Unconventional Wisdom: Cholesterol

conventional wisdom (noun) : the generally accepted belief, opinion, judgment, or prediction about a particular matter

In this new recurring feature, I will look into nutritional questions where the answer is contrary to conventional wisdom (CW). Quite often, CW can leave us blinded to what may be best for our health. As Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple stated best:

CW is a lumbering beast: slow to move, but difficult to alter course once its big bullish head is set on moving in a certain direction. It’s the pigheaded, stubborn curmudgeon yelling at those darn kids to get off his lawn. It’s loud, pervasive, and impossible to ignore – and avoid. Oftentimes, entire careers are staked on maintaining its veracity. When that veracity is challenged, either by critics or by experiment, the challenger is often silenced. No, I’m not talking about some conspiracy theory wherein a rival scientist is snuffed out by a cabal of evil scientists. Rather, it’s that a conforming chorus of assent can be mobilized to drown out even the most rigorously defended thesis, just as long as Conventional Wisdom is at stake. The simple fact that faulty Conventional Wisdom – especially nutritional – is mostly supported by not malevolent, but altruistic and good-intentioned people is what makes it so difficult to defeat. Scientists, nutritionists, and doctors are generally convinced that the CW they support and defend is in the best interest of the population. These aren’t evil geniuses; these are good people operating from a fundamentally flawed stance.

With that said, here’s the first question:
Under Zone and Paleo, it is recommended to eat whole eggs and red meat. Isn’t all that cholesterol bad for you?

The entire fear of cholesterol began with a study by Ancel Keys in 1953. This study has since been shot full of holes, but CW has taken hold and many doctors will happily prescribe deadly statins to their patients at the first sign of high cholesterol. For a further dissection of the Keys study, check this link out.

Some other cholesterol facts:

• Cholesterol is not a deadly poison, but a substance vital to the cells of all mammals. There are no such things as good or bad cholesterol, but mental stress, physical activity and change of body weight may influence the level of blood cholesterol. A high cholesterol is not dangerous by itself, but may reflect an unhealthy condition, or it may be totally innocent.
• A high blood cholesterol is said to promote atherosclerosis and thus also coronary heart disease. But many studies have shown that people whose blood cholesterol is low become just as atherosclerotic as people whose cholesterol is high.

Cholesterol is very necessary stuff. It’s converted into Vitamin D by sunlight, and it’s the precursor for steroid hormones like the testosterone you need to grow, and the estrogen women need to be feminine.

The liver manufactures something like 1,000 mg of cholesterol per day, even if you consume no cholesterol at all. Of that amount, about 800 mg becomes bile salts, which is necessary for the digestion of fats.

Hopefully this cleared up some common misconceptions you may have had about cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is not to be feared, and is necessary for normal body functions.

On August 15, I will be participating in a 102 mile charity bike ride to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. While I have been fortunate in my life to not have been directly affected by these diseases, there are many families out there that are not as fortunate. I am riding for those families and to support the research that is necessary to find a cure. In the near future, cancer will take its place as the #1 killer in the world, which makes it that much more important to do research now to find a cure. If you are able, please show your support by sponsoring me on this ride as I believe it is a great cause, and a 102 mile bike ride may be considered a worthy Crossfit WOD! You can find more information and donate at my sponsorship page. Thanks for your support in and outside of the gym!

WOD – 7.23.09

Max Handstand Pushups
3 rounds to attempt maximum handstand pushups, rest 3 minutes between attempts.

Cash Out (courtesy of CrossFit ATM):

• 30 Wallball
• 15 Burpees
• 20 Wallball
• 10 Burpees
• 10 Wallball
• 5 Burpees