Cholesterol: Building a Foundation for Understanding
Before we get too deep into the woods of diabetes, we need to lay out some foundations. This is especially important since there is much misinformation out there about this topic – cholesterol. So if you go to your medical doctor for a general health check up, or if they are worried about your heart, diet or lifestyle, they may run what is called a lipid panel. Many people have seen this before on their labs, it consists of:
• Total Cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• HDL cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol
• Cholesterol/HDL ratio
In this post we are going to talk about the top two: Total Cholesterol and Triglycerides. We will tackle the “good” and “bad” cholesterol concept of HDLs and LDLs in the next post.
Lets take care of a huge misconception right off the bat- the notion that cholesterol is the devil. Cholesterol, unbalanced and unchecked, can be an issue, just like any system within the body. However, cholesterol is a fundamental foundation for our bodies. Involved in vital pathways for digestion, our immune system, memory and proper muscle function. Cholesterol plays an integral role as a:
• Building block for steroid hormones- which you may know better as: cortisol (stress hormone), estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (sex hormones).
•Foundation for bile acids- bile acids are used in the digestion of fats
• Immune system– LDLs (our “bad” cholesterol) is a huge player in the destruction of pathogenic bacteria.
• Cell membranes–
- Cholesterol is found within all of our different cell membranes to increase communication between cells.
- Cholesterol is found in myelin, which forms a wrap around our nerves that allows for rapid and efficient communication.
- Cholesterol is found in various receptor sites for different neurotransmitters (chemical messengers). Some that are very well known, such as: serotonin and oxytocin.
• Vitamin D synthesis- one of cholesterol’s more important roles is in the synthesis of Vit D. This vitamin is a foundation for our immune system and is chronically deficient in most of the population.
• Cardioprotective- one of the vital products of cholesterol pathway is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This molecule is a superstar anti-oxidant within the body that is fundamental in our energy production and heart health.
Therefore, lets think what will happen if we have low levels of cholesterol. I know this may be a foreign concept to many. Very rarely is it ever spoken that there is such a thing as “low cholesterol”. However, after hearing all of the jobs of cholesterol listed above, I would attest that there is such a concept. Additionally, through many research studies that I have read I would suggest to not have cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dL. Many of the symptoms of low cholesterol, and likewise, as side effects of cholesterol lowering medications are:
- Sexual dysfunction- This can manifest as lack of libido, imbalance between sex hormones, such as estrogen dominance, and even infertility.
- Indigestion, gas and bloating- When our bodies are not able to digest fats, we will often have discomfort after eating fatty foods. This can manifest as gas, bloating or tan/fowl smelling stools.
- Immune dysfunction- When we don’t have adequate levels of cholesterol, our bodies are not able to make all of our immune fighters and often we will encounter more and longer lasting periods of sickness.
- Memory and concentration issues- Cholesterol has such an important role in our nervous system and the communication between cells. When the myelin sheath is impaired, communication between nerves is not as efficient, this results in slowed transmission of impulses. Therefore, memory and cognitive functions are often affected.
- Anxiety and depression- Cholesterol is a part of the receptor site for serotonin. Consequently, a very common complaint with cholesterol lowering medications is anxiety and depression. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger, that is a common target for treatment of depression. SSRIs are serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors, that allow serotonin to be used by the receptor for longer periods of time.
Triglycerides are the measure of fat in your blood stream. It is often used as an indirect measure of sugar consumption. This is because fructose, which is a type of sugar, goes straight to the liver and is transformed into triglycerides. Glucose is first sent to muscle cells to be used for energy; however, if they are fully saturated or becoming resistant to glucose, this sugar will continue through and be stored in fat cells. Common table sugar is a 50/50 blend of glucose and fructose. Triglycerides are a form of fat that is used in long term storage within the body. They are made of 3 fatty acids with a “backbone” that holds them together. Whenever the body needs energy, these fatty acids are dislodged from the “backbone” and are broken down for energy production.
Keep your eye out for the next post that will cover our infamous HDLs and LDLs.
If you are just starting this series, check out the first post here: