Over the past few years, many health experts have warned consumers to attempt to lower their levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. But adding weight to the "everything in moderation" argument, researchers are now saying that the fat actually provides important benefits to the body.
In a study of more than 50 adults in their 60s, it was shown that those who had relatively high levels of LDL cholesterol gained more muscle mass when they began an exercise regimen than those with lower levels of the fat with ill repute.
"Our tissues need cholesterol, and LDL delivers it. HDL, the good cholesterol, cleans up after the repair is done. And the more LDL you have in your blood, the better you are able to build muscle during resistance training," said lead author Steve Riechman, a researcher in the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University.
Additionally, authors noted that LDL readings act as warning signs that something is wrong in the body, helping to stimulate the immune system or other natural healing processes.
Results of this study suggest that individuals who want to get ripped should be sure to eat a balanced diet, which may even include some occasional indulgences that were previously thought to raise cardiovascular risks.
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