For decades, people have been told to avoid cholesterol-rich foods like eggs and animal fats, but research now shows dietary cholesterol has little impact on blood cholesterol levels.
Instead, factors like inflammation, liver function, and metabolic health play a much bigger role.
“Cholesterol itself is not harmful; the problem arises when LDL cholesterol becomes oxidized,” explains naturopathic physician Jodi Duval. Oxidized LDL triggers inflammation and artery blockages, not cholesterol consumption alone.
Studies have shown that even eating 12 or more eggs per week doesn’t significantly raise LDL or HDL cholesterol levels. One case even documented an 88-year-old man eating 25 eggs a day without developing heart disease.
The liver plays a central role in cholesterol regulation, adjusting production based on dietary intake. “If you have a cholesterol problem, it typically involves either the rate at which the liver produces cholesterol or the rate at which it removes cholesterol from the bloodstream,” says Dr Gabrielle Lyon. This makes liver health—rather than cholesterol restriction—the key to managing levels.
To keep cholesterol in check, experts suggest reducing inflammation through an anti-inflammatory diet, supporting liver function with supplements like milk thistle and curcumin, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
“Every cholesterol imbalance has an underlying cause,” Duval notes. “Addressing inflammation, liver health, and metabolic function is far more effective than cutting out eggs.”
Centrist Ltd.