Nutritionally Speaking: Beneficial Cholesterol, Part 1

By Yaakov Levine

I often am asked by clients and others about alternatives to prescription medications for lowering their cholesterol levels. I have found this question to be a great lead in for some education about the benefits (yes benefits) of cholesterol.

Our bodies are made up of billions of cells, and each one of them produces cholesterol. If we did not have cholesterol and saturated fats in our cells, we would be like worms or slugs, the cholesterol gives our cells shape and sturdiness. The ability of cholesterol and saturated fats to reinforce tissues is particularly important in our blood vessels, since the blood vessels withstand the pressure of the blood being pumped around our bodies. The flow of blood through our medium and larger arteries causes some saturated fats and cholesterol to form a protective layer as protection from damage.

Cholesterol is critical for brain and eye development of a fetus and newborn baby. About 25% of our body’s cholesterol is in our brain. Human breast milk provides cholesterol, and the enzyme needed to absorb the cholesterol required for development. Infant formulas usually brag about their products low cholesterol amounts which deprive the infants a healthy start.

One of our important materials for protecting our nerve cells is called myelin. Myelin is a coating that protects nerves, and allows for the flow of messages that travel along the nerves. About 20% of myelin is cholesterol. When we interfere with the body’s ability to produce cholesterol, we threaten the nervous system. One of the side effects of cholesterol lowering drugs is memory loss. A former NASA scientist and astronaut, Duane Graveline, MD has written a book titled, Lipitor: Thief of Memory, Statin Drugs and the Misguided War on Cholesterol. He writes that he has been able to save his memory by stopping the medication and eating plenty of high cholesterol foods, including eggs, meat and fish.

Our bodies can produce most of cholesterol we need. About 85% of our cholesterol is produced in our bodies, and about 15% comes from our food. When we eat foods low in cholesterol, our bodies compensate by producing more. Cholesterol is an important part of our healing process, and studies have found higher levels of cholesterol in our blood after surgeries, injuries, and dental work. Where there is cell repair and replacement there will also be cholesterol. If our cholesterol is high, should we be concerned that there may be some disease present and not rush to reduce our cholesterol level without further investigation?

Our cholesterol levels are regulated by our liver. Our liver also produces bile which is made out of cholesterol. The bile produced in our livers is stored in our gallbladder until we eat some fat. When we eat fat a signal goes to our gallbladder to expel bile into our small intestine to help with digestion and absorption. After the bile completes it’s digesting job about 95% is sent back to the liver to be recycled and used again. Lipitor, a commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drug lists some common side effects on their website. Some of them are: constipation, headache, upset stomach, and diarrhea. These side effects are also signs that here is not enough bile flowing to assist digestion. Without bile we cannot breakdown and absorb our fat soluble vitamins, A, E, D and K.

I am not implying or suggesting that you discontinue any medications prescribed by your physician. This article is intended as an invitation to educate yourselves, and in doing so achieve greater health. In Part 2, I will discuss the importance of cholesterol’s role in production of vitamin D, its role in immune function, and its role in our Endocrine system. For more information about this topic or other nutritional issues contact me at: nutritionallyspeaking@gmail.com or 541 895-2427.