2 Things Raise Cholesterol
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Did you know only 2 things raise your cholesterol? Even though it sounds complicated to lower cholesterol naturally, it’s actually very simple—if you know what to focus on. And that’s where the problem begins. Why? Because pharmaceutical companies thrive and make billions of dollars due to all the misinformation and confusion out there.
But since you and I made a pact to only listen to science backed by studies, in this newsletter, you will find the right answers so you can focus on the right things. Let’s do this.
What You're About To Discover:
- Does our body need us to add cholesterol to our diet for optimal health?
- The 1st thing that will raise your cholesterol
- The 2nd thing that will raise your cholesterol
Does our body need us to add cholesterol?
Absolutely not. Our body actually creates all the cholesterol it needs. We have a system in place that tells our liver how much cholesterol to create. When we eat food that contains cholesterol, it creates an excess of cholesterol, and that’s where the problems begin.
The 1st thing that will raise your cholesterol
The first thing is the one and only source of dietary cholesterol: animal products. Every time you eat chicken, burgers, steaks, or any animal product, it will raise your cholesterol. It does NOT make a difference if it’s organic, grass-fed, or free-range chicken. All animal products will raise your cholesterol.
A big problem with eating cholesterol-rich foods (animal products) is that when we cook them, we oxidize the cholesterol in them. By simply cooking these products, we are elevating the amount of LDL and plaque that will build up in our arteries. And when we reheat leftovers, the cholesterol amount triples!
Another big problem is that something as simple as light oxidizes cholesterol in animal products too. Let’s think about fish that hasn’t been cooked yet. It’s completely raw and in the freezer. The fish starts with a pretty low amount of oxidized cholesterol. By day 30 in the freezer, the oxidized cholesterol doubles. By day 60, it’s 4 times higher, and by day 90, it’s already 7 times higher.
This is how I see the process of how cholesterol oxidation grows and grows in animal products:
raw → light (fridge/freezer) → heat (cooking) → reheat (leftovers) = higher cholesterol
So, it’s not as simple as looking at the label for raw animal products to see how much cholesterol it has, because that’s not the amount of cholesterol your body will receive. It will be at least 5 to 10X higher than that because of the light it’s already been exposed to, the light it will continue to be exposed to, and the heat from cooking it and reheating it.
What’s so bad about oxidized cholesterol? It triggers heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and Alzheimer's.
The 2nd thing that will raise your cholesterol
The second thing is a matter of conversion. It doesn’t have cholesterol. In fact, sometimes the labels say “cholesterol free”, and technically they’re not lying. BUT our liver will convert it into cholesterol.
What is it? Drum roll… it’s saturated fats.
Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products and oils. By the way, when you see “partially hydrogenated” on an oil’s label, it means they made the fat more saturated to extend its shelf life so it can sit longer at the store. So their gain becomes our pain. Kinda fucked up, right?
I used to think coconut oil was the healthiest, and I switched to cooking everything with it. Well, it turns out it’s actually the worst. It has more saturated fat than butter and lard. Sigh.
Unfortunately, olive oil is not great either. The better choice seems to be canola oil, but since it will still raise my cholesterol, I try to stay away from it as much as possible.
Instead of oil, I personally sauté veggies with wine, beer, water… anything but oil.
NOTE: Trans fats also increase cholesterol, but they were banned by the FDA. This is why you don’t see them on labels anymore. However, companies are allowed to claim a product is “trans fat free” if it has 0.5g or less per serving. So, while we are still consuming traces of trans fats, thankfully it’s not as much as before.
Want to share something?
I'd love to hear from you! You can reach me at hello@withoutstatins.com.
Stay curious. Until next Thursday!
Hi, I'm Alejandra
Founder Of Without Statins
I discovered a natural way to lower cholesterol—totally by accident...
... with just food!
That’s when it hit me:
With high cholesterol running deep in my own family history, it became a no-brainer to enhance the program to finally stop worrying.
Discover Which Foods Lower Cholesterol.
Get science-backed tips and cholesterol-free recipes (on Thursdays) to finally feel in control.
This website is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results may vary. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet, medications, or health plan. All content is based on publicly available research and personal experience, and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance. Some pages may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases — at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love or personally use.
Testimonials reflect real experiences from individuals who followed the program. Results are not guaranteed or typical. Your outcome depends on many factors, including your current health, consistency, effort, and lifestyle. We do not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
California residents: Click here to review the categories of personal information collected and how they are used in accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Without Statins, LLC
All Rights Reserved © 2024-2025
1621 Central Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001
FREE STUFF
POLICIES
HELP