Contrary to the accepted claim of saturated fat being a main culprit of heart disease—the mysteries are many—and begin to unravel when we look to natural care.

Have you been told your “bad cholesterol” is too high? Maybe you’ve been prescribed a class of drugs called statins, which are designed to lower your LDL—low-density lipoprotein—also known as “bad cholesterol.”

Statins do what they are designed to do, but there are two major problems. First, the mechanism of action causes a multitude of side effects that can lead to worse health. Second, there is now substantial evidence that casts doubts that lowering your LDL prevents heart attacks and that the highest rates of death and dementia are in those with the lowest levels of LDL.

The claim that eating too much saturated fat raises your level of LDL and therefore your risk for heart disease is also being refuted by mounting evidence. Research strongly suggests that sugar and simple carbohydrates (such as bread, pasta, and processed foods) are a far more significant factor in heart disease. Healthy natural fats from pasture-raised animals (as well as fish, avocados, and nuts) are actually associated with a lower risk for heart disease.