The liver produces the vast majority of cholesterol found in the blood. Eating less cholesterol has almost no effect on the liver’s production. In fact, it may be counterproductive. As the liver senses less incoming cholesterol, it may simply increase its own production. So why does fasting affect the liver’s production of cholesterol? As dietary carbohydrates decline, the liver decreases its synthesis of triglycerides—since excess carbohydrates are converted to triglycerides, the absence of carbohydrates means fewer triglycerides. Remember that triglycerides are released from the liver as
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