First some perspective.  As the cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn is always pointing out, cholesterol is one risk factor for heart disease, there are many more. Now, let’s clarify something important.  These numbers are not something absolute.  I have had clients who come in with a cholesterol of 201 and are sure their demise is imminent.  On the other side, clients come in with a 198 or 199 and are really happy that they are under the red line and are sure they have nothing to worry about.  Well, both of these thoughts are untrue.  How much these numbers play in to the equation are not as simple as that.  Digest this fact.  Half of the people who have a heart attack in the United States of America (once every 39 seconds) DON’T have high cholesterol and half of the people with high cholesterol, never have a heart attack.  Think about that one!

Four years ago, a relative of mine was bragging about phenomenal blood work.  His cholesterol was around 160-170, his LDL was pretty close to 100.  He works out most days of the week intensely. He would certainly describe his eating as mostly healthy and in comparison to the standard American diet (SAD) it was.  Nevertheless, he had a stroke.  He was age 58 at the time.  Thank G-d, he recovered very quickly and is back to normal, but, he had a stroke.  I bring this example in order to illustrate the fact that numbers on a blood test don’t necessarily tell us everything.

We need cholesterol! One of the most important jobs of cholesterol is to aide in the production of hormones. Cholesterol is stored in the adrenal glands, and other places in the body and is converted to steroid hormones. These steroid hormones perform vital duties to help the body function properly. Without steroid hormones we will have malfunctions with weight, intimacy, digestion, bone health and mental status. 

In addition, cholesterol plays an important role in our body’s digestion. Cholesterol is used to help the liver create bile which aids us in digesting the food that we eat. Without the bile our bodies are unable to properly digest foods, especially fats. When the fat goes undigested it can get into the bloodstream and cause additional problems such as blockages of the arteries and it can cause heart attacks and heart disease.  Yes you read that correctly—without Cholesterol, we can have a heart attack.

For cholesterol to become harmful, it has to oxidize.  Without oxidation, it won’t become a harmful plaque and end up clotting an artery.  So, let’s see what might be better predictors of heart disease.

First, check your blood test of CRP—C-reactive proteins.  They are a sign of possible inflammation.  Tell your doctor to include it on your test, they don’t always.  Second, although not yet a readily available test, there is an inflammatory factor made in our microbiome called TMAO—there are only a few places to test for it, but if you want to diminish the amount in your body, simply cut way back on meat, chicken, fish, eggs and dairy.  These foods contain choline which you gut bacteria then turn into TMA and the TMAO.  Third—has your doctor ordered a blood test to check for lipoprotein (a), referred to as “little a”?  If you have it, it is more likely that you can suffer a heart attack and this should act as an incentive to be extra careful with diet and exercise.  Fourth, is your diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legume, lentils and whole grains?  Do you limit  processed food, animal proteins, dairy and eggs?  Do you include a lot of green leafy vegetables each day? They will keep your endothelial lining of your arteries working well and keeping it improbable for plaques to build and inflame. Do you exercise?  Even a 30-35 minute brisk walk daily does wonders to prevent all heart disease. Finally, if you want to know what’s going on inside, there is a pretty benign test one can take. It’s called a Cardiac Calcium Score.  It has finally been approved by the American Heart Association (15 years too late).  It uses a CT machine with no added iodine.  Radiation is minimal.  It will give you a good idea where you stand and enable you to take every measure needed to prevent heart disease.  Dr. Esselstyn of the Cleveland Clinic says that heart disease is a highly preventable and reversible disease that need not exist.  Dr. Esselstyn also points out that no number on a blood test will give anyone a heart attack but what passes through your lips each day certainly could.

Low cholesterol, unless it is under 150 without statin drugs guarantees nothing.  Concentrate on what does matter which is maintaining good lifestyle habits and testing what matters more.  It will “add hours to your day, days to your year and years to your life.” 

Alan Freishtat is a HEALTH and WELLNESS COACH and PERSONAL TRAINER with 23 years of professional experience. He is a graduate of the eCornell University Certificate course on Plant Based Nutrition for preventing and reversing illness. Alan is director of The Wellness Clinic.  He can be reached at 02-651-8502 or 050-555-7175, or by email at alan@alanfitness.com www.alanfitness.com US Line: 516-568-5027