Am I lacking cholestrol

#1

I only get my calories from olive oil…does that stall my estrogen? I know hormones are made of cholesterol…

(Allie) #2

Are you saying you consume nothing but olive oil?

#3

People eating ZERO cholesterol should be fine as well cholesterol wise… Hormones are one thing but the walls of our cells need cholesterol so it’s pretty important :smiley: And it’s similar to carbs: they are so very basic that our body has zero dietery needs regarding them. Our body just make them from other substances… So I wouldn’t worry about that.

But what do you eat if you eat no cholesterol? Super lean meat with a mug of olive oil (I saw such folks)? Plant-based dishes?

#4

People eating ZERO cholesterol should be fine as well cholesterol wise… Hormones are one thing but the walls of our cells need cholesterol so it’s pretty important :smiley: And it’s similar to carbs: they are so very basic that our body has zero dietery needs regarding them. Our body just make them from other substances… So I wouldn’t worry about that.

But what do you eat if you eat no cholesterol? Super lean meat with a mug of olive oil (I saw such folks)? Plant-based dishes?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

Olive oil is mostly monounsaturated fats, which is pretty good, but it is saturated fat that will help raise your HDL, according to Dr. Phinney in several of his lectures. I read a study a couple of years ago (and have unfortunately lost the link), in which they used radio-labelled food to determine that saturated fat tends to get used more for structural purposes, while monounsaturated fat tends to be metabolised for energy.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #6

Why? As noted, your liver makes all the cholesterol your body requires, so no need to eat it. What else do you eat? You do need to eat protein!

(Joey) #7

I’m assuming you mean that you “only get cholesterol from olive oil”?.. in which case, I’m curious as to what you’re eating… Cholesterol is contained in meat, dairy, seafood, egg, butter, so this would suggest that you’re eating none of these foods? Are you perhaps eating lots of carbohydrate-rich foods instead?

FWIW, your body needs fat (and protein) to survive and thrive. Your brain is rich in cholesterol, and your body produces cholesterol - it’s a necessary and natural creation of your healthy body.

As for dietary cholesterol, it isn’t inherently unhealthy - on the contrary. But when coupled with high levels of carbs throughout the year (multiple meals throughout the day) so typical of a standard western diet, this is where the problems usually begin.

Can you elaborate on what you’re typically eating - besides olive oil?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #8

It was the notorious Ancel Keys who showed that the amount of cholesterol in the diet had no effect on cholesterol levels in the blood. He blamed atherosclerosis on saturated fat in the diet, instead.

Interestingly, the correlation between dietary fat and coronary heart disease in Keys’s famous Seven-Country Study vanishes when the data from all twenty-two countries in the study are analysed, but a correlation between dietary sugar and coronary heart disease—which Keys dismissed as unimportant—remains and is quite strong.

BTW, I wouldn’t worry overmuch about the original poster in this thread. I think we might be dealing with a troll, here.

(Joey) #9

Perhaps so… the question prompted a similar thought :thinking: but I tend to err on the side of offering the benefit of the doubt. Then again, looking at this member’s other original posts, there does seem to be a trend toward “questionable” questions. But no harm done.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #10

No harm; you’re right. And Richard likes it when erroneous information, or any kind of question, receives attention from those who can provide clarification.

(Joey) #11

That works out well. I spend most of my life paying attention to erroneous information. :+1:

(Bob M) #12

Though one wonders how bad of a troll you must be to think that there are people who only “eat” olive oil. If this person really is a troll…maybe they need more time in “troll school”? :wink:

I mean even What the Health had some potentially plausible arguments (milky blood, poor erections, eggs and smoked meat and cancer). This post about olive oil seriously lacks both credulity and plausibility, if it is a troll post.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #13

Possible. But based on her input in other topics that she started and responded to I’d guess she’s not a troll, just somewhat confused and unsure of how keto works and/or can really be of benefit. She has provided more details about herself here and here that suggest to me she’s sincere, although maybe influenced a bit too much by others around her. She’s young (mid-20s), seemingly still living at home and not fully in control of what she eats. Maybe she’s looking for counter-arguments to those who are pushing carbs on her. She has indicated multiple times that she is very small and wants to gain weight and lean mass. How to do so has been suggested several times by several different responders in various of her other posts.

Her concern about estrogen I suspect may be related to her overall small size and lack of lean mass. Maybe? Possibly nothing but olive oil is permitted in the home??? I even supplied a list of ‘my’ keto fats that includes several non-animal fats here. She never responded to my query whether or not she’s vegan or vegetarian. But if she’s only eating olive oil, my suspicion is she is or living in a veggie/vegan home environment. Just a guess.

(Joey) #14

I’m inclined to agree with your assessment. Although it may be moot: anyone eating only olive oil won’t likey be posting much longer. :roll_eyes:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #15

Well, then, my sincerest apologies to her and to everyone for even broaching the possibility. I should have done more research than I did. Again, I’m sorry.

(Bob M) #16

Me too - about the troll part anyway.

(Joey) #17

So are we all in agreement … if the OP indeed has a challenge on her hands, it’s not likely to be a cholesterol deficiency? :nerd_face:

(Ian) #18

No.

Cholesterol is essential for so many functions in the body that your liver makes enough every day and makes way more than you eat. I think the dietary contribution is around 20%.

This is one of the reasons the Ancel Keys hate on for cholesterol was so bogus.

#19

Meaning fat calories? Or meaning you’re ONLY consuming olive oil? I don’t see how it’s possible to only get cholesterol from Olive Oil eating keto… or any WOE.

(Joey) #20

I’ve read similar reports of the 80/20 proportions. Nonetheless, wouldn’t concerns re: potential lack of dietary cholesterol pale by comparison to the challenges of starvation (and olive oil poisoning)? :wink: