Dr. Diggs says...

Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is carried in the blood. It is produced by the body and removed by the liver. Additional cholesterol comes from foods we ingest. It is essential for some bodily functions but most Americans have far more cholesterol than is needed. Excess cholesterol is a huge risk factor for heart disease.

My cardiologist explained diet to me in a way that made a lot of sense. He said humans were designed to eat grains, vegetables and fruits, and the occassional fish or meat (perhaps once a week). Modern humans die primarily from heart attacks, strokes, or cancer. There are 4 major cancers we die from: breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Women don't need to worry about prostate cancer and men don't need to worry about breast cancer. I don't smoke so lung cancer is pretty unlikely. For me I need to get checked regularly for colon cancer and prostate cancer. Both cancers are manageable if they are caught early. Colon cancer is highly correlated with diet. If you eat food with more fiber your risk goes down. Follow the diet mentioned above and the risk of colon cancer is low. In fact, for most of human history the diet mention above is how people ate and it is how many people in developing nations eat today. And they don't die of heart disease. The irony of wealth is that it leads to poor diet which leads to heart disease and obesity.

June 9
Weight: 188
Calories consumed: 1900
Calories burned: 2546
Fat: 17%
Protein: 23%
Carbs: 60%
Total Calorie Deficit: 4356