The hottest Cholesterol Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics
Maryanne Demasi, reports 1906 implied HN points 29 Jan 24
  1. Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) quickly became a popular cholesterol-lowering drug due to an aggressive marketing campaign.
  2. In Australia, rosuvastatin is the most prescribed drug, with over 14 million prescriptions written in a financial year.
  3. Rosuvastatin was found to be the most potent statin in lowering cholesterol, but this higher potency also led to greater toxicity.
Are You Okay? 519 implied HN points 15 Mar 24
  1. The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing infections with HPV types responsible for various cancers, with immunity lasting up to 10 years.
  2. Adults up to age 45 can also receive the HPV vaccine, even if they have a history of HPV infection, abnormal Pap tests, or genital warts.
  3. Recent research suggests that even a single dose of the HPV vaccine may offer significant protection against HPV infection, especially if administered at a younger age.
Neuro Athletics 3 implied HN points 04 Mar 24
  1. The APOE4 gene can significantly impact your health by influencing cholesterol levels, where having certain combinations can increase the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer's.
  2. The APOE4 variant of the APOE gene accelerates cholesterol metabolism, leading to higher LDL cholesterol levels and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  3. Genetic testing for APOE variants can provide valuable insights for personalized health strategies, showing that genetics are risk factors and not definitive destinies.
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Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 139 implied HN points 20 Nov 08
  1. Saturated fat may not be as harmful for heart health as previously thought, with some populations consuming high saturated fat diets showing low rates of heart disease.
  2. The connection between cholesterol and heart disease is not straightforward, and lowering cholesterol may not always be beneficial for overall health.
  3. Various factors, apart from cholesterol, play significant roles in heart disease prevention, such as antioxidants, blood pressure maintenance, and stress management.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 19 implied HN points 28 Apr 16
  1. Saturated fats may not be as bad as previously believed, and new data suggests polyunsaturated fats might not be as beneficial for heart health as once thought.
  2. Christopher Ramsden discovered unpublished data challenging the idea that replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated vegetable oils is beneficial for lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease.
  3. Despite the findings, the public health community has not fully embraced the shift in thinking around saturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 39 implied HN points 28 Aug 11
  1. Thyroid hormone plays a central role in governing LDL receptor activity, affecting the risk of heart disease.
  2. Thyroid hormone regulates the expression of LDL receptors in cells, impacting cholesterol levels and the body's overall health needs.
  3. Correcting thyroid hormone deficiency may significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, as shown in historical clinical trials.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 19 implied HN points 25 Feb 11
  1. The term 'lipid hypothesis' originated in 1976 as a testable prediction that high blood cholesterol levels correlate with heart disease risk.
  2. The lipid hypothesis predates the diet-heart hypothesis by decades and focuses on cholesterol's role without claiming exclusivity, also considering factors like inflammation and hormones.
  3. A proposal suggests differentiating between the 'infiltrative lipid hypothesis' focusing on cholesterol quantity and the 'degenerative lipid hypothesis' emphasizing lipid degeneration's role in atherosclerosis.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 19 implied HN points 02 Jan 09
  1. The JUPITER trial emphasizes that atherosclerosis is a disease of oxidative degeneration, confirming the link between oxidative damage and heart disease.
  2. The study does not strongly support the widespread use of statins, as the benefits do not justify the costs for most individuals.
  3. CRP plays a role in binding oxidized LDL and facilitating its uptake by the immune system, providing insight into the inflammatory processes of atherosclerosis.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 19 implied HN points 20 Dec 08
  1. Vitamin D is synthesized from cholesterol in the body, and it can also be obtained from cholesterol-rich foods.
  2. Sunlight exposure is crucial for the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin, but factors like latitude, time of year, and atmospheric conditions can affect this process.
  3. Cholesterol-rich foods, like cod liver oil and fatty fish, are among the richest dietary sources of vitamin D, highlighting the importance of consuming both vitamin D and cholesterol for optimal health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 23 Jun 16
  1. The Kitavan diet, low in fat and high in carbohydrates, can serve as a model for dietary management of familial hypercholesterolemia.
  2. Maximizing thyroid hormone activity and managing good body composition are key in addressing heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
  3. Restricting cholesterol intake should be a secondary strategy in managing HeFH, with more focus on nutrient-dense foods and maintaining good health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 03 May 11
  1. There is a need to modify public policy to reduce fructose consumption, such as ending corn subsidies to discourage junk food consumption.
  2. Although important to address public health concerns like obesity and chronic diseases, caution is necessary to avoid government overreach in determining individuals' diets.
  3. Avoid setting the precedent that the government should dictate dietary choices as it may lead to potential restrictions on other food components in the future.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 14 Mar 11
  1. High levels of LDL-cholesterol are not the sole cause of heart disease; it is the oxidative destruction of LDL particles, not the cholesterol concentration, that plays a central role.
  2. Genetic mutations affecting LDL receptor activity reveal that poor activity increases the risk of heart disease, while greater activity decreases the risk significantly.
  3. Blood lipid levels, although not determinants, can indicate metabolic issues related to LDL receptor function and should not be ignored as they provide essential clues about heart disease risk.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 09 Mar 11
  1. Distinguishing between the lipid hypothesis and the diet-heart hypothesis is crucial as they have different implications on heart disease.
  2. Extrapolating from drug trials to dietary recommendations can lead to misunderstandings and misinformation in the public.
  3. Understanding the complexity of cholesterol-lowering drug trials and the role of LDL particles in atherosclerosis can help evaluate the effectiveness and potential risks of treatments.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 22 Feb 11
  1. The lipid hypothesis and the diet-heart hypothesis are often confused but they are different: the lipid hypothesis is about the role of lipids in the blood, while the diet-heart hypothesis is about the role of lipids in the diet.
  2. The lipid hypothesis postulates that high cholesterol levels in the blood increase the risk of heart disease, but this has not been proven conclusively yet.
  3. It's important to differentiate between the lipid hypothesis and the diet-heart hypothesis to avoid mix-ups and confusion in understanding the truth behind heart disease risks.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 28 Jan 10
  1. Cholesterol is crucial for forming connections in the brain and plays a role in learning and memory.
  2. The brain can take cholesterol from the bloodstream when it fails to produce enough on its own.
  3. Understanding how the brain can compensate for cholesterol deficiencies opens up new possibilities for addressing mental health issues.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 21 Jan 10
  1. The evidence suggests that drugs lowering cholesterol may not actually prevent heart attacks by lowering cholesterol, but by clearing LDL from the bloodstream more quickly.
  2. The FDA approved cholesterol-lowering drugs based on their ability to lower cholesterol levels, without concrete evidence of preventing heart disease.
  3. Recent studies have suggested that some cholesterol-lowering drugs like ezetimibe may not effectively prevent heart disease, sparking questions about the approval process and physician prescribing practices.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 23 Mar 09
  1. Statins may increase vulnerability to dioxins by inhibiting coenzyme Q10, which plays a role in protection from dioxin toxicity.
  2. Statin drugs not only lower cholesterol but also inhibit the synthesis of important compounds for retinal function, potentially impacting vision.
  3. Understanding the role of cholesterol in heart disease is crucial, as lowering cholesterol directly with drugs like statins may harm the body's natural processes.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 23 Mar 09
  1. Eating cholesterol does not necessarily raise cholesterol levels due to a complex biofeedback system in the liver involving proteins like SREBPs and Insigs.
  2. Omega-3 fatty acids are more effective at reducing mortality and heart disease compared to statins and other drugs, despite not affecting cholesterol levels.
  3. Some oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol have antifungal activity against Candida, and chemicals in red wine lower heart disease markers in rabbits without affecting cholesterol.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 23 Mar 09
  1. Dr. Tom Cowan argues that heart attacks cause blockages in coronary arteries, not the other way around, attributing heart attacks to a buildup of lactic acid in heart muscle.
  2. Genetic evidence indicates that LDL receptor activity significantly influences the risk of heart attacks, with low activity leading to early heart attacks and high activity almost guaranteeing freedom from heart attacks.
  3. The concentration of oxidized LDL in the blood, derived from dietary vegetable oils, plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, foam cell generation, and eventually heart disease risk.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 20 Mar 09
  1. The medical field has created confusion by confusing 'HDL' with 'HDL-cholesterol', but they are not the same. When testing blood, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels are measured, not the actual lipoproteins.
  2. A drug that was supposed to boost HDL-cholesterol, torcetrapib, resulted in increased cardiovascular disease instead, indicating the reverse cholesterol transport theory might be flawed.
  3. HDL's protective role may come from its ability to transport vitamin E to endothelial cells, not from reverse cholesterol transport. Drugs aiming to boost HDL-cholesterol through CETP inhibition might undermine this protective role, potentially causing harm.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 02 Mar 09
  1. The huge profits from cholesterol-lowering drugs drive the production of these medications, as well as the official government recommendations regarding cholesterol and statins.
  2. The myth that lowering LDL cholesterol with statins will protect against disease is not supported by evidence showing cholesterol levels do not always correlate with atherosclerosis.
  3. High cholesterol has been consistently linked to lower mortality in various studies, challenging the prevailing belief that low cholesterol levels are always beneficial.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 28 Feb 09
  1. Teleoanalysis is a technique to determine outcomes of studies that were never conducted, revealing some outrageous scientific approaches.
  2. Critique of statin drugs and cholesterol-lowering industry highlights the minimal life-lengthening benefits at exorbitant costs.
  3. Kendrick's humorous take on saturated fats and cholesterol levels challenges conventional lipid hypothesis, emphasizing the role of stress and blood clotting in heart disease.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 28 Feb 09
  1. Cholesterol and lipoproteins like LDL have been implicated in causing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, with decades of research supporting this connection.
  2. The effectiveness of statins in reducing heart disease risk by lowering cholesterol is a key argument in support of the lipid hypothesis, although some question this conclusion.
  3. The debate around cholesterol and heart disease involves complex science, including the role of oxidized LDL, polyunsaturated fats, and the importance of differentiating between saturated and unsaturated fats in the diet.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 23 Feb 09
  1. Subscribing to Chris Masterjohn's newsletter provides updates not found on the website, including links to interesting external articles and commentary on new research.
  2. Cholesterol misinformation exists, such as the myth that cholesterol-rich foods raise blood cholesterol levels in everyone, but in reality, the effect varies among individuals.
  3. Site offers a variety of content including book reviews, blog posts, health reports, and articles addressing myths and misconceptions about cholesterol and health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 20 Feb 09
  1. The newsletter provides convenience by delivering updates directly to you rather than requiring you to constantly check the site for new content.
  2. Subscribers receive curated information from the newsletter that includes the best articles on the internet related to wholesome animal products, debunking junk science, and health freedom insights.
  3. By subscribing, you get access to exclusive commentaries on the latest studies about cholesterol and health that are not available on the website or through the RSS feed.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 13 Jan 09
  1. The total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio is an important predictor of heart disease mortality risk, with lower ratios associated with reduced risk across different age groups.
  2. The ratio can indicate how long LDL particles stay in the blood, potentially reflecting the efficiency of LDL receptor activity.
  3. Different dietary fats have varying effects on the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, with unsaturated fats and specific saturated fats like lauric acid decreasing the ratio, while trans fats increase it.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 29 Dec 08
  1. The idea that cholesterol causes Alzheimer's disease is a myth and has been debunked.
  2. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the brain's function, and lowering it through diet or drugs may actually harm brain health.
  3. Research suggests that a high-fat ketogenic diet may have therapeutic benefits for neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, contrary to the popular low-fat, low-cholesterol diet recommendations.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 29 Dec 08
  1. Foods high in cholesterol might not negatively impact blood cholesterol levels for most people, and can even be essential for a small percentage of the population.
  2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from vegetable oils might not be as beneficial as once thought, and the need for PUFA in the diet could actually be minimal.
  3. Cholesterol-rich foods are crucial for obtaining nutrients like arachidonic acid, essential for growth and health, and can play a vital role in certain genetic conditions and mental health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 27 Dec 08
  1. Eating cholesterol does not directly raise blood cholesterol levels.
  2. Most people are not affected by consuming cholesterol-rich foods in terms of blood cholesterol levels.
  3. In some cases of increased cholesterol levels from eating eggs, LDL particles get larger, which may be less risky for heart disease.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 27 Dec 08
  1. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in our nervous system, enabling learning and memory to occur. Sleep allows the brain to produce more cholesterol, benefiting mental functioning.
  2. The synthesis of cholesterol increases during sleep, contributing to better memory formation and brain plasticity.
  3. The formation of synapses, essential for memory and learning, is directly dependent on the availability of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a key component in maintaining brain health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 17 Oct 23
  1. Low cholesterol levels may be associated with violent suicide, particularly in certain areas of the brain, though the exact relationship is still not fully understood.
  2. Policosanol, a supplement marketed for lowering cholesterol, was found ineffective in reducing cholesterol levels in a study, raising concerns about its efficacy and the integrity of research conducted by the Cuban firm promoting it.
  3. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in facilitating the flux of hydrogen ions across cell membranes, despite theories predicting otherwise, highlighting the multifaceted functions of cholesterol in the body.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 17 Oct 23
  1. Inflammation and an enzyme called Rho may play a role in the perception of cholesterol as causing disease.
  2. Ron Paul, a presidential candidate in 2008, advocated for health freedom and opposition to the National Animal Identification System.
  3. Understanding the impact of goitrogenic chemicals in various foods, as described in a special report on thyroid toxins, is crucial for making informed dietary choices.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 17 Oct 23
  1. Government guidelines for cholesterol and blood pressure may be used to expand the number of people prescribed pharmaceutical drugs.
  2. Corruption in Alzheimer's research and major journal complicity were highlighted.
  3. Cholesterol-lowering drugs may be present in food, emphasizing the importance of natural, whole foods over processed options.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 17 Oct 23
  1. Cholesterol levels can be influenced by factors like inflammation, oxidation, and receptor dysfunction. Consider these factors when interpreting cholesterol levels.
  2. The protective effects of vegetables against lung cancer are dependent on the individual's genes. Having specific alleles can greatly impact the level of protection offered by vegetables.
  3. The bill proposed by Senator Richard Burr creates a close relationship between the government and pharmaceutical companies, potentially shielding vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits.