Jun 143 min read

Where is Our "Oil Pipeline?" HP1

Collaborating with a healthcare executive of exceptional curiosity, we're delving deep into our system, aiming to 'unpack' it for enhanced accessibility. I've shared my strategy of using allegories to simplify complex concepts and challenge preconceptions with our executive, Justin. Your inquisitiveness is truly commendable, Justin.

While 'allegory' is a fitting term, I find a 'Christian' perspective more resonant. Without intending any offense, I view these as a fusion of proverbs and parables. As I can't recall them all at once, I've decided to immortalize them in blogs. Here's the first one.

Did you know that we are 60 – 70% water? Then, we are up to 20% protein, with the rest made up of 10% fat, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and minerals.

https://drhuk.com/articles/2021/11/our-bodies-are-60-water-and-16-protein/#:~:text=Wellbeing-,Our%20bodies%20are%20up%20to,water%20%E2%80%A6%20and%20nearly%2020%25%20protein&text=Did%20you%20know%20that%20we,carbohydrates%2C%20nuclein%20acids%20and%20minerals.

If we are composed of so much fat, we must have a fat (oil) pipeline somewhere in our bodies to transport these fats, right? Hmmm, where is it?

The answer: It does not exist.

You see, God is an excellent chemist.

The chemistry of fat transport throughout our bodies is actually very simple chemistry.

Your Gut:

It starts in the gut with bile salts produced in the liver and then pumped into the gut, on-demand, by way of the gall bladder.

"Bile salt is the main organic solute in bile and it emulsifies fat, promoting the absorption of cholesterol and various fat-soluble vitamins."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/bile-salt#:~:text=It%20is%20required%20in%20lipid,and%20various%20fat%2Dsoluble%20vitamins.

"Bile, synthesized in the liver, dissolves many endogenous solid components, such as bile salts, bilirubin phospholipids, cholesterol, amino acids, vitamins, steroids, and enzymes. It is required in lipid metabolism as it can carry exogenous lipophilic substances and environmental toxins and remove excess fatty substances." Don't interpret "removing fatty substances (like cholesterol) as a negative. Your kidneys remove all types of excess substances, like excess sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc. Our physiological engines produce waste.

Your Bloodstream:

You do not have an oil pipeline, but you do have a circulatory system—the bloodstream and lymphatic systems—which are both water-based systems. When you go to a gas station, do you fill up your gas tank from the water spigot? Gasoline could be considered to be a fat. In essence, there are only 3 substance types:

water-soluble
fat soluble
insoluble

However, there is a fourth type—a substance that is water soluble on the outside but can hold fats on the inside. These substances are generically called soap.

What happens when you wash a greasy (fatty) dish with water? If the force is great enough, some of the grease may be pushed off, but none goes into the water. What happens when you add soap?

Magic! The oil/fat/grease disappears! What happened to it?

In the context of human physiology - "oil particle" is anything fat soluble. Vitamin A, E, K, D, saturated fats, cholesterol, membrane-forming lipids. All told, the 10% of your body composition.

Have I answered the question regarding the "oil pipeline?" Do you know what your non-existent oil pipline is in your body that transport fats? As I indicated earlier, you do NOT have one. Instead you have soap-like substances produced in the liver, that absorb the "oil (fat, lipid) particles and transport them within your bloodstream.

NO OIL PIPELINE IS NECESSARY, THANKS TO SOME VERY SIMPLE CHEMISTRY.

So what do we call this soap molecule within your body? - NONE OTHER THAN THE DEMONIZED LDL (LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN) MOLECULE. Without it, there is NO FAT TRANSPORT -

YOUR BODY IS 10% FAT - BUT YOUR BRAIN IS 65% FAT.

SIMPLE PROVERB: NO LDL, NO FAT, NO BRAIN

Here is the structure of LDL

now for a side-by-side

What is the relationship between LDL and HDL?

LDL travels from the liver to tissue - bringing fats to support health, including repairing and rebuilding damaged tissue.

HDL travels from tissue to the liver and kidneys to either remove used fats or recycle those that are still viable.

Is it any wonder then, that the older you get, the longer you live with high "cholesterol." The definition of cholesterol is so mixed up. Recall, total cholesterol is simply:

LDL + HDL + 20% of your triglycerides - thus there is no way to know your actual cholesterol.

In general, the higher your "cholesterol," the more repair your body needs. Of course, the older you are, the more repair you require as your immune system becomes less effective, leading to more damage buildup.

Total cholesterol values versus HR (hazard ratio for dying sooner than your should)

Note how, for older people a total cholesterol ranging from 210 - 250 is optimal, with a TC of 300 no more detrimental than a TC of 170. Below 170, and mortality increases contrary to DOGMA.

Here is a link to a previous blog on this topic.

https://www.healthrevivalpartners.com/post/what-is-ldl-really-6