People need to know that plant foods do not contain cholesterol, and vegetarian diets do not cause low levels of cholesterol in the brain. The main reason is that this type of cholesterol in the brain does not come from the cholesterol we consume, in fact most of the cholesterol we see measured in the blood is produced by our body, which confirms its importance.
But in the brain, the cholesterol molecule is too large and bulky to cross the blood-brain barrier, so cholesterol in the brain is produced or not right there.
Experts in the field say that, at the endogenous level, cholesterol is made up of carbohydrates, proteins or fats, so that, no matter what we eat, we can actually produce cholesterol, no matter what we need.
Something that exemplifies this is the “high cholesterol levels” in the blood observed in many vegetarians, despite following a cholesterol-free diet.
To date, there are no methods to directly measure brain cholesterol levels specifically, but at first there is no reason to believe that people who choose a vegan diet would have lower brain cholesterol levels than anyone else.
People need to remember that with regard to this type of diet, the nutrients that need to be properly monitored or their presence would be quite different, but apparently not cholesterol.
The relationship between low blood cholesterol levels and mental health
As I have told you in other articles, there should be no cause for concern, given the endogenous brain production mentioned. People need to understand that low blood cholesterol is not initially related to low cholesterol levels in the brain, although it may be, as some studies have suggested.
The latter establish a relationship between low levels of total blood cholesterol, with a higher probability of suffering, for example, depression, the tendency to be aggressive or to suffer from certain cognitive impairments, such as poorer memory.
So, despite the fact that it is an investigated subject, knowing the extraordinary biological importance of cholesterol in the brain and throughout the body, it does not seem ideal to have too low a level of cholesterol, thus compromising not only brain function. about, but also with a higher probability, the stability and functionality of the rest of the cell membranes of our entire body (which are not few), as well as the production of hormones and vitamin D mentioned above.
Researchers in the field also say that the relationship between these low blood cholesterol levels and non-optimal brain function may have to do, or at least in part, due to deficiencies or changes in the production of such cholesterol or vitamin-dependent hormones. D, given the essential roles they all play in the overall health of the body (mind included, of course).