Exposing “Healthy” Cholesterol Levels
What the traditional medical system teaches about cholesterol is that there are three markers: total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C and that the markers and the levels associated with those markers are either “good” or “bad”. The chart below shows the recommended level for each marker.
| Cholesterol Marker | Association | Medically Desirable Level |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | Bad, the lower the better | Less than 200 mg/dl |
| LDL-C | Bad, the lower the better | Less than 100 mg/dl |
| HDL-C | Good, but too much isn’t good | More than 50 mg/dl |
Now, erase this chart from your memory as quickly as possibly, because there is no such thing as good and bad cholesterol, or “normal” cholesterol levels. In fact, lower is not better. According to the research, higher cholesterol levels are actually associated with longer and healthier lifespans.1,2,3
Anyone with chronic inflammation, stress, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune issues, leaky gut and many other health issues all NEED higher cholesterol levels to heal. The concept of creating an average or even an ideal level for cholesterol doesn’t make sense because levels can and should change dramatically when any of the previously listed concerns are present. Cholesterol is the building block for all tissues and hormones in the body and is not a bad thing. High cholesterol is a sign that something in the body isn’t functioning properly and more cholesterol is needed to heal. Artificially lowering cholesterol with statin medication interferes with this healing process and makes people sicker. Our bodies don’t make mistakes; they do what they need to do in order to survive when the body isn’t functioning properly.
Why then does the medical system constantly tell patients to lower cholesterol?
Cholesterol levels are determined by the American Heart Association and lab/research companies, which are financially supported by the drug manufacturers that produce the cholesterol-lowering medication (statins). This incentivizes the AHA to recommend lower and lower cholesterol levels to keep people on the medication that financially supports them.
If you are concerned or confused by your cholesterol levels, find a Wellness Way doctor near you. It all starts by shifting your perspective, getting tested correctly and completely, and addressing inflammation. As a result, cholesterol levels will be exactly where they should be…normal. For some people, short-term high cholesterol IS normal because their body is trying to heal.
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