For decades, cholesterol has been cast as the villain in the health story. We’ve been taught to fear it, suppress it, and monitor it obsessively. But what if the cholesterol narrative we’ve been fed isn’t the whole picture? What if, instead of being something to fight, cholesterol is actually one of the body’s most vital allies in health?
Let’s look at cholesterol not as a threat to eliminate but as an opportunity to broaden our understanding of how the body works, and why it never makes a mistake. Remember… what “they” tell you to do is usually not the best for your health like eat margarine instead of butter!
So, what is Cholesterol?
Well, it’s a waxy, fat-like substance that your body naturally produces playing a central role in many of your body’s functions. It’s the foundation of your sex and stress hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. It’s a precursor for the creation of Vitamin D, especially when sunlight hits the skin. It supports the structure of every cell membrane in your body and it’s involved in brain and nerve function, making up a significant portion of your brain tissue.
This is not a mistake.
Your body produces the bulk of its cholesterol internally because it is essential. The body doesn’t produce something in abundance by error! It does so out of need.
I love to talk about illusions and the health industry has certainly created a whopping illusion around cholesterol: that lower numbers equal better health, and that “high” cholesterol should automatically be corrected. This perspective simplifies a complex system into something fear-driven and manageable through prescriptions like Statins. But it doesn’t ask why cholesterol levels might rise in the first place.
Cholesterol often increases when the body is in need be that, to repair, to adapt, or to buffer against inflammation. Rather than questioning the cholesterol, we might do better to ask: What is the body responding to?
When cholesterol levels rise, it’s often a signal, not a malfunction. Suppressing that signal with medication like Statins may silence the expression, but it doesn’t address the underlying reason for the shift in levels.
So, what’s the real story behind cholesterol and heart health?
We’ve long been told that high cholesterol causes heart disease. But this idea is based on outdated science and has led to billions of people being prescribed statin drugs often without clear benefits and sometimes with concerning consequences. I haven’t meet one person who has done well on Statin’s… quite the opposite actually.
Studies show that half the people who experience heart events have normal cholesterol levels. That’s not a small margin of error that’s a fundamental flaw in the theory. What truly underpins cardiovascular health challenges is inflammation, a chronic, low-grade irritant to the system. When tissues become inflamed, the body sends cholesterol to the site as part of the repair process. So, when cholesterol is found in artery walls, it’s not because it caused the damage it’s there to heal it.
It’s like blaming fire trucks for fires because they’re always at the scene. That got you thinking, didn’t it?
The health industry often overlooks neurological health and the role of lifestyle in setting the stage for inflammation. Inflammation occurs because of highly processed foods, wheat, dairy, refined sugars, seed oils, etc and the chronic stress many experience daily. For example, when you consume wheat, dairy, refined sugars and industrial seed oils, your blood sugar spikes, your cells become irritated, and inflammation rises. Cholesterol is then sent to patch up and calm those inflamed tissues. It’s a beautifully orchestrated symbiotic healing response! It’s certainly not a design flaw.
Statins, the common cholesterol-lowering drugs, work by blocking a liver enzyme that helps produce cholesterol. But this enzyme also helps produce Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a nutrient essential for energy production in every cell especially the heart. While statin drugs are often prescribed to reduce the risk of heart events, they can come with significant trade-offs. Research has shown that for every heart attack potentially prevented, two or more people may experience challenges such as cataracts, compromised liver or kidney function, and significant muscle fatigue. Other commonly reported effects include digestive discomfort, headaches, skin irritation, and a reduction in the body’s natural Vitamin D levels since cholesterol is essential for producing this vital nutrient.
It’s a reminder that suppressing one function can create imbalances elsewhere in the system. This may help explain why fatigue, brain fog, and muscle weakness are common side effects for people on Statins. In trying to “fix” one marker, you end up disrupting a whole set of essential processes. Rather than supporting the body’s natural intelligence, Statins interfere with it. And interference always comes at a cost.
Instead of chasing lower cholesterol numbers, let’s ask different questions:
- What is the body adapting to right now?
- Why might inflammation be occurring?
- How can I support my body’s ability to heal?
At Vital Wellbeing we acknowledge that your body is always working in your favour. It is smart, not stupid, and it wants to express health… always! Your body is your greatest ally.
If you want to support optimal cholesterol function and overall cardiovascular health, here are a few practical suggestions:
- Find your local chiropractor: book an appointment to take care of your nerve system. It truly is your lifeline.
- Nourish with whole foods: particularly those rich in healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, eggs, organic pasture-raised meats, and wild-caught fish.
- Reduce processed and inflammatory foods: especially wheat, dairy and refined sugars.
- Consider natural sources of support: like Camu Camu for antioxidant richness, organic Colloidal Minerals to restore mineral balance, and Magnesium to support, calm and repair.
- Focus on lifestyle rhythm: quality sleep, time in nature, movement, and connection.
- Trust your body: observe changes and what is different with curiosity, not fear.
Cholesterol is not your enemy. It’s not out to sabotage your health. It is, in fact, a key player in your body’s ability to express health and respond to life.
What we’ve been taught about cholesterol is not the whole story. The numbers on your test results are not the final word, they’re a clue. If we shift from fear-based health decisions to trust-based ones, we unlock an entirely different path, one where we observe, understand, and support the body’s natural processes rather than constantly trying to override them.
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Resources:
- The Great Cholesterol Con by Dr Malcolm Kendrick:
- https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/books-by-dr-malcolm-kendrick/the-great-cholesterol-con/
- The Great Cholesterol Myth by Dr Jonny Bowden & Dr Stephen T. Sinatra
- The Cholesterol Conspiracy by Ladd R McNamara, MD
- The Great Cholesterol Con by Anthony Colpo
- The Great Cholesterol Lie by Dr Dwight Lundell, MD
