| Myth | Truth |
| High cholesterol is the main risk factor for heart disease? | High cholesterol is only a risk factor for heart disease in a minority of the population; namely middle aged men with a family history of heart disease. |
| Cholesterol lowering drugs are only prescribed in high risk individuals. | Cholesterol lowering drugs are prescribed liberally and in many cases prematurely. |
| People understand which foods affect their cholesterol levels. | Most people don't have a clue what foods raise their cholesterol. |
| Eating too much fat will raise your cholesterol levels. | Carbohydrates and trans fatty acids raise cholesterol levels more than anything else. |
| The lower your cholesterol, the healthier you will be. | If your cholesterol is TOO low you could suffer from serious health problems and reduced quality of life. |
| Cholesterol lowering drugs have minimal side effects. | Cholesterol lowering drugs commonly cause serious side effects which are not recognised. |
| The lower your cholesterol the longer you will live. | Elderly people with high cholesterol live longer than those with low cholesterol. |
| Cholesterol is bad for you. | Cholesterol is essential for good health.
It is needed for the production of sex hormones and vitamin D, and healthy brain function. |
CHOLESTEROL - The Real Truth