The Cholesterol Myths: True Or False?

What do you think of the cholesterol myths? As a layman, we are confused by the so-called findings of medical researches; especially about the correlation between cholesterol, saturated fat and heart disease.

All these while, we read that high cholesterol levels are the cause of heart disease. But now we keep hearing conflicting and contradictory findings about saturated fat and cholesterol which are said to be the cause of heart disease.

According to doctor-author of "The Cholesterol Myths" Uffe Ravnskov, cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance vital to the cells of all mammals. There are no such things as good or bad cholesterol. There is no strong evidence that too much animal fat and cholesterol in the diet promotes atherosclerosis or heart attacks. Many scientists and physicians believe that cholesterol and saturated fat are wrongly accused for causing heart disease.

I have also read Dr Al Sears' book "The Doctor's Heart Cure" which also says that cholesterol does not cause heart disease, but instead it is the high homocysteine levels. And it is not fat, but starches which is the culprit of heart disease.

There is a fat researcher says that the key to stopping heart disease is by eating less sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Plus minimizing free radical damage by not consuming refined and therefore rancid vegetable oils and by reducing systemic stress.

The reason why we laymen, and even doctors and most scientists have been misled over these cholesterol myths is because opposing and disagreeing results are systematically ignored or misquoted in the scientific press.

There are claims that those cholesterol-lowering drugs which are supposed to address the true cause of heart disease are actually killing us as well. Those statin drugs which lower the cholesterol levels seem to be associated with higher rates of cancer.

Then you may ask, why are we still using these dangerous drugs? Well, It is said that perhaps pharmaceutical companies and the processed-food industry made mega bucks by keeping this "false" belief alive. Statin drugs like Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, etc are big money earners. Remember heart disease is still the number one killer in the world.

Personally, I am still in the dark over who is right or who is wrong over the cholesterol myths. When I had my heart problem, I was told of high level of cholesterol, plaque blockages and hereditary (my mum and brother died of heart attack).

Anyway, for those of you who are suffering from heart attack warning signs, quickly go for your checkup now.