Cholesterol is not the enemy.  Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that has many important functions to help support life.  It is needed to construct membranes surrounding our cells, is vital to proper neurological function, and it assists in the production of sex hormones, adrenal hormones, and bile acids.  

   Cholesterol is found naturally in our food and is produced by our bodies whether there is any cholesterol in the diet or not.  The body can remove cholesterol when enough fiber is consumed.  Otherwise, it will be reabsorbed and reused by the body.  

   High cholesterol and other blood risk factors are seen in hundreds of millions of people worldwide.  These are actually secondary factors, or symptoms, of a more serious underling problem.  

   Elevated cholesterol levels are the result of weakened artery walls.  When your body does not receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients in the diet, the arterial walls may weaken.  As your arterial walls weaken your body develops a protective inflammatory response of releasing more cholesterol from the liver to repair these artery walls.

An increased production of cholesterol and other repair factors in the liver increases the levels of these molecules in the bloodstream and, over time, renders them risk factors for cardiovascular disease.  Thus, the primary measure for lowering cholesterol and other secondary risk factors in the bloodstream is to stabilize the artery walls and, thereby, decrease the metabolic demand for increased production of these risk factors in the liver.

   Essentially, cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) are used to treat the symptom of elevated cholesterol without addressing the cause of this elevation - weakened arterial walls.  This has been under scrutiny and is currently being challenged by a new report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  Their conclusion, "current clinical evidence does not demonstrate that titrating lipid therapy to achieve proposed low cholesterol levels is beneficial or safe."   

   Steps to assist you in controlling your cholesterol levels are to follow a safe and effective exercise program that includes strength training and cardiovascular activities, loose excess body fat, eat a healthy diet.  Of great benefit will be to increase your fiber intake to 30-35g, eat colorful fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meats and fish, beans, nuts, legumes, and essential fatty acids, take a good multi-vitamin, and drink 3-5 cups of green tea every day.