Last week research that looked at data examining almost 1.3 million people revealed no link whatsoever of high total cholesterol or “bad cholesterol” with heart disease.
Lead author Uffe Ravskov told New Scientist last year “the cholesterol campaign is the greatest medical scandal of modern time”.
The fear of cholesterol has driven a multibillion pound cholesterol-lowering diet and drug industry that has actually increased the risk of heart disease, and been a major root cause of Type 2 diabetes and obesity epidemic by driving up consumption of “low-fat” foods laden with sugar.
Another major review found that for those over aged 60 there was not only no association with heart disease but you were less likely to die the higher your [bad] cholesterol was.
This can be explained by cholesterol’s role in helping to fight infection.
So what is at the root of heart disease and what is best to be doing instead?
My book, The Pioppi Diet (based on one of the world’s healthiest villages in southern Italy), explains the science and provides a simple lifestyle plan of cutting sugar and ultra-processed food, a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day, eight minutes of meditation and getting at least seven hours a sleep a night.
Follow these simple steps and your heart, your waistline and your wallet will thank you for it.