{"id":1893,"date":"2014-12-17T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-17T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/ask-will-cholesterol.html"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:16:51","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T15:16:51","slug":"ask-will-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1893","title":{"rendered":"Ask Will: Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n
Dear Will, <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>Our son had his blood tested last week and has high cholesterol\u2026so weird\u2026he is only 10.  <\/span><\/i>

<\/span>My wife is really good about providing a balanced, healthy diet to the kids (has a hard time with me) but he still appears to have some more specific dietary needs.  <\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
The Mediterranean diet, from what I remember, hits cholesterol specifically doesn\u2019t it?<\/o:p><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
Thanks in advance for your help! <\/o:p><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Tedd<\/i><\/span>

<\/span> Follow @willclower<\/a><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/b>Hi Tedd, thanks for the question!! <\/span>

<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a>This is so important to answer because the science on cholesterol is changing under our feet. At first we were told to get our total cholesterol under 200 mg\/dl at all costs (take statins, for example). <\/span>

<\/span>More recently we were told that the total value isn’t as important, so long as the balance between GOOD CHOLESTEROL and BAD CHOLESTEROL is correct. <\/span><\/p>\n

Great review here from the Nat’l Heart Lung and Blood Institute.<\/span><\/a>

<\/span>Something we need to keep in mind is that although the research changes quickly, not all clinicians may keep up with the pace. This can result in outdated advice. It’s not always the case, of course, but it does help explain our confusion when one clinician may say X, a second one emphatically argues for Y, and a third goes totally off-grid with Z.<\/span>

<\/span>What About The Mediterranean Diet?<\/b><\/span>
You’re correct that the Mediterranean Diet is recommended for many things, including overall cardiovascular health. Basically, this approach includes normal foods (fruits and veggies, dairy daily in the form of yogurt or cheese), normal drinks (tea, water, coffee, wine, juice, milk … nothing artificial), meats that lean on fish and chicken, and daily activity. <\/span>

<\/span><\/span><\/a>
I know we don’t live on the Amalfi coast in Italy (bummer, eh?), and so we cannot eat their specific cuisine purchased from their grocery stores on their time schedules. But with your son, if you follow these basic rules you’ll be adapting their principles at least. <\/span>

<\/span>And the impact of this approach on cholesterol — according to the data, see below — will be minimal on the total cholesterol number, and can improve the ratio of GOOD to BAD cholesterol in the process. And <\/span>Tedd, what you’re looking for is a ratio of 1 to 3. <\/span>

<\/span>In other words, if your son’s good cholesterol is 50, the bad should be around 150. Again, if fruit becomes your dessert, you make your own food at your own home from real ingredients, additive sugars are cut out, and deep fried … everything … becomes the vast exception to the rule, then this ratio should move in the healthy direction. <\/span>

<\/span>Let me know if this makes sense, and (as a cure for insomnia, lol) check out the seismic shift on cholesterol research below.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a>Cholesterol Is Getting Another Look<\/span><\/b>
Your body needs cholesterol. In fact, <\/span>a full 75% of all the cholesterol in your body is made by your own liver. <\/span>

<\/span>Your body’s commitment to cholesterol is likely due to the fact that e<\/span>very large axon in your brain is ringed by it. <\/span>And the rest of your body needs it to make vitamin D, hormones, and also to help you digest your food.  <\/span><\/p>\n

That’s how important it is for you. <\/span>

<\/span>But over the past 30 years, we were told that this vital molecule was directly linked to heart disease, and also that eating cholesterol (as in an egg, for example) increased that risk. Fortunately, the research is coming back around on this, and changing its mind. <\/span>

<\/span>Here’s just a taste (so to speak!):<\/span>
1. The cholesterol — heart disease link is not as solid as we thought:<\/b><\/p>\n

In recent years, there have been a number of epidemiological studies that did not support a relationship between <\/span>cholesterol<\/span> intake and cardiovascular disease. Further, a number of recent clinical trials that looked at the effects of long-term egg consumption (as a vehicle for <\/span>dietary cholesterol<\/span>) reported no negative impact on various indices of cardiovascular health and disease. <\/i>STUDY LINK HERE.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


<\/b>2. The targets for dietary cholesterol may be outdated:<\/b><\/p>\n

The recommendations need to be changed.<\/i>The lines of evidence coming from current epidemiological studies and from clinical interventions utilizing different types of <\/span>cholesterol <\/span>challenges support the notion that the recommendations limiting <\/span>dietary cholesterol<\/span> should be reconsidered.<\/i> STUDY LINK HERE.<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


<\/span><\/b>3. Dietary cholesterol has a minimal effect on blood cholesterol levels: <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The preponderance of the clinical and epidemiological data accumulated since the original <\/span>dietary cholesterol<\/span> restrictions were formulated indicate that: (1) <\/span>dietary cholesterol<\/span> has a small effect on the plasma <\/span>cholesterol <\/span>levels with an increase in the <\/span>cholesterol<\/span> content of the LDL particle and an increase in HDL <\/span>cholesterol<\/span>, with little effect on the LDL:HDL ratio, a significant indicator of <\/span>heart disease<\/span> <\/span>risk<\/span>, and (2) the lack of a significant relationship between <\/span>cholesterol<\/span> intake and <\/span>heart disease<\/span> incidence reported from numerous epidemiological surveys. <\/i>STUDY LINK HERE.<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For more information: Click here to visit Will Clower’s website. <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Will,  Our son had his blood tested last week and has high cholesterol\u2026so weird\u2026he is only 10.  My wife is really good about providing a balanced, healthy diet to the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494,281,285],"tags":[284],"class_list":["post-1893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-ask-will","category-mediterranean-diet","tag-cholesterol"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-ux","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2379,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2379","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":0},"title":"How to lower cholesterol WITHOUT killing your liver","author":"Will Clower","date":"May 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"(Reuters) - People using cholesterol-lowering statins -- like Lipitor -- have a higher risks of liver dysfunction, kidney failure, muscle weakness and cataracts and such side effects of the drug should be closely tracked, doctors said on Friday.Great. But I want you to take a look at OUR data from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bookmark and Share","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/s7.addthis.com\/static\/btn\/v2\/lg-share-en.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8502,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=8502","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":1},"title":"Cholesterol Schmolesterol?","author":"Will Clower","date":"September 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Common nutritional advice has told us that cholesterol is a health risk. But as research progresses and we learn more about its functions, it turns out that cholesterol is vital for a healthy body. Cholesterol helps you absorb those vitamins you work so hard to include in your diet. It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Good HDL and bad LDL cholesterol written on blackboard","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cholesterol-written-on-chalkboard-w-HDLLDL.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cholesterol-written-on-chalkboard-w-HDLLDL.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cholesterol-written-on-chalkboard-w-HDLLDL.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cholesterol-written-on-chalkboard-w-HDLLDL.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cholesterol-written-on-chalkboard-w-HDLLDL.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2355,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2355","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":2},"title":"EVOO Amps Up Good Cholesterol","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 19, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Okay, I have to apologize for quoting the ever-perky Rachael Ray (EVOO!! :), happy face, smiley face with an i with a heart over it ;), ooh, another perky icon!) Enough of that. The bottom line for you and me is that we need this oil in our lives, on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bookmark and Share","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/s7.addthis.com\/static\/btn\/v2\/lg-share-en.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2001,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2001","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":3},"title":"RadioWill: All About Cholesterol","author":"Will Clower","date":"December 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is the link for the Saturday Radio Show (airs Saturday at noon EST) www.wmnyradio.com\/business_of_health.aspxAnd you can call in to talk with me during the show:412.333.1360I'm talking about cholesterol, heart disease, weight, the Mediterranean Diet, and \"Beans-n-Greens\"!!WMNY Money Talk 1360For more information: Click here to visit Will Clower's website.","rel":"","context":"In "RadioWill"","block_context":{"text":"RadioWill","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=323"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/microphoneEarphones.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2579,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2579","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":4},"title":"Cheerios is a Drug??","author":"Will Clower","date":"May 15, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"No kidding ... a drug. That is, according to the FDA.In fact, General Mills has been told to change the marketing of its popular Cheerios whole grain cereal, as the health claims it currently uses classify it as an unapproved drug.The food giant has until next week to tell the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2601,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2601","url_meta":{"origin":1893,"position":5},"title":"Tomatoes","author":"Will Clower","date":"March 19, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"The healthiest foods on the planet are the ones we \"know by heart\", like ... the tomato.In fact, the Mediterranean diet is rich in tomatoes, tomato products, and other carotenoids and has been associated with a lower incidence of a slew of nasty chronic diseases.Here's a summary of some of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1893"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3980,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1893\/revisions\/3980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}