29/03/2022
Was heißt "Normal"? Ist es das, was die Mehrheit kennzeichnet? Oder das, was Experten als gut und richtig bewerten? Oder im Fall von Cholesterinwerten n erster Linie das, was – wissenschaftlich gründlich belegt – optimal für unsere Gesundheit ist und nicht in die Krankheit befeuert?
Consistent evidence from a variety of sources unequivocally establishes that bad LDL cholesterol causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, strokes, and heart attacks—our leading cause of death. This evidence base includes hundreds of studies involving millions of people. Cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries.
With heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, we definitely don’t want to have normal cholesterol levels; we want to have optimal levels—and not optimal by current laboratory standards, but optimal for human health.
Normal LDL cholesterol levels (total cholesterol under 200 mg/dl) are associated with the hidden buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in our arteries, even in those with so-called optimal risk factors by current standards.
Maybe we should define an LDL cholesterol level as optimal only when it can no longer cause disease. An LDL level of 50 to 70 mg/dl may seem low by American standards, but it is a normal cholesterol range for people who eat a diet centered around whole plant-based foods. An LDL of 70 isn’t only possible on a healthy enough diet—it may be normal.
Watch the video "How Low Should You Go for Ideal Cholesterol Levels?" at https://bit.ly/3eMIJrg.