How should we think about cholesterol?

How should we think about cholesterol?

From What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

April 7, 2026 · 29 min · Episode 130

About this episode

The episode discusses cholesterol, its relationship with diet, and the misconceptions surrounding fat and health.

Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken untangle the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing. In this episode, they take on one of nutrition’s most misunderstood topics: fat. What is it, and why does our body need it? At what point does something normal and essential become something we worry about? What do cholesterol blood tests actually measure, and how well do they predict disease? Chris and Xand also explore the relationship between diet and cholesterol, asking how much influence what we eat really has, whether certain fats deserve their bad reputation, and what gets lost when we focus on single nutrients instead of overall dietary patterns. They’re joined by Nita Forouhi, Professor of Population Health and Nutrition at the University of Cambridge, to help separate evidence from hype and offer a clearer way to think about fat, cholesterol, and healthy eating. If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08000 665 123. Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken Guest: Professor Nita Forouhi Producer: Faye Lyons-White Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar…

People in this episode

Hosts: Chris van Tulleken, Xand van Tulleken

Guest: Nita Forouhi

Topics covered

  • cholesterol
  • nutrition
  • diet
  • health
  • fat
  • wellbeing

Keywords

  • cholesterol
  • diet
  • nutrition
  • fat
  • health
  • wellbeing
  • blood tests
  • eating patterns

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Cambridge, BBC Radio 4, Loftus Media

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