Increased cholesterol no longer a nutrient of concern

A report from America’s top dietary advisory panel has opted to move away from a decades-long warning to decrease dietary cholesterol consumption for fear it contributes to heart disease.

The panel concluded that dietary cholesterol is no longer a “nutrient of concern” and doesn’t need to be avoided by healthy adults.

This comes from recent findings that increased cholesterol intake doesn’t necessarily impact the level of cholesterol– particularly bad, LDL cholesterol – in the blood or increase the risk of heart disease.

Not everyone agrees and those with various health conditions such as diabetes should continue to limit the total amount of dietary cholesterol they ingest.

Some of the panel’s general recommendations regarding what constitutes a healthy diet include one that is:

• higher in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• include seafood and legumes
• moderate in dairy products (with an emphasis on low- and non-fat dairy)
• moderate in alcohol
• lower in meats (including red and processed meats)
• lower in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages
• lower in refined grains.

As we well know, nutrition and dietary advice is often complicated and ever-changing. As runners, we know that a healthy and balanced diet –with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and whole grains – along with regular physical activity are the cornerstones of longevity and overall health and well-being.