Did you know that you need Cholesterol to process hormones. In fact your body cannot produce hormones without this little essential element. Fact two, your body produces some cholesterol (some more than others) yet you often do not get enough except by what you eat.
According to a new study from researchers at Texas A&M University involving 55 men and women between the ages of 60 and 69 who exercised three days a week for 12 weeks found a significant association between dietary cholesterol and change in strength. It was found that lower cholesterol levels reduced muscle gain that occurred with exercise, while those with higher cholesterol intake also had the highest gains in muscle strength.
So the researchers quoted: “Our findings show that the restricting of cholesterol — while in the process of exercising — appears to affect building muscle mass in a negative manner.”
The fact that your body naturally makes some cholesterol, and uses it for producing cell membranes, hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help you digest fats, among many other things, it is a major clue that cholesterol is necessary and beneficial for your health. So rather than focusing on how to get your cholesterol levels lower, focus on eating the right foods for your nutritional type while avoiding sugar and grains. (And by all means do not get caught up in the hype that you need to take dangerous statin cholesterol-lowering drugs!)
It seems to me that these researchers perhaps should study endocrinology 101. I’ve read that weight training increases HDL and decreases LDL and triglycerides (or bad cholesterol). Might exercise be a better approach than trying to reduce cholesterol levels with drugs?
For more information on nutrition and meal planning:
http://eatknowhow.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/how-to-increase-hdl/
http://eatknowhow.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/fun-food-facts/
I applaud your interest in nutrition and the well being of an individual. Could you please post the link of the research from TX A&M University?
I would like to add a few corrections to your post.
1. Your body produces the EXACT amount of cholesterol that it needs. It’s not necessarily the saturated fat that is urgent, but the Vitamin B’s from meat and the calcium from cheese that is encouraged for the functionability of the body. Unsaturated fats that come from plant oils, or Omega 3,6,9 found in walnuts, fish and flaxseed. These mono and poly unsaturated fats reduce inflammation in the body and functions with HDL used in removal of LDL, (plaque build up that comes from O+ that attaches itself to the LDL if it does not find an anti-oxidant).
2. Your body does not make vitamin D. It is a dietary fat soluble vitamin. (Vitamin A,D,E, K) After comsumption It is activated through sunshine.
3. Many nutrients and minerals come from grains and if the indvidual does not have Celiac disease, Grains are strongly encouraged and an important part of your diet.