to as the mother of all hormones.
The question remains: “how much do we need to lower the levels of cholesterol”? Given the fact cholesterol plays an important role in several of our cellular and tissue mechanisms, it is not surprising that there are several consequences associated with aggressively reducing cholesterol levels in the body, which has been common practice over the last few decades.
In addition, targeting cholesterol and fat intake by implementing low-fat diets can lead to less absorption and lower bioavailability of other fat-soluble vitamins (especially vitamin D). In ‘The Journal of Immunology’, researchers examined the specific mechanisms by which vitamin D might act on immune and inflammatory pathways in a positive manner. Therefore, lower cholesterol levels do not equal better health, or a lower risk of chronic disease such as CVD. Targeting a risk factor such as high serum cholesterol may decrease the probabilities for a disease, but usually cannot prevent the causation of chronic diseases. Homeostasis and balance are key throughout the body even regarding serum cholesterol levels.
Mediterranean Diet
The best diet to conquer inflammation and chronic disease is the Mediterranean Diet. There has been substantial research on the effects of the Mediterranean Diet and how it can reduce chronic inflammation and subsequent cardiovascular disease. A common feature of the diet amongst populations in the Mediterranean is a relatively high dietary intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, monounsaturated fats, and nuts, followed by moderate consumption of fish, dairy products (mainly cheese and yogurt), alcohol, and low consumption of red and processed meats.
The Mediterranean Diet can beneficially influence several risk factors such as lowering Body- Mass-Index (BMI), blood pressure, reducing insulin resistance, reducing lipid levels (i.e., the ratio of cholesterol/HDL cholesterol), and improving HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol) functionality. The Mediterranean Diet provides bioactive ingredients with beneficial effects that are not limited to decreasing co-absorption of cholesterol and increasing plasma HDL (good cholesterol) levels and functionality, but mainly by providing better stability against oxidation and inflammation.
Here is a Sample Mediterranean Diet Plan
The root of most diseases including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, metabolic disease, cancer, and more is inflammation. So, one of the most important things to do for your health is to lower inflammation and avoid the causes of inflammation. The prevention of chronic disease development is not the reduction of dietary or serum cholesterol but the control of systemic inflammation.
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