At Flourish & Roam, we cherish the health of our land and the well-being of our community. Today, I want to address a common misconception that has long influenced our food choices—particularly about cholesterol in our diet. It’s time to set the record straight on how foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products relate to cholesterol levels and overall health.

For decades, many of us have been told that cholesterol in foods like eggs and meat directly contributes to high cholesterol levels in the body, and thus heart disease. But recent scientific insights paint a different picture, one that I, as a steward of natural farming, find crucial to share.

Cholesterol is not just something that should be avoided; it's actually essential for our bodies. It plays a critical role in synthesizing vitamin D, certain hormones, and bile acids that help digest fat. The problem isn't cholesterol itself but how it's managed within our bodies.

Your body utilizes fat as a major source of energy. It helps absorb some vitamins and minerals, build cell membranes, makes up the exteriors of cells, and protects nerves. Fat is essential for blood clotting, muscle movement and inflammation. 

The metabolism of cholesterol involves complex biochemical pathways. When we consume foods rich in cholesterol, like farm-fresh eggs or pasture-raised beef, our liver adjusts by reducing its own cholesterol production. Most blood cholesterol is produced by the body, and dietary cholesterol contributes minimally to it. This regulatory mechanism is part of a healthy metabolic response that supports the breakdown and use of cholesterol rather than letting it accumulate harmfully.

When we discuss cholesterol from sources like pasture-raised animals and eggs, it's crucial to recognize how it metabolically differs from the impacts of sugar and processed foods. Cholesterol consumed from these natural sources is largely incorporated into cell membranes or used to synthesize essential molecules like hormones and bile acids. The liver plays a key regulatory role here, adjusting its own cholesterol production downward when dietary intake increases. This process involves pathways such as the SREBP (Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Proteins) pathway, which modulates cholesterol synthesis at the genetic level, reducing the body's internal production in response to dietary intake.

Contrastingly, the metabolism of refined sugars and processed foods triggers different pathways, notably spiking insulin and glucose levels, which can lead to insulin resistance—a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Over time, high insulin levels can lead to increased hepatic lipogenesis (fat production in the liver), not from dietary cholesterol but from metabolizing excessive carbohydrates. This metabolic route can elevate VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein), a precursor to LDL cholesterol, which is often misattributed solely to saturated fats.

Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions, argue against the demonization of natural fats. Peer-reviewed studies support this view:

Research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that dietary cholesterol from eggs does not increase the risk of heart disease for most people.

The Lancet published a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease in 2021 that looked at the health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries. The findings showed that a high intake of sodium and a low intake of whole grains were the leading dietary risk factors for death. While a diet high in red meat had the lowest attributable deaths.

At Flourish & Roam, we're committed to providing you with the highest quality, pasture-raised meats and dairy. Our farming practices ensure that you receive nutrient-dense, clean food that supports not only your health but also sustainable farming practices.

Let's move forward with a balanced perspective on cholesterol, embracing diets rich in whole, unprocessed foods. By understanding the metabolic pathways and the body's natural regulation of cholesterol, we can appreciate the role of wholesome foods in maintaining our health. Join us at Flourish & Roam, where we nourish our community with products you can trust and feel good about.