Published Nov 9, 2018

898: How Dietary Cholesterol can Help Build Muscle & Strength, Knee Pain Fixes, When Muscle go...

Explore how redefining fitness culture can lead to healthier lifestyles, discover techniques for addressing knee pain and enhancing movement, and uncover the surprising role of dietary cholesterol in building muscle and strength. Join Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, and Sal Di Stefano as they delve into effective communication in fitness, the biomechanics of squats, and historical bodybuilding insights.
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Episode Highlights

  • Cholesterol & Muscle

    Cholesterol plays a significant role in muscle growth, strength, and performance, as discussed by and . They highlight studies showing that higher cholesterol intake correlates with increased muscle mass and strength, particularly in elderly individuals 1. Sal shares his personal experience of consuming up to 2000 milligrams of cholesterol daily, noting a substantial boost in strength similar to the effects of Creatine 2.

    Cholesterol, when it comes to the cell membranes, improves their viscosity, which may also make them more resilient to damage.

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    The hosts also discuss how dietary cholesterol can enhance the adaptation signal post-exercise, potentially leading to greater muscle protein synthesis 1.

       

    Bodybuilding Diet

    The historical perspective on bodybuilding nutrition reveals the reliance on high-cholesterol foods like liver, full-fat cream, and egg yolks. explains that these foods were staples for bodybuilders aiming to bulk up without relying heavily on carbohydrates 3. He mentions Vince Garanda, a pioneer in bodybuilding, who advocated for such diets to achieve a shredded physique without anabolic steroids 3.

    Liver was a bodybuilding staple back in the day. And liver is very, very high in nutrients, but it's also very high in cholesterol.

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    This approach underscores the perceived benefits of cholesterol-rich diets in enhancing performance and muscle definition.

       

    Testing & Supplements

    Testing for nutritional deficiencies is crucial for optimizing health and performance. shares his experience with vitamin D testing, revealing low levels despite supplementation, which prompted him to adjust his intake 4. emphasizes the importance of cholesterol in synthesizing vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, suggesting that increasing cholesterol intake could be beneficial 4.

    If you're low in something and you supplement for that thing and you get it up, you will feel phenomenal.

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    The hosts advocate for using accessible testing services like Everly Well to identify deficiencies and tailor supplementation accordingly, enhancing overall well-being 5.