Normally, you always hear about high cholesterol in the media, usually in connection with the risk of coronary heart disease (*). However, hardly anyone talks about cholesterol levels being too low.
There is some evidence in the literature that low cholesterol levels can also have negative consequences. This mainly affects mood and memory.
Table of contents
In an American study, low cholesterol levels appear to be associated with nightmares. In addition, there are isolated reports that certain cholesterol-lowering drugs lead to more frequent nightmares.
Du möchtest dich auch gesünder ernähren?
Some studies have already shown a correlation between low cholesterol levels and depression. Women with very low cholesterol levels showed twice the risk of depression than women with normal to moderate levels in one study. Cholesterol-lowering drugs also appear to have a negative effect on mood, as has been found in older people. At the same time, relapse seems more likely in formerly depressed patients taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.
What’s exciting to note here is that many people who switch to a ketogenic (low-carb, high-fat) diet experience significantly improved mood – and that’s even if they were previously suffering from depression.
So from now on it’s: “An egg a day keeps the doctor away” 😉
Another study from the U.S. found a link between low total cholesterol and aggressiveness in children. Thus, children with very low levels were three times more likely to be expelled from school than those with cholesterol levels in the normal range.
Several studies give reason to believe that taking cholesterol-lowering drugs is associated with worsened memory. In some cases, complete memory loss was observed with statin treatment, which partially regressed after discontinuation of the drug.
Always stay up to date with our Newsletter.
This new section is intended to provide a brief look at topics in nutrition science.
(*) The topic of cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease offers material for a completely separate article.
Similar posts by Foodpunk
Ketosis and ketone bodies. These two terms are happily thrown around in the low carb and keto world. Can be measured somehow. But what is actually behind it?
In the low carb diet, you eat no more than about 100g of carbohydrates a day. Find out which foods should and shouldn't be included here!
That ketone bodies are supposed to be good, we have somehow heard before. Also that they occur when you eat very few carbohydrates. But where in the body are these ketone bodies produced exactly? And how does that work?
How are carbohydrates structured?
Sure! Carbohydrates are pasta, rice, potatoes. Everybody knows it! But do you really know what a carbohydrate molecule looks like?
Why you should give up sugar from now on
Give up sugar? There are many good reasons. Your blood work, weight and mood will thank you!
Anti-inflammatory effect of a ketogenic diet
In several of our articles we talk about the anti-inflammatory effect of the keto diet, here you will learn how it comes to this effect.
Why don’t I lose weight despite low carb?
In this article we give the answers!
No menstruation? This may be the cause
The absence of your menstruation can have many reasons. In this article we explain the most common causes of amenorrhea.
So much fruit you can eat in the keto diet
Here we have created a fruit table in which you can see exactly what amount of fruit contains what amount of carbohydrates.
