In this article, let’s explore some of the potential harmful effects of lowering cholesterol without taking into effects the primary purpose of cholesterol for the human body.
Studies show there’s an inverse association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in people over 60 years of age. In other words: the lower the cholesterol levels are, the greater the chance for early mortality. [Read more about cholesterol levels in this article]
Cholesterol plays an important role in proper cell division, and low LDL levels have been linked to increased risk of cancer, aggression and even suicide.
Cholesterol is needed for learning and memory and high cholesterol (especially in the elderly) has been associated with a better memory; conversely, a side-effect of cholesterol-lowering statin medications is short-term memory loss.
Healthy cholesterol helps to fight respiratory infections.
Learn more about the functions of cholesterol (and related studies and scientific research) in my ebook, “The Dangers of Low Cholesterol”.
While elevated cholesterol levels don’t correlate with cardiovascular events, elevated triglyceride levels, (which are measured along with your cholesterol levels) clearly do correlate with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Many doctors still buy into the disproven “cholesterol-heart” theory, and prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications that can have nasty side effects. If you wish to bring up this topic of conversation with your own GP, I created a handy handout with information to present to doctors.
Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs don’t lower cholesterol by resolving the various causes of elevated cholesterol; they simply interfere with the production of cholesterol by blocking the activity of a key enzyme that is responsible for its formation.
As such, they produce varying numbers of adverse effects associated with the indiscriminate reduction in cholesterol.
These adverse reactions can include
Fatigue
Increased risk of diabetes
Headaches
Difficulty sleeping
Potential for liver and kidney dysfunction
Muscle weakness and pain
Although elevated cholesterol by itself isn’t dangerous, elevated cholesterol is an adaptive response to several dysfunctions and imbalances in the body that are direct causes of cardiovascular disease. These include stress, poor thyroid function, insulin resistance, and deficiency of key micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are associated with these dysfunctions and with the metabolism of cholesterol.
By learning to identify and resolve these dysfunctions and imbalances, not only will you restore your cholesterol levels back to normal—you will actually protect your heart, brain, and arteries from a heart attack or a stroke.
Several natural agents have been shown to decrease cholesterol levels: garlic, plant sterols, red yeast rice, and others.
However, as a naturopathic doctor with a focus on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as well as an author and health educator in this area and someone who has worked for a long time in the natural health product industry, I know something important about cholesterol.
I know that not all natural agents that lower cholesterol do so while protecting the heart and arteries. Simply lowering cholesterol, even with natural agents, doesn’t guarantee the prevention of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or a stroke.
If you wish to know more about the relationship between cholesterol and cardiovascular events, about cholesterol-lowering medications and about managing your cholesterol levels naturally, I recommend you read my ebook: The Dangers of Low Cholesterol. It’s currently available for free - click here.
