Vitamin D and Cholesterol
You probably already know something about the significant impact vitamin D has on health. If not, or if you need a refresher, you can visit my page on vitamin D.
What most people don't realize is that the best way to get vitamin D is through safe exposure of your skin to the sun. The UVB rays in sunlight interact with the cholesterol in your skin and convert it into vitamin D.
In a nutshell.
If your cholesterol level is too low, you won't be able to use sunlight to produce the necessary levels of vitamin D.
Furthermore, this raises the question: if cholesterol were so dangerous, why would your body use it as a precursor to vitamin D and virtually all the steroid hormones in your body?
More «proof» that cholesterol is good for you?
Consider the role of «good» HDL cholesterol. Essentially, HDL picks up cholesterol from your tissues and arteries and returns it to the liver, where most cholesterol is produced.
If the purpose of this is to eliminate cholesterol from your body, then it makes sense that the cholesterol would be transported back to the kidneys or intestines so that your body can eliminate it.
On the contrary, it goes back to the liver. Why?
Because your liver will reuse it.
«It takes it back to the liver so it can be recycled—broken down into particles again so it can be transported to the tissues and cells that need it.» Dr. Rosedale explains. «Your body is trying to produce and convert cholesterol for a specific reason—because it's very important; in fact, it's vital to your health.».
