Cholesterol myths, checked
What people believe about their cholesterol, why it sounds right, and what is true.
Not the way you think Your total cholesterol is the number that matters
The total counts your HDL too, and the 2026 guideline sets no goal for it. Two people at 220 can be one fine and one far off. LDL and non-HDL decide.
Not the way you think If your numbers are inside the lab's range, you're fine
The printed range is one line for everyone. The 2026 LDL goal runs from under 100 to under 55 by your risk, and the lab doesn't know your risk.
Not the way you think The higher your HDL, the better
Low HDL is a warning sign, but raising it hasn't helped. Drugs that pushed HDL up didn't cut heart attacks on top of a statin, and neither did genes that raise it.
No Cholesterol supplements work about as well as a prescription
In a 28-day trial, six popular supplements, plant sterol pills and red yeast rice among them, didn't lower LDL more than placebo. A 5 mg statin lowered it 35%.
No Thin people who eat well don't get high cholesterol
Your genes set how fast your liver clears LDL. FH affects 1 in 250 to 300 people, up to 9 in 10 don't know, and thyroid, menopause and keto raise it too.
No Coconut oil is good for your cholesterol
The 2026 guideline lists coconut oil with butter and red meat as saturated fat. Each 1% of calories moved to vegetable oils lowers LDL about 2 points.
No Cholesterol only matters when you're older
Plaque builds with LDL and years. LDL creeps up 1 to 2 points a year from your 20s, and people born with lower LDL had 88% less heart disease. Test from 19.
Sort of Keto lowers your cholesterol
It usually drops triglycerides fast. But LDL can rise a lot in some people, mostly with plenty of animal fat, and the guideline lists ketosis as a cause of high LDL.
