How is cholesterol good for you and your body?

Q. Explain the benefits of cholesterol for the body and its functions. How does it affect joints and organs?

A. Americans are being saturated with anti-cholesterol propaganda. If you watch very much television, you're probably one of the millions of Americans who now has a terminal case of cholesterol phobia. The probaganda is relentless and is often designed to produce fear and loathing of this works of all food contaminants. You never hear the food propagandists bragging about their product being fluoride free or aluminum free, two of our truly serious food-addidtive problems. But cholesterol, an essential nutrient not proven to be harmfull in ANY quantity is constantly pilloried as a menance to your health. If you don't use corn oil, Fleishmann's margarine and Egg Beaters, you are going straight to atherosclerosis hell with stroke, heart attack and premature aging and so are your kids.

William Campbell Douglass, MD
Eat Your Cholesterol

How can my cholesterol be very high if I eat a vegan diet?

Q. I just found out that my cholesterol is in the highest category, including the LDL cholesterol. I am 25 years old, a normal weight, and I have been a vegetarian (but very close to a vegan) for most of my life. I am very upset and confused. Does anyone know why this might be happening?

A. Well dietary factors can include eggs are a source of cholesterol, I think so does milk and dairy products. But even so in vegan diet some cereals (including sugars), oils and seeds contain more than trace amounts of cholesterol, though may have very little effect. Then again as suggested there could be a metabolic problem here, one of which is diabetes.

Cholesterol is generated directly from the food sources but can be synthesized in the "endoplasmic reticulum" ... this is a homeostatic approach to keep the cholesterol level balanced and to avoid dangerously low levels of cholesterol (hypocholesterolemia).

So (in theory) sustained periods of undernourishment may have tricked your body into producing high levels of cholesterol, and these may have remained when you return to a proper routine of eating which is why a balance diet is not about limiting intakes of certain foods but keeping nutrients in regular balance.

"Genes" is too simplistic an excuse, there are environmental factors such as stress and hormones to factor in too. There are plenty of medical arguments to causes and solutions, you may have to have a conversation with your doctor to see what's right for you.

I would (personally) also seek to check if the monitor was calibrated properly or get retested to see if you have returned to normal.

What is the difference between cholesterol and total cholesterol values?

Q. What is the formula for determining total cholesterol, and how does this differ (if at all) from a cholesterol value? In other words, is there a cholesterol value independent of total cholesterol, and, if so, is it used as part of the formula for total cholesterol. Thanks.

A. cholesterol and total cholesterol are the same. The fractions are LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol etc.

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