Cholesterol: Myth vs. Reality

Get your facts straight with these debunked myths.

There's a lot of talk about cholesterol these days. In fact, about half of all Americans have levels that are too high. Almost everyone knows that too much cholesterol gums up the arteries, setting the stage for a heart attack. However, most do not understand the complexities of cholesterol. This lack of knowledge has led to the creation of many false facts. Here we will reveal the truth about seven popular cholesterol myths.

Myth: Cholesterol is inherently bad.
Reality: All mammals need cholesterol to survive.

Myth: High cholesterol is dangerous.
Reality: High cholesterol is not a problem by itself. But an unfavorable ratio of "good" to "bad" cholesterol, along with factors such as your weight, the amount of exercise you get, and your family health history could be trouble.

Myth: People who have heart attacks have high cholesterol.
Reality: Although high cholesterol is a significant risk factor in heart disease, some people develop heart disease and have heart attacks even though their cholesterol levels are normal or even low.

Myth: You must cut out cholesterol-containing foods if you are to lower your blood cholesterol levels.
Reality: Cholesterol in the blood comes from your diet but also from the cholesterol your liver makes. In fact, your liver makes far more cholesterol than you eat. So cutting back on dietary cholesterol may have little effect.

Myth: I should avoid eggs to maintain a healthy cholesterol level.
Reality: Several published studies show that an egg or two a day has little effect on people with normal cholesterol levels.

Myth: If I follow a low-fat diet and exercise a lot, my cholesterol levels will go down.
Reality: Some people's genetic makeups mean that lifestyle changes alone -- no matter how rigorously they're followed -- won't be enough to bring cholesterol levels into the safe zone. These people will require medication in addition to lifestyle changes.

Myth: Young people don't have high cholesterol.
Reality: Everyone from age 20 up should have their cholesterol measured. Studies have shown that plaque can build up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart as early as the late teens.

From Cut Your Cholesterol

 

• Cholesterol
• • Heart Disease

• What Exactly Is Cholesterol?
• A substance your body can't live without.
• 
• The Truth About Eggs and Cholesterol
• This ideal source of protein doesn't affect cholesterol and can even be beneficial.
• 
• Kids and Cholesterol
• America's children are increasingly suffering from cholesterol problems.
• 
• Stress: A Heart Disease Risk Factor on a Par With Smoking and Obesity
• An underlying problem that can have severe physical consequences.
• 
• Has Your Doctor Suggested Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?
• The basics on this often misunderstood medication.
• 
• The Cholesterol-Friendly Grocery List
• Arm your kitchen with these cholesterol-lowering ingredients.
• 

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