The Truth About Cholesterol: Why It’s Time to End the Misinformation
For more than half a century, we’ve been told that cholesterol clogs our arteries and causes heart disease. The image is burned into our minds—white, sticky plaque choking blood flow until the heart gives out. This story has been repeated so many times that it became truth by repetition, not by science.
The reality is different. Cholesterol does not clog arteries. It’s not sticky, it doesn’t gum up your vessels, and it doesn’t move through your bloodstream like glue. That frightening image was a marketing tool used to make a complex biological process sound simple—and to sell a solution.
What Really Happens in the Arteries
Arteries don’t get “clogged” like pipes. The walls of your arteries are living tissue made of muscle and a delicate inner lining called the endothelium. This lining is sensitive to high blood sugar, stress, smoking, and seed oils—all of which trigger inflammation and oxidative stress. Over time, the inflammation weakens the arterial wall and tiny cracks form.
Your body responds immediately. Cholesterol is sent to the damaged area to patch and repair it, much like sending emergency workers to fix a broken road. The problem isn’t cholesterol—it’s the damage that came first.
Dr. Ken D. Berry explains it clearly: “It’s not the cholesterol, it’s the processed sugars that drive chronic inflammation. The cholesterol shows up at the damage to aid in the repair.”
Cholesterol is part of your body’s healing system. Blaming it for heart disease is like blaming the firefighter for the fire.
Why Cholesterol Is Not the Enemy
About 80 percent of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your body. Your liver produces it under genetic instruction because every cell depends on it. Cholesterol forms cell membranes, supports brain function, and is the foundation for hormone production—including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Bart Kay explains: “Eighty percent of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your body under the instructions of your genes.”
When you eat more cholesterol, your liver makes less. When you eat less, your liver makes more. This balance is built into your biology. Cholesterol is not dangerous—it’s essential.
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick adds: “Cholesterol isn’t evil and we cannot live without it.”
Despite the fear instilled in us, cholesterol does not clog arteries. It does not flow through the bloodstream as a sticky substance that coats your vessels. That image is a scare tactic, not science.
The Real Cause of Heart Disease
Inflammation is the true root cause of heart disease. High blood pressure, smoking, insulin resistance, and chronic stress all damage the endothelium—the inner wall of your arteries. The body responds with cholesterol, platelets, and immune cells to repair that damage. Over time, repeated inflammation leads to plaque buildup. But the plaque is not the cause—it’s the body’s attempt to heal.
Dr. Ben Bikman says: “There is no single variable more relevant to heart disease than insulin resistance.”
This is why people with high insulin levels, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes have a much higher risk of heart disease than those with high cholesterol alone. The inflammation and damage come first. Cholesterol simply responds to help.
Dr. Uffe Ravnskov summarizes it perfectly: “It’s as if they saw a house burning and determined that the bigger the fire, the more firemen are present, and then concluded that firemen cause burning houses.”
What About Statins?
Statins are among the most prescribed drugs in the world. They lower cholesterol levels in the blood, but they do not address the cause of inflammation or improve metabolic health.
Dr. David Diamond states: “Although statins reduce cholesterol, they have failed to substantially improve cardiovascular outcomes.”
If statins truly prevented heart disease, the rates of cardiovascular death would have dropped dramatically in the decades since their introduction. They haven’t. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death worldwide.
The problem is not cholesterol. It’s chronic inflammation driven by the modern diet and lifestyle.
How We Got Here
The diet-heart hypothesis, introduced in the 1950s, claimed that eating saturated fat raises cholesterol, which causes heart disease. It sounded convincing, but it was based on weak associations, not proof.
Nina Teicholz, author of The Big Fat Surprise, explains: “The diet-heart hypothesis was introduced on weak, associational evidence. Clinical trials have not established a causal link.”
For decades, this unproven theory shaped public health advice. Butter was replaced with margarine. Eggs were demonized. Low-fat, high-carb foods filled grocery shelves. And people became sicker.
Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease rates climbed—proving the theory wrong.
What the Science Shows Today
Modern research points to a new understanding of cardiovascular disease:
• Cholesterol alone does not cause heart disease.
• Inflammation and insulin resistance are the true drivers.
• Low-carb and animal-based diets lower inflammation and improve lipid profiles.
• People on low-carb diets often see triglycerides fall and HDL rise—both signs of improved heart health.
Dr. Paul Mason concludes: “Your risk of clotting is a key risk factor in both developing atherosclerosis and dropping dead of a heart attack.”
In other words, focus on inflammation, not cholesterol.
The Truth We Must Accept
Cholesterol is not a poison. It is a repair molecule, a builder, and a protector. The real threat to your health is inflammation caused by sugar, processed food, and seed oils.
When you lower inflammation, you improve heart health naturally. That means eating real, nutrient-rich food—meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and healthy fats. It means sleeping well, managing stress, and keeping blood sugar steady.
The science is clear: cholesterol is not the enemy. Inflammation is. It’s time to stop fearing the molecule that keeps you alive and start addressing the root cause of disease.
References
Mason P, Bikman B, Diamond D. Statin therapy is not warranted for a person with high LDL-cholesterol on a low-carbohydrate diet. ResearchGate, 2022.
Teicholz N. The Big Fat Surprise. Simon & Schuster, 2014.
Bikman B. Why We Get Sick. BenBella Books, 2020.
Ravnskov U. The Cholesterol Myths. New Trends Publishing, 2000.
Berry KD. Lies My Doctor Told Me. Victory Belt, 2019.
Kendrick M. The Great Cholesterol Con. John Blake Publishing, 2007.
Note to Readers:
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects current metabolic science. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication changes. Do your own research, ask questions, and make informed decisions about your health. Knowledge is your strongest tool.
Disclaimer: The content shared here is for informational and educational purposes only and should never be taken as medical advice.
In writing this blog post, my goal is to distill research findings into a clear, approachable format that encourages critical thinking and empowers you to make informed decisions about your health.
