By CLNRGY
Understanding cholesterol: what does it do, and how can you manage it naturally? Cholesterol often gets a bad rap, but it's widely misunderstood (hopefully less so after this article). Let's explore its critical role in the body and what we can do to support it naturally.
Last night, after enjoying a great meal at a restaurant called Urth in Santa Monica, I struck up a conversation with my UBER driver on the way back to my hotel. I love these spontaneous chats that UBER rides often provide. While the driver navigates, I usually work on my business, CLNRGY, and occasionally, we end up in deep discussions.
This time, I found myself on a monologue about cholesterol—its role and why it's so crucial in the human body. The driver, who happened to be studying to become a doctor, was intrigued by the information I shared. After just 15 minutes, he asked for my contact information, admitting he'd never heard any of what I had just explained. I’d like to share a summary of that conversation with you now.
Before we dive in, know that I didn’t come up with this information on my own. Much of it comes from Put Your Heart In Your Mouth by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. In her book, she dismantles much of the misinformation surrounding cholesterol and explains how a group of individuals, through manipulated statistics and fear-mongering campaigns, convinced us that cholesterol is harmful.
My goal here is to set the record straight—not only for Natasha’s sake but also for the benefit of the cells in your body, including the ones in your brain and eyes that are reading this text.
“Don’t eat too much fat... or you’ll raise your cholesterol!” We’ve all heard it. But on page 7 of her book, Natasha makes a bold statement: There is no correlation between cholesterol levels and the consumption of healthy fats.
So, why do we keep hearing otherwise? This misconception has been passed down through generations without anyone stopping to question it. The result? Millions of people are deprived of optimal metabolic and immune health, all because of widespread disinformation.
Do you know what your cells are made of? Everyone should take the time to understand the incredible machine that is the human body. We didn’t end up at the top of the food chain by chance; we got here through our physical prowess, metabolic capabilities, and higher intelligence. Yet, when I hear people say cholesterol is dangerous, I can’t help but think they must be lacking some understanding of how the body works (just a little humor here). Cholesterol plays an absolutely crucial role in your cellular structure.
Each cell in your body is surrounded by a phospholipid membrane, which allows it to maintain its structure and regulate the flow of molecules. This process, called cellular respiration, is vital for energy production and detoxification. Without this membrane, you’d be nothing more than a puddle of water, considering that your body is about 70% water.
What stops you from turning into a swamp of disorganized fluids and cells? Your cell membranes, of course! And what are these membranes primarily made of? You guessed it—good fats (like Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9) and, drumroll please... cholesterol!
Did you know that cholesterol is essential for brain function? It helps regulate the amount of oxygen entering your cells and also serves as an antioxidant. Your liver produces cholesterol to support the creation of new cells, a process vital to daily cellular renewal. In fact, cholesterol makes up 25% of the total weight of the human brain and 20% of your entire nervous system.
If cholesterol isn’t the villain in this story, then what is? Enter the endothelium, a term that’s not well known but plays a key role in your vascular health.
The endothelium is considered the largest endocrine organ in the human body. It’s a fragile layer of cells that lines your entire circulatory system. Think about that for a moment— a delicate, thin layer of cells covering every blood vessel in your body. That’s significant.
Given that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, it’s critical to take care of your endothelium. Cardiovascular diseases—"cardio" meaning heart and "vascular" meaning blood vessels—start in the very system the endothelium protects.
If you’re not having an "aha" moment yet, that’s okay! But feel free to email me at nrg@clnrgy.com if you want a brain reboot protocol (just kidding, but there is a lot of misinformation out there).
To support your brain, you need to consume enough cholesterol to replenish your body’s supply of healthy fats, particularly DHA, phosphatidylcholine, egg yolks, ghee, and coconut oil. Add in specific nutrients like electrolytes, magnesium L-threonate, encapsulated liver (rich in B vitamins and choline), and copper, one of the most vital minerals in the body. Also, consider botanical extracts that enhance antioxidant protection and oxygenation.
We’ve been told over and over to avoid saturated fats. But did you know that 74% of atherosclerotic plaques are made of unsaturated fats, the primary source of which is vegetable oils like margarine? That’s definitely something to reconsider.
Here is a very interesting video regarding a home experiment related to cholesterol consumption.
If this information about cholesterol contradicts what you’ve been told, it’s understandable if you feel a bit unsettled. But with an open mind and a healthy brain fueled by the right fats, you might start to see things differently. Remember, repetitive messaging can lead to deeply ingrained beliefs—whether or not they’re true.
Now, let’s get practical. Taking care of your endothelium is essential if you want to prevent cholesterol from accumulating in your arteries. Cholesterol isn’t the problem— it’s a protective mechanism your body uses to patch up damage caused by stressors.
As I mentioned earlier, the media has always “informed” you that you should avoid fat if you don't want to develop cholesterol problems. And naturally (which is understandable), you believed it.
Now, let’s get practical. Taking care of your endothelium is essential if you want to prevent cholesterol from accumulating in your arteries. Cholesterol isn’t the problem—it’s a protective mechanism your body uses to patch up damage caused by stressors.
Cholesterol accumulates in your arteries because it’s trying to repair microtears and lesions caused by repeated exposure to stress.
Think of cholesterol as the paramedic rushing to the scene, not the cause of the problem.
When has anyone ever blamed an ambulance for an accident just because it arrived at the scene? That’s exactly what we’ve been doing with cholesterol—it makes no sense!
To sum it all up: stop thinking of cholesterol as the enemy. It’s not the villain here.
Cholesterol is essential for maintaining the structure and fluidity of your cell membranes. It regulates the flow of molecules in and out of cells, playing a vital role in cellular communication and energy production.
Cholesterol is the building block of many important bioactive molecules, including steroid hormones. These hormones regulate key functions like growth, metabolism, and stress response.
Cholesterol can’t move freely through the blood, so it needs to be carried by lipoproteins. LDL transports cholesterol to tissues, while HDL returns excess cholesterol to the liver for disposal.
High levels of LDL cholesterol can contribute to atherosclerosis, but the real culprit is often inflammation and lifestyle factors that damage the endothelium.
In conclusion, cholesterol isn’t the “bad guy” it’s made out to be in the media. But with this knowledge comes responsibility—especially when it comes to protecting your endothelium. If you're someone who believes that knowledge without action is useless, then we're on the same page.
To help you take action, I’ve compiled a guide: The 12 Preventive Commandments for Endothelium Health.
Contact me nrg@clnrgy.com, and I’ll be happy to share it with you.
Why do I allow myself to speak about the natural usefulness of cholesterol in the body? Here is what Dr. Bob Rakowski, who practices in Houston, Texas, has to say about me. I want to correct one element he mentions in the video. I am not a nutritionist but rather specialized in metabolic optimization, having completed thousands of hours of training in nutrition and lifestyle habits (in addition to my basic university education in physical education), and I continue to do as much in ongoing education. This is combined with my hands-on experience, where I have accumulated over 10,000 hours of helping people improve their quality of life.
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