It is impossible for a very low-fat diet to bring down cholesterol levels to zero because the body also synthesizes it every day and uses it for various physiological functions. According to Tao, as the human body requires cholesterol for the synthesis of critical hormones, such as estrogen, aldosterone, testosterone, adrenal hormones, and pituitary hormones, it synthesizes approximately 3-4 grams every day. In this view, daily synthesis makes it impossible for cholesterol levels to be zero. Moreover, eating a low-fat diet to reduce the level of cholesterol in the body is undesirable for the body requires certain amounts of cholesterol in the body for normal body functions.
The desirable levels of total cholesterol in the body should be below 200 mg/dL while the levels of between 200 mg/dL and 239 mg/dL are moderately high, and the levels of 240 mg/dL and above are very high. In essence, the cholesterol level should not be too high or too low to ensure that there is a balance of low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein to prevent cardiovascular disorders.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) are the three types of cholesterol that are in the body. Medically, HDL is a desirable form of cholesterol because it prevents the occurrence of cardiovascular disorders while LDL and VLDL are undesirable forms of cholesterol because they predispose people to cardiovascular disorders. Ryan explains that HDL can carry and remove excess fats from the circulatory system to the liver whereas LDL and VLDL have limited capability to carry fats, and thus, they overload and stick on the walls of blood vessels resulting in cardiovascular disorders.
