Beyond LDL-Cholesterol: These Culprits Drive Artery Plaque Build Up

For the past 60 years the medical community has obsessively focused on lowering LDL-cholesterol levels…

Research shows these five preventable health conditions make LDL-Cholesterol more likely to cause artery plaque build-up, even if your LDL-Cholesterol levels are low.

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Link to Video and Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WfpI5R

Research Mentioned:

Zanoni, P., Velagapudi, S., Yalcinkaya, M., Rohrer, L. & Eckardstein, A. von. Endocytosis of lipoproteins. Atherosclerosis 275, 273–295 (2018).

Ference, B. A., Braunwald, E. & Catapano, A. L. The LDL cumulative exposure hypothesis: evidence and practical applications. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 1–16 (2024) doi:10.1038/s41569-024-01039-5.

Time Stamps:

00:45 LDL's link with atherosclerosis is nuanced.

 02:30 Initial damage to the arterial wall makes LDL levels problematic.

03:45 Increases risk of arterial wall damage: elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance/diabetes, smoking/vaping, obesity, elevated blood viscosity, consuming oxidizableoils.

08:40 High LDL and high triglycerides suggest insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk.

09:50 Start with diet and exercise together.

11:20 Statins have concerning side effects.

13:15 Plaque formation begins early in life.

13:50 High LDL is found in centenarians.

14:44 Centenarians are metabolically healthy.

15:40 Your liver makes LDL cholesterol.

16:10 Every cell in your body requires cholesterol.

18:00  Diets high in seed oils make your LDL more likely to be oxidized.

20:55 30-50% of people who have heart attacks have optimal serum cholesterol.