Cholesterol

Disclaimer: Although the text below is scientifically sound, its content cannot replace the advice or medical policy of a physician.

Cholesterol Cholesterol is an essential building block for your body. Your brain, cells, and hormones need it daily. What your liver cannot derive from food, it produces itself. Therefore, avoiding dietary cholesterol (such as in eggs) has little to no effect on blood levels for most people. What does have a significant impact is eliminating saturated fats (found in meat, dairy, and palm or coconut oil), because these slow down the liver's natural clearance of cholesterol.

High Cholesterol Elevated cholesterol levels, particularly an excess of "bad" LDL cholesterol, are a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, LDL itself is not bad: it is an essential transport mechanism carrying cholesterol to your cells. The issue only arises when LDL cholesterol oxidizes (becomes damaged). This happens more rapidly with an unhealthy lifestyle or insulin resistance. Oxidized LDL damages blood vessel walls and triggers an immune system response, leading to fatty deposits (plaque) in the blood vessels. The more plaque, the greater the arterial hardening and the higher the risk of a heart attack or stroke. If necessary, a doctor can determine the exact number of these harmful particles circulating in your blood via a blood test (such as an ApoB measurement).

How the Right Olive Oil Can Help A healthy diet helps restore balance in your blood, with high-quality olive oil playing a valuable role — provided you use it to replace unhealthy, saturated fats. Polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil supports vascular health through four key mechanisms:

• Protection against oxidation: Polyphenols act as signaling molecules that prepare your cells to protect lipids (fats) in the blood against oxidative stress. As a result, LDL cholesterol is less prone to damage.

• Flexible blood vessels: Polyphenols contribute to maintaining supple vessels, which is beneficial for blood pressure.

• Vascular wall support: Polyphenols help keep vessel walls healthy, making it harder for plaque to adhere.

• Healthy fatty acid profile: Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats (such as oleic acid). By replacing saturated fats in your diet with these healthy fats, the liver can clear LDL cholesterol from the blood more efficiently.

How to Use It? By consuming two tablespoons of polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil daily — for instance, as a replacement for butter or margarine, taken as a shot, or drizzled over salads and cooked vegetables — you actively support a healthy cholesterol profile and flexible blood vessels.