From what I've read about the whole cholesterol thing, it was bad science that gave it the rep in the first place.
Cholesterol is very important to the body, being the building block of most of the hormones, and used in tissue repair, I think it's involved in collagen synthesis.
When some of the early studies of heart problems were done, the cholesterol found imbedded in the arteries was assumed to be the cause. But it was a symptom of artery inflammation and the effects of oxidative stress. The cholesterol was there because the body was trying to fix the problem.
85% of the cholesterol in your body never passed your lips. It was made in your very own liver.
Clearly, diet is important. But IMHO the "fad" part of medicine has poorly served many. There is now a skyrocketing number of breat cancer cases. But as they've recently discovered, these cases could be significantly reduced by vitamin D. Same deal with colon cancer. Estimates are 50,000 more people a year died from other forms of cancer than might have gotten skin cancer if people got enough vitamin D.
Now they are saying if you don't get enough Omega 3's, your cells will take up the trans-fats into the cell membranes. And they totally mess up the chemistry of the cell.
When some of the early studies of heart problems were done, the cholesterol found imbedded in the arteries was assumed to be the cause. But it was a symptom of artery inflammation and the effects of oxidative stress. The cholesterol was there because the body was trying to fix the problem. 85% of the cholesterol in your body never passed your lips. It was made in your very own liver.
Vitamin C would help out the arteries a lot IMHO. Humans are one of only three mammals (Human, Gorilla, and Ginuea pig) that DO NOT produce their own C. And C is necessary for keeping arteries elastic and whole. I read somehwere that C in serium in the blood from a mamal that produces its own,, would equate to around 4~5 thousand mg's a day for an average sized human.
Also regarding cholesterol. The brain also produces its own, cholesteral, as it is too large to cross the blood brain barrier. Unfortunately, drugs like lipitor are small enough to pass that barrier and can affect the brains own supply of cholesteral, leading too all sorts of mental degeneration problems.
Click the pick for more info on statin drugs from someone not trained in hysterics.
