Myth 1. Cholesterol is our enemy!

Recently, cholesterol has been considered the number one enemy for the blood vessels, heart, and liver. As a result, an increasing number of cholesterol-free products are appearing on store shelves. But think about it—when we consider that cholesterol is a part of every cell and performs vital functions in our body, how can it be dangerous?

Cholesterol is a part of cell membranes and a building material — especially in the nervous system. Without cholesterol, the body cannot function properly. It is the main element in the formation of bile acids, steroid and sex hormones, and breast milk. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in maintaining normal intestinal cells, and Vitamin D is synthesized from it under the influence of sunlight.

Myth 2. The lower the cholesterol, the better!

Think about how many body functions are affected when cholesterol levels are too low. Every part of the body suffers—from the hormonal system to the nervous and reproductive systems. If cholesterol levels are below safe, you should worry about serious body disorders. When this happens, the risk of liver damage is especially high and you should consult a doctor for testing.

Myth 3. The body receives cholesterol only through food!

There are two types of cholesterol in the human body: exogenous (supplied with food through the gastrointestinal tract) and endogenous (produced in the liver). Most human tissues can synthesize cholesterol, but most of it is synthesized in the liver. Only 10 to 20 percent of total cholesterol comes from food.

The liver synthesizes approximately 1000 mg of cholesterol every day, which is necessary for digestion, cell development, and the production of vitamins and hormones. Cholesterol imbalance in the body is primarily due to internal problems.

Myth 4. You should completely abandon high-cholesterol foods!

Our body needs cholesterol every day, as it is a building material (a skeleton, a part of the cell membrane), and our cells are renewed every day. Therefore, eliminating high-cholesterol foods would only cause problems. For example, bile is secreted only in response to fat intake. The formation and secretion of bile play a key physiological role in the regulation of cholesterol balance.

Therefore, you cannot completely abandon fats. A daily diet should be complete and balanced, with 60 percent carbohydrates (bread, pasta, fruits, vegetables), 30 percent fats (mainly olive oil), and 10 percent proteins (meat, fish, beans, peas, beans). Proteins are essential as they are involved in transporting cholesterol.

Myth 5. Cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease!

Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the arteries resulting from lipid metabolism disorders, and it causes the deposition of cholesterol in the vessels. First, microcracks appear in the vessel wall, and then immune cells (monocytes) use bad cholesterol for the restoration of the vessel wall.

Accumulated cholesterol replaces microcracks, leading to the formation of plaque that disrupts blood flow in the vessel. Many factors can damage the vessel, including smoking, an unhealthy lifestyle, stressful situations, lack of protein in the diet, hormone therapy, and so on.

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease, so it cannot be blamed solely on cholesterol—although cholesterol can speed up the development of such diseases.

23 March 2021