Cholesterol often gets a bad rap, but did you know that it is actually essential for your health? In this blog post, we will explore why cholesterol is good for you and why your body needs it to function properly.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in every cell of your body. It is crucial for the production of hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that help you digest fat. Cholesterol is also important for the structure and function of cell membranes.

Types of Cholesterol

There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because high levels can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries.

However, according to doctors like Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist the University of California, San Francisco, the central hypothesis of the cholesterol debate in which LDL is "bad" may not be the case.

According to research published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), there may actually be a lack of an association or an inverse association between low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the elderly. Researchers say almost 80 percent of the participants in the studies who had high LDL cholesterol did not die because of their cholesterol level.

On the contrary, researchers found discovered people with low LDL cholesterol levels, or LDL-C, actually had the highest rates of death related to cardiovascular disease.

The Benefits of Cholesterol

Cholesterol plays a vital role in the body, and without it, your cells would not function properly. Here are some of the benefits of cholesterol:

1. Cell membrane structure: Cholesterol is a key component of cell membranes, helping to maintain their integrity and fluidity.

2. Hormone production: Cholesterol is a precursor to the production of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.

3. Vitamin D synthesis: Cholesterol is necessary for the production of vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function.

4. Bile acid production: Cholesterol is used to make bile acids, which help in the digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

Cholesterol is often described as building material for the human body. That's because it is present in so many areas and functions of the body, like the brain, for example. Cholesterol is an essential component of both the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system (CNS) of mammals and the brain contains nearly 25% of the body's total cholesterol. 

Now, the brain does produce its own cholesterol, which is why many experts say the relationship between the brain and dietary cholesterol is a complex one. However, this does not refute the fact that dietary cholesterol is important for overall brain function. Cholesterol is essential for learning and memory. It helps guide nerve endings to their destinations, and it's a component of myelin, which insulates neurons and speeds up processing. As stated above, cholesterol is a crucial building block for hormones, which are also very important for brain health.

How to Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels

While cholesterol is important for your health, it is essential to maintain a balance of LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. To keep your cholesterol in check, you can:

1. Eat a healthy diet: Include plenty of red meat, eggs, full-fat dairy, organ meats as these foods are shown to be high in cholesterol, which can help your body with many key functions necessary to maintain good overall health.

2. Stay active: Regular exercise can help your body maintain healthy levels of cholesterol, as well as many other added benefits. Getting adequate, quality sleep will also help your body in this key area.

3. Avoid smoking: Among several other things, smoking can lower HDL cholesterol levels and damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease.

By understanding the benefits of cholesterol and taking steps to maintain healthy levels, you can support your overall health and well-being. Remember, cholesterol is not the enemy – it is a vital substance that your body needs to function properly.

Make America Based Again

Healthy cholesterol levels are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to good overall health. Another piece you can add to create a more completed picture to your health and well-being is a good multivitamin, but not just any multivitamin. What you need is a multivitamin that is crafted by God and nature itself.

Based's flagship product and beef organ multivitamin is made from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, and pasture-raised beef organs, with natural forms of many of the essential vitamins your body needs. Despite all the competition from well-known brands on the market, we differentiate ourselves by removing all the synthetics and poison these common products contain.

With more supplements, like creatine, on the way, be sure to give us a try and support us on our mission to bring the necessary building blocks to the American people and Make America Based Again!

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