“Dangerously High” Cholesterol = live to 100?

Here's something that'll make your doctor's head spin…

The people who live the longest have cholesterol levels that would make most physicians reach for their prescription pad.

We’re talking about centenarians. People who’ve made it to 100+ years old.

The literature shows they consistently have what doctors call "dangerously high" cholesterol… and yet they enjoy much greater lifespan AND healthspans:
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A massive 35-year Swedish study? Higher cholesterol = more likely to reach 100 (PMID: 37726432)

Chinese centenarians? Cholesterol above 131 mg/dL = better survival (PMID: 35646784)

Even just this year…

Researchers found in Sardinia’s “Blue Zone” that nonagenarians (a person aged 90-99) with LDL cholesterol above 130 mg/dL had significantly LONGER survival times than those with lower levels…

(Must be all the “plants” they’re eating 🤔)

Here's what they don't tell you about cholesterol...

It's a steroid molecule that your liver makes every single day because it's essential for human life.

Cholesterol is the precursor for ALL your steroid hormones: testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, progesterone.

Without it, you literally can't function as a human being!

It's also what your immune system uses to fight infections. Higher cholesterol levels are consistently protective against sepsis and bacterial infections.

Humans have had cholesterol for hundreds of thousands of years. It's not trying to kill you - it's trying to keep you ALIVE.

So what gives?

Why are we STILL being told the exact OPPOSITE?

If you ask me…

It’s because most cholesterol studies are conducted on what I call a "dirty pond."

86-93% of Americans have at least one marker of metabolic syndrome - meaning they're already metabolically dysfunctional before we even start measuring their cholesterol.

So, when researchers look at this sick population and find correlations between cholesterol and heart disease, they're NOT seeing the full picture.

They're looking at people who are insulin resistant, have poor diet quality, are sedentary, etc.

It's like studying fish health in polluted water and concluding that water itself is the problem.

And here’s what’s interesting to me…

When researchers plot cholesterol levels against heart disease risk, they typically see a line that goes up and to the right – more cholesterol, more heart disease.

However, when you actually look at metabolically healthy people aka those with good insulin sensitivity, proper HDL levels, and healthy triglyceride-to-HDL ratios.

You get a VERY different picture…

See those lines?

🟠 Orange line (HDL low + insulin resistant): Rockets upward like a ski slope

🔵 Blue line (HDL high + no insulin resistance): Stays almost completely flat for the entire 20 years.

Same people, same data.

The difference is…

When you account for insulin sensitivity, the cholesterol-heart disease relationship practically DISAPPEARS in healthy people.

Meaning? The "cholesterol kills" narrative only holds up in people who are already metabolically broken.

Think about it...

If cholesterol actually caused heart disease, these lines would be identical.

But they're NOT.

And instead of addressing the root cause here…

Well-intentioned doctors continue to put everyone on statins.

Drugs that are literally creating the metabolic dysfunction that requires MORE drugs to fix!

You see, while statins will lower your cholesterol…

They may also increase your risk of diabetes, insulin resistance, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

It’s like borrowing money from a loan shark to pay your rent - you solve today's problem by creating 10 BIGGER problems tomorrow 🤕

And the hits just keep on coming….

A recent study found statins SLASH GLP-1 levels by nearly half within 16 weeks.

(No wonder semaglutide drugs have so much demand)

So here’s the takeaway…

Despite what your doctor might tell you…

Cholesterol isn't your enemy.

Your ancestors THRIVED with robust cholesterol levels for hundreds of thousands of years.

They celebrated animal foods naturally rich in cholesterol and saturated fat.

They DIDN’T drop dead from heart attacks at 50.

And they definitely didn’t need cholesterol-lowering drugs.

The real enemy = Metabolic dysfunction.

So, if you ARE metabolically healthy…

Do not fear high cholesterol.

(Mine's “high” and yet I am in the best condition I’ve ever been in at 48)

If you are NOT metabolically healthy…

Start by cleaning up your diet.

Eat like your great-great-grandmother… meat, organs, raw dairy, fruit, plants, honey.

Combine this with good habits like proper sleep, movement, sunlight, etc.

Your triglycerides will drop, your HDL will rise, and your body will remember how to be human again.

The centenarians figured this out.

They didn't fear cholesterol.

Neither should you.

Welcome to the Remembering 🏹

Paul

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