For decades, we’ve been told that cholesterol is the enemy. But is it really that simple?
Over the past 40 years, the “healthy” cholesterol range has gotten lower and lower. Statin prescriptions have skyrocketed. Yet heart disease continues to rise. What gives?
The Changing Story of Cholesterol
More and more doctors now agree: total cholesterol alone isn’t the best indicator of heart health.
- HDL (“good” cholesterol) should be high.
- Triglycerides should be low.
- Some doctors now question the focus on LDL (“bad” cholesterol) altogether.
- Others argue that more specific markers like ApoB, LDL particle size, or Lp(a) are what really matter.
- Meanwhile, some naturopathic and functional medicine doctors say healthy cholesterol levels vary significantly. According to them, healthy levels range from 200 to 500, depending on the person!
Confused yet?
Here’s the Truth
Cholesterol is not a disease.
It’s a natural, essential substance your body produces on purpose. Cholesterol supports your brain, hormones, nerves, and cell membranes. Without it, your body can’t function properly.
If cholesterol rises, it may be a sign of something wrong—but it is not the cause of disease.
Pills that lower cholesterol don’t address why it went up in the first place. In fact, lowering cholesterol too much can be dangerous:
- Low cholesterol is associated with increased risk of ADHD, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Statins can reduce brain cholesterol—which is critical for cognitive function—but most doctors don’t even monitor brain-related effects when prescribing them.
- Cholesterol is essential to brain health, yet we treat it like a toxin.
What the Data Shows
- Half of all people who suffer heart attacks have “normal” or even “good” cholesterol levels.
- Despite the drastic increase in statin prescriptions, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease are still rising.
- Several studies show that many people who live to 100+ actually have “high” cholesterol. This challenges the idea that lower is always better.
The Keto Connection
New studies and documentaries show a growing body of evidence. Many people who follow a ketogenic (keto) diet experience very high cholesterol levels. Yet, they stay metabolically healthy. In fact, some of these individuals:
- Control or reverse type 2 diabetes
- Improve mental health conditions
- Resolve inflammatory disorders
They do this not by avoiding cholesterol. Instead, they embrace a low-carb, high-fat lifestyle. This lifestyle improves insulin sensitivity and lowers inflammation, even as LDL numbers increase.
This emerging research challenges the outdated model that cholesterol = heart disease. It highlights the importance of context and metabolic health over raw numbers.
What Should You Do?
Instead of obsessing over your cholesterol number:
- Remove inflammatory and processed foods.
- Eat real, whole foods with healthy fats like omega-3s. (click here to learn more about the 90 essential nutrients)
- Avoid seed oils and trans fats.
- Focus on nutrient-dense foods, especially those rich in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K2).
If you’ve already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or heart disease, this still applies—especially if you’re on medication. You may eventually be able to reduce or discontinue those meds under your doctor’s guidance—but it starts with fixing the root causes.
