Day 157- Is There Really Such a Thing as Bad and Good Cholesterol?

Most of us have heard high density lipoprotein or HDL referred to as the "good" cholesterol and low density lipoprotein or LDL referred to as the "bad" cholesterol, but the truth is cholesterol is just cholesterol. Truth is, neither one is actually cholesterol, LDL and HDL are merely protein transport mechanisms for cholesterol. LDL transports cholesterol away from the liver,to the extremities and other organs for various beneficial reasons including the manufacture of important steroidal hormones (DHEA, estrogen, testosterone, pregnenolone, progesterone) and vitamin D. Whereas HDL transports that same cholesterol back to the liver, where it can be recycled.

Instead of saying that there is "good" and "bad" cholesterol the true statement would be that there is good and bad forms of LDL. The bad form of LDL is known as lipoprotein-a. Lipoprotein-a is a smaller and denser molecule than the regular LDL molecule, which can cause problems since it can get stuck between vascular arterial cells which can shut off the natural channels that allow the flow of nutrients in and out of the cells. This blockage can cause an inflammatory response. What you should know is that there are no drugs available out there that address the size of LDL molecules.

So what causes lipoprotein-a molecules to be formed in the body? You guessed it, my favorite answer, YOUR DIET! Diets high in carbohydrates cause the body to produce excess insulin, causing the formation of lipoprotein-a molecules. If you were to look at a blood test, a common pattern that you would see occurring is higher glucose levels along with a higher level LDL and cholesterol markers.

We could also correctly say that there are good and bad forms of HDL cholesterol. Think that the higher your HDL level is the healthier you are? This is not always the case. High HDL above 70-75 mg/dL can be a clue to inflammation in the body or even an autoimmune condition. HDL is raised in what is called the inflammatory peroxidase system.

What I am merely trying to explain is that when it comes to your lipid panel there is not simply "good" or "bad." There are always underlying reasons why these markers are showing the level that they are. Instead of prescribing a one fits all statin drug, why not take a closer look to discover why those markers are at the level they are. Instead of taking a pill that does nothing to truly address the issue take steps to change your diet and find out what may be causing the inflammation, or the reason why your body needs to produce excess cholesterol.

Bottom line is that cholesterol serves a purpose - it is not the evil villain like it has been made out to be. When cholesterol becomes a problem is when diets include trans fats, vegetable oils, hydrogenated oil, and excess sugar and carbohydrates. Cholesterol isn't bad until it becomes oxidized. Instead of putting a ban-aid on the situation, why not figure out why a ban-aid is needed in the first place.

If you are truly concerned about your risk of cardiovascular disease ask your health care practitioner to order you the following markers C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and homocysteine. These are a much more accurate look into your cardiovascular health.

To read more about cholesterol, view my previous blog: Cholesterol, just a little misunderstood.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

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