Cholesterol
Question: I have heard recently on the news that low cholesterol can be unhealthy for you. Does that mean that we should all go out and eat a steak?
Dr. Bruce Dan: Not so fast. There are a few things to consider before you reach for the steak sauce. You may have heard about studies linking low cholesterol levels with cancer, but most researchers, after carefully analyzing the data, now believe cancer caused the low cholesterol levels and not the other way around.
Studies have also found a slightly higher risk of a bleeding stroke among people with very low cholesterol, but that applies to only a tiny percentage of people. For the vast majority of us, a much bigger concern is high cholesterol. Doctors know that a high cholesterol count is strongly associated with heart disease, the number one killer in the United States.
And don’t think your immune because you’re young. Cholesterol buildups have been found in the arteries of teenagers. If you typically eat a healthful, low fat diet, one steak won’t kill you. But remember, moderation is the key. It’s not eating an occasional steak, but a steady diet of fatty foods, that can send your cholesterol level sky high.
