test2 wrote:
serious questions wrote:So what does raise cholesterol if eggs don't?
Did science ever figure out whether cholesterol is bad in itself or if it's just a generally good indicator that other bad things going on? You can raise your cholesterol by eating cholesterol-rich foods that are otherwise pretty healthy like eggs and shrimp but you make your own cholesterol (in the liver, right?) when you eat fat, particularly saturated fat. These are two distinct ways to raise your cholesterol. Anyone who if they are equivalent?
Cholesterol in and of itself isn't bad, its a critical component of cellular membranes, the myelin sheath that lines the nervous system, and brain tissue. Its excess cholesterol that's bad. Cholesterol is produced by the liver, also dietary consumption (animal products) can increase it but only to a point. Saturated fat consumption raises it by up regulating cholesterol production in the liver (through HMG Co-A Reductase), and is by far the worst offender. Cholesterol is fractionated into LDL, HDL and VLDL. LDL is considered the bad cholesterol, and if above 100 md/dl, is transported into the arterial linings (particularly in areas subjected to turbulent flow and areas of endothelial injury), IE the coronary, renal, popliteal, carotid and femoral arteries. HDL provides "reverse cholesterol transport", picking up excess cholesterol in the arteries and transporting it to the liver where it is excreted. That's why HDL is important, particularly as LDL rises above 100 mg/dl. At LDL levels below 100, HDL level is not critical. Exercise tends to raise HDL, consumption of dietary saturated fat and cholesterol raises LDL. A high complex carbohydrate (70%) low fat (10%), low cholesterol (100mg/day or less) diet has been shown in numerous studies to reduce TC 25 to 30%, lower LDL, triglycerides. reduce blood pressure, normalize blood sugar, weight and a host of other positive benefits. Reduction in the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease is significant, particularly when other risk modification measures are undertaken, IE not smoking and beginning an exercise program. The definitive study was done by Ornish et al, who was able to document evidence of actual reversal of clinically significant coronary atherosclerosis using this approach. As far as elite athletes go, many have seen positive benefit, although there have been few studies done. Dave Scott, Scott Molina, Rob De Castella come to mind. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say the physiology and biochemistry are sound, both for the prevention of western degenerative disease as well as the potential to maximize human performance.