Dietary cholesterol is one of the most misunderstood nutrients.
For years, we’ve been told that cholesterol is harmful, that eating foods rich in natural animal fats leads to heart disease, and that we should opt for low-fat, cholesterol-free alternatives. But here’s the truth: cholesterol plays an essential role in human health.
In fact, when dietary cholesterol intake is low, the liver compensates by producing more to meet the body’s needs. If cholesterol were truly dangerous, then why would breast milk be one of the most cholesterol-rich foods in existence? Why is cholesterol a major component of the brain? And why does it serve as a crucial precursor for essential hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and vitamin D?
The reality is, we’ve been misled for decades. Natural dietary cholesterol from butter, red meat, and eggs has been wrongly blamed, while ultra-processed, chemically-altered foods have gone unnoticed. Public perception and mainstream health guidelines have been shaped by financial interests, pushing the demonization of animal fats in favor of highly profitable, industrially processed seed oils and low-fat, high-sugar foods.
It’s time to set the record straight.
Study: Natural Fats Reduce Dementia Risk by 18%
New research confirms what ancestral wisdom has always known—real animal fats are beneficial, not harmful.
A major study found that consuming natural fats from butter, red meat, and eggs reduces the risk of dementia by 18%. Meanwhile, low-fat, high-carb diets have been linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Why?
✅ The brain is made of fat. It relies on cholesterol and saturated fats to function optimally.
✅ Healthy fats provide long-lasting energy for brain cells, reducing mental fatigue.
✅ Diets rich in animal fats improve memory, cognition, and overall brain health.
The war on cholesterol has never been about health—it’s been about control.
Butter vs. Seed Oils: Which One Makes You Stronger?
For thousands of years, humans thrived on animal fats. Then, seed oils entered the food supply, and within a few generations, metabolic disease skyrocketed.
Industrial seed oils—like canola, soybean, and corn oil—are:
❌ Highly inflammatory, leading to oxidative stress and cellular damage.
❌ Chemically extracted using industrial solvents like hexane.
❌ Prone to oxidation, creating toxic byproducts that accelerate aging and disease.
Meanwhile, butter (and other animal fats like tallow) provides:
✅ Stable, natural saturated fats that the body easily metabolizes.
✅ Vitamins A, D, E, and K—essential for immunity, skin health, and brain function.
✅ Zero industrial processing—just real, whole food.
The decline in metabolic health perfectly mirrors the rise in seed oil consumption. It’s no coincidence.
Low-Fat Dairy Increases Infertility Risk by 85%
For decades, low-fat dairy has been marketed as a “heart-healthy” choice. But studies show that women who consume two or more servings of low-fat dairy per day have an 85% higher risk of developing infertility.
Why?
- Fats are essential for hormone production. Removing fat from dairy strips away the very nutrients needed for reproductive health.
- Low-fat dairy is often loaded with added sugars, leading to blood sugar dysregulation and hormonal imbalances.
- Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2) are lost in the processing, making low-fat dairy nutritionally inferior.
Real, full-fat dairy supports fertility, hormone balance, and overall well-being.
If Cholesterol Is So Bad for You, Why Is Breast Milk One of the Most Cholesterol-Rich Foods?
Breast milk is designed to provide optimal nutrition for human life. It is one of the most cholesterol-rich foods on the planet, playing a critical role in:
✅ Brain development in infants
✅ Hormone production and growth
✅ Immune system support
If cholesterol were truly harmful, nature wouldn’t have made it the foundation of human nourishment.
Your Liver Produces Cholesterol for a Reason
Cholesterol is so essential that when you don’t consume enough from your diet, your liver makes more to meet the body’s needs.
When dietary cholesterol intake increases, the liver produces less to balance levels. When dietary cholesterol intake decreases, the liver produces more to compensate.
This self-regulating system proves that cholesterol is not a harmful substance—but a vital one.
Cholesterol as a Hormone Precursor: The Foundation of Vital Health
Cholesterol is the raw material for some of the body’s most important hormones:
🔹 Testosterone & Estrogen – Essential for reproductive health, muscle mass, and mood.
🔹 Cortisol – Helps regulate stress response and metabolism.
🔹 Vitamin D – Technically a hormone, not a vitamin. Low cholesterol = greater risk of deficiency.
Diets low in cholesterol lead to hormonal imbalances, fatigue, low libido, mood disorders, and weakened immune function.
Cholesterol Benefits: More Than Just a Number on a Blood Test
Cholesterol isn’t just “good” or “bad.” It is a fundamental building block for:
✅ Hormone health – Supports testosterone, estrogen, and adrenal function.
✅ Vitamin D synthesis – Low cholesterol levels lead to deficiencies and weakened immunity.
✅ Reduced inflammation – Helps repair tissue damage and regulate immune response.
✅ Brain health – Cholesterol makes up a large portion of brain tissue.
✅ Anxiety & depression resistance – Studies link low cholesterol to higher rates of mental illness.
✅ Immune system function – Supports infection resistance and overall resilience.
✅ Healthy skin – Helps maintain hydration, elasticity, and barrier function.
Cholesterol is not the enemy—it is a critical nutrient for overall health.
Final Thoughts: The Truth About Cholesterol and Real Food
For decades, we’ve been told a lie. Cholesterol isn’t the killer it’s been made out to be—it’s a foundational nutrient that has been wrongly vilified.
While we’ve been scared away from natural fats, we’ve been fed highly processed seed oils, refined sugars, and industrialized “health” foods that have only made us sicker.
It’s time to reject the anti-fat, anti-cholesterol propaganda and return to real food.
✅ Eat real, natural animal fats.
✅ Ditch the processed junk.
✅ Support your hormones, brain, and immune system.
Your body needs cholesterol. Your body thrives on real, ancestral foods.
If you want nutrient-dense, shelf-stable real food, check out The Carnivore Bar—made with the same ancestral wisdom that fueled our ancestors for millennia.
Citations:
- Chavarro, Jorge. "Low-Fat Dairy Food May Hurt Fertility." Reuters, 9 Aug. 2007, https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/low-fat-dairy-food-may-hurt-fertility-idUSN27430669/.
- "Fat Triglycerides Dementia Risk Lower." The Sun, https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/24524117/fat-triglycerides-dementia-risk-lower/.