Article on Cholesterol Myth

Mark Beck · 11-20-2005, 04:27 AM

it concludes:

"current ideas on plaque formation used to keep the cholesterol hypothesis afloat are complex nonsense. But the entire area is now protected by a ring-fence of scientific jargon that frightens off all but the most dedicated seeker after truth.

To those who have studied the hypothesis with a critical eye, it seems unbelievable that it can possibly still be standing. Dr George Mann pronounced it dead in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1977, referring to it as the 'Greatest scam in the history of medicine'. Yet this hypothesis has never had more followers than today.

Time, I think, that it was consigned to the dustbin of history. It is not simple, direct, or understandable - the only certain thing about it is that it is wrong."

http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CAE78.htm

Paul Symes · 11-20-2005, 05:23 AM

So if we can't be scared of fat, what can we be scared of? I propose carbs. Yes, let's all be scared of carbs.

Ian Holmes · 11-20-2005, 07:33 AM

You know I think if we should be scared of something, than it is a toss up between these two.
1) Gyms that use lots of special machines, and are slowly spreading across the nation. (hint: they never close)
2) Squirrels

Rob McBee · 11-20-2005, 08:13 AM

Its amazing how the US is so 'low-fat, cholesterol-free, sugar-free' this and that and yet the most obese collection of people on the planet. Its hard to tip sacred cows. Now matter how you try and sex it up, eating lean meats, vegetables, some fruit, nuts/seeds is just harder to sell than Big Mac and fries.

Ross Hunt · 11-20-2005, 08:19 AM

Doctors and Those Who Know:

What is the function of cholesterol in the human body? (Besides dooming all to clogged arteries and premature death, that is :wink:)

Ian Holmes · 11-20-2005, 08:57 AM

Ross
One thing that the body does use cholesterol for is converting it into different hormones. This does not mean that by simply adding more cholesterol your body will start pumping out more testosterone (or any other hormone), but it is essential to the process.

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/hormones/bigt_1.htm

This article gives a rather good idea of what is going on.

Ross Hunt · 11-20-2005, 09:45 AM

Ian,

Thanks. That at least provides an explanation of the adage "Cholesterol turns into Testosterone," and of the belief that eating higher saturated-fat or cholesterol foods increases T.

Ian Holmes · 11-20-2005, 10:35 AM

Ross
Yeah the problem is that many people feel free to load up on cholesterol when that really isn't the point. Simply having more cholesterol isn't going to ensure that you produce more T.

People are simply always looking for quick fixes... maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is much harder than simply gorging yourself on fatty foods and saying that you are doing it for T levels...

Brian Hand · 11-20-2005, 10:53 AM

I seriously doubt that anyone is running around without enough cholesterol for raw materials to make their hormones. VLDL cholesterol is produced by the liver from triglycerides. Excess calories and high blood sugar can cause high levels of VLDL production. In the blood VLDL is broken down to LDL. Exercise produces HDL, which helps shuttle LDL back to the liver for metabolism. I think.

Ian Holmes · 11-20-2005, 11:03 AM

I totally agree Brian, but if you put this on a sign in a gym "Testosterone is synthesised from Cholesterol", and followed that up with some fancy pictures, and a scientific sounding statement or two ... well you know what would happen... within a few years if it went mainstream we could have cholesterol pills coming out that "give the best quality cholesterol for testosterone synthesis..."

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11-20-2005, 04:27 AM	#1
Mark Beck Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Manchester England Posts: 107	it concludes: "current ideas on plaque formation used to keep the cholesterol hypothesis afloat are complex nonsense. But the entire area is now protected by a ring-fence of scientific jargon that frightens off all but the most dedicated seeker after truth. To those who have studied the hypothesis with a critical eye, it seems unbelievable that it can possibly still be standing. Dr George Mann pronounced it dead in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1977, referring to it as the 'Greatest scam in the history of medicine'. Yet this hypothesis has never had more followers than today. Time, I think, that it was consigned to the dustbin of history. It is not simple, direct, or understandable - the only certain thing about it is that it is wrong." http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CAE78.htm

11-20-2005, 05:23 AM	#2
Paul Symes Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London Croydon Posts: 299	So if we can't be scared of fat, what can we be scared of? I propose carbs. Yes, let's all be scared of carbs.

11-20-2005, 07:33 AM	#3
Ian Holmes Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal Quebec Posts: 496	You know I think if we should be scared of something, than it is a toss up between these two. 1) Gyms that use lots of special machines, and are slowly spreading across the nation. (hint: they never close) 2) Squirrels

11-20-2005, 08:13 AM	#4
Rob McBee Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Portland OR Posts: 397	Its amazing how the US is so 'low-fat, cholesterol-free, sugar-free' this and that and yet the most obese collection of people on the planet. Its hard to tip sacred cows. Now matter how you try and sex it up, eating lean meats, vegetables, some fruit, nuts/seeds is just harder to sell than Big Mac and fries.

11-20-2005, 08:19 AM	#5
Ross Hunt Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Annapolis MD Posts: 914	Doctors and Those Who Know: What is the function of cholesterol in the human body? (Besides dooming all to clogged arteries and premature death, that is :wink:)

11-20-2005, 08:57 AM	#6
Ian Holmes Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal Quebec Posts: 496	Ross One thing that the body does use cholesterol for is converting it into different hormones. This does not mean that by simply adding more cholesterol your body will start pumping out more testosterone (or any other hormone), but it is essential to the process. http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/hormones/bigt_1.htm This article gives a rather good idea of what is going on.

11-20-2005, 09:45 AM	#7
Ross Hunt Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Annapolis MD Posts: 914	Ian, Thanks. That at least provides an explanation of the adage "Cholesterol turns into Testosterone," and of the belief that eating higher saturated-fat or cholesterol foods increases T.

11-20-2005, 10:35 AM	#8
Ian Holmes Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal Quebec Posts: 496	Ross Yeah the problem is that many people feel free to load up on cholesterol when that really isn't the point. Simply having more cholesterol isn't going to ensure that you produce more T. People are simply always looking for quick fixes... maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is much harder than simply gorging yourself on fatty foods and saying that you are doing it for T levels...

11-20-2005, 10:53 AM	#9
Brian Hand Departed Profile: Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 633	I seriously doubt that anyone is running around without enough cholesterol for raw materials to make their hormones. VLDL cholesterol is produced by the liver from triglycerides. Excess calories and high blood sugar can cause high levels of VLDL production. In the blood VLDL is broken down to LDL. Exercise produces HDL, which helps shuttle LDL back to the liver for metabolism. I think.

11-20-2005, 11:03 AM	#10
Ian Holmes Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Montreal Quebec Posts: 496	I totally agree Brian, but if you put this on a sign in a gym "Testosterone is synthesised from Cholesterol", and followed that up with some fancy pictures, and a scientific sounding statement or two ... well you know what would happen... within a few years if it went mainstream we could have cholesterol pills coming out that "give the best quality cholesterol for testosterone synthesis..."