High cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease. And there is a good...
Dr. BP | Metabolism 2.0@DrBPHealth
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May 13, 2024
~6 min read
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High cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease.
And there is a good chance you can get off your statins (cholesterol medication).
Let me explain why & how.
THREAD
And there is a good chance you can get off your statins (cholesterol medication).
Let me explain why & how.
THREAD
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For decades it's been communicated that high cholesterol causes heart disease.
Even with clear research in the last 10-15 years, this continues to be communicated.
I can assure you, high cholesterol does not cause heart disease.
It is associated with it but does not cause it.
Even with clear research in the last 10-15 years, this continues to be communicated.
I can assure you, high cholesterol does not cause heart disease.
It is associated with it but does not cause it.
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This is analogous to saying smoke causes things to be burned up.
No, the fire is what causes things to be burnt up.
The smoke is a sign that there is a fire.
Just like cholesterol (smoke) is a sign of heart disease (something is getting burned).
No, the fire is what causes things to be burnt up.
The smoke is a sign that there is a fire.
Just like cholesterol (smoke) is a sign of heart disease (something is getting burned).
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So the question is, what's the fire that causes heart disease?
It's inflammation.
Specifically, chronic inflammation.
Medical terms have their root in Latin.
Interestingly, inflammation in Latin means "fire".
The inflammation causes damage to the heart & arteries.
It's inflammation.
Specifically, chronic inflammation.
Medical terms have their root in Latin.
Interestingly, inflammation in Latin means "fire".
The inflammation causes damage to the heart & arteries.
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For millennia humans didn't have heart disease issues.
In fact, in the early 1900s, a physician could go their entire career and not see a single heart disease or heart attack patient.
That certainly wouldn't happen now!
In fact, in the early 1900s, a physician could go their entire career and not see a single heart disease or heart attack patient.
That certainly wouldn't happen now!
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It wasn't until the 1930s that heart attacks started to become an issue.
They increased more in the 1940s.
And in the 1950's it became an epidemic.
And in 1955 when Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack as the sitting U.S. president, the disease became front and center.
They increased more in the 1940s.
And in the 1950's it became an epidemic.
And in 1955 when Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack as the sitting U.S. president, the disease became front and center.
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Eisenhower was in the hospital for 10 days.
Now all the attention was put on this new disease that was suddenly killing men & women in their 40s, 50s & 60s.
Now all the attention was put on this new disease that was suddenly killing men & women in their 40s, 50s & 60s.
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A scientist by the name of Ancel Keys hypothesized that it was due to saturated fat.
Saturated fat was "causing a rise in cholesterol and clogging the arteries."
Saturated fat was "causing a rise in cholesterol and clogging the arteries."
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This started the scientific community down the path of lowering cholesterol and recommending reducing saturated fats in the diet.
Unfortunately, this was a grave mistake.
It was not the ultimate cause, and the given advice was also not the answer.
This would lead to decades...
Unfortunately, this was a grave mistake.
It was not the ultimate cause, and the given advice was also not the answer.
This would lead to decades...
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... of unnecessary suffering and early deaths.
Here's what happens:
When the body has inflammation, and the inner linings of the heart and arteries get damaged, the body adapts to repair it.
Think of standing in a small room and someone knocking a hole in the wall.
Here's what happens:
When the body has inflammation, and the inner linings of the heart and arteries get damaged, the body adapts to repair it.
Think of standing in a small room and someone knocking a hole in the wall.
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It would look unsightly.
So you would repair the hole, patch it, texture it and paint it.
That section of the wall would be a little bit thicker.
No big deal.
But imagine doing this same process every day, or multiple times a day, for 20 years.
So you would repair the hole, patch it, texture it and paint it.
That section of the wall would be a little bit thicker.
No big deal.
But imagine doing this same process every day, or multiple times a day, for 20 years.
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The walls of the room would slowly enclose in.
Eventually, you would be standing in a very small room and feel very claustrophobic.
This is exactly what happens to the walls of arteries.
Inflammation damages them.
Eventually, you would be standing in a very small room and feel very claustrophobic.
This is exactly what happens to the walls of arteries.
Inflammation damages them.
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The body's adaptive repair mechanism is to produce specific types of cholesterol (more on this later) to repair the damage.
1 or 2 days, no big deal.
20 years of doing this daily, and the arteries clog.
Eventually, they can clog completely and cause a heart attack.
1 or 2 days, no big deal.
20 years of doing this daily, and the arteries clog.
Eventually, they can clog completely and cause a heart attack.
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Roughly 37% of the time, the first sign of a heart attack....death.
This is what was happening in the 1940s & 1950s.
People were just dropping dead.
So what was causing the sudden rise in inflammation in the 1940s and 1950s if it wasn't saturated fat that caused it?
This is what was happening in the 1940s & 1950s.
People were just dropping dead.
So what was causing the sudden rise in inflammation in the 1940s and 1950s if it wasn't saturated fat that caused it?
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It was three-fold:
It was an increase in smoking.
And it was an increase in the consumption of refined sugar and also seed oils.
It was not dietary saturated fat.
In fact, saturated fat increases good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers small, dense LDL particles.
It was an increase in smoking.
And it was an increase in the consumption of refined sugar and also seed oils.
It was not dietary saturated fat.
In fact, saturated fat increases good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers small, dense LDL particles.
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Small, dense LDL particles are the specific type of LDL associated with heart disease.
Before we go further, you need to understand how Total Cholesterol is calculated
HDL + LDL + 20% Triglycerides= Total Cholesterol
Before we go further, you need to understand how Total Cholesterol is calculated
HDL + LDL + 20% Triglycerides= Total Cholesterol
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If your total cholesterol is over 200, you are typically recommended to begin statins (cholesterol medication) to lower your cholesterol.
In fact, they are one of the most prescribed drugs in America.
But there is more to LDL.
All LDL particles aren't created equal.
In fact, they are one of the most prescribed drugs in America.
But there is more to LDL.
All LDL particles aren't created equal.
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LDL has what are called subfractions.
This is the newer science that has been out for the last 10+ years.
There are 3 main types of LDL subfractions:
1. Big puffy LDL particles (not assoc. with heart disease)
2. Medium-sized LDL particles (not associated with heart disease)
This is the newer science that has been out for the last 10+ years.
There are 3 main types of LDL subfractions:
1. Big puffy LDL particles (not assoc. with heart disease)
2. Medium-sized LDL particles (not associated with heart disease)
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3. Small, dense LDL particles (associated with heart disease)
When a person starts eating saturated fats and other healthy fats, the following happens:
•HDL increases
•Big puffy LDL particles increase
•Medium-sized LDL particles increase
•Small, dense LDL particles DECREASE
When a person starts eating saturated fats and other healthy fats, the following happens:
•HDL increases
•Big puffy LDL particles increase
•Medium-sized LDL particles increase
•Small, dense LDL particles DECREASE
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Which is exactly what we want for heart disease!
Now, when patients do what I describe below, they will go back to their cardiologist and their doc will often say "Well, I've seen you lost a lot of weight...
Now, when patients do what I describe below, they will go back to their cardiologist and their doc will often say "Well, I've seen you lost a lot of weight...
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....But your total cholesterol has gone up so you need to continue with your cholesterol medication and decrease your saturated fats."
It's no surprise they say this because it's all they've ever been taught.
However, it's no longer backed by the latest research.
It's no surprise they say this because it's all they've ever been taught.
However, it's no longer backed by the latest research.
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If their other doctor says this, here's what I tell my patients to do:
Go get an advanced lipid panel that measures your LDL subfractions.
The 2 major labs in the U.S. are:
LabCorp- the test is called NMR LipoProfile
-or-
Quest Diagnostics- the test is called Cardio IQ
Go get an advanced lipid panel that measures your LDL subfractions.
The 2 major labs in the U.S. are:
LabCorp- the test is called NMR LipoProfile
-or-
Quest Diagnostics- the test is called Cardio IQ
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Every time my patients followed the below suggestions & went to get one of these tests afterwards here's the outcome:
•HDL is great
•Big puffy LDL is great
•Medium-sized LDL is great
•Small, dense LDL is low & great!
There's no concern for heart disease. Their risk is down!
•HDL is great
•Big puffy LDL is great
•Medium-sized LDL is great
•Small, dense LDL is low & great!
There's no concern for heart disease. Their risk is down!
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We can no longer simply look at Total Cholesterol alone and make a recommendation for cholesterol medications.
The implications of simply doing this are too grave.
Here's why I say this:
The implications of simply doing this are too grave.
Here's why I say this:
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Cholesterol is needed for proper brain & cellular function, it's a precursor for every sex hormone in the body, and cholesterol does so much more!
We can't simply block the liver's production of cholesterol with meds.
We have to address the root cause of the issue: inflammation
We can't simply block the liver's production of cholesterol with meds.
We have to address the root cause of the issue: inflammation
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Here's what I suggest to my patients:
1) Eliminate the most pro-inflammatory items:
•Refined sugar
•Seed oils (a.k.a. vegetable oils)
(Learn why )
•Processed grains
•Smoking
1) Eliminate the most pro-inflammatory items:
•Refined sugar
•Seed oils (a.k.a. vegetable oils)
(Learn why )
•Processed grains
•Smoking
Dr. BP | Metabolism 2.0@DrBPHealth
Every day you are eating oils that were only used in industrial machines just 100 years ago.
They're making you fat & destroying your health.
And you don't even realize it.
THREAD
They're making you fat & destroying your health.
And you don't even realize it.
THREAD
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2) Eat lots of soluble fiber:
•Whole, real vegetables
•Whole, real fruit
•Whole, real vegetables
•Whole, real fruit
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3) Focus on eating these healthy fats:
•Animal fats/lard/tallow
•Fish oil
•Coconut oil
•Olive oil
•Avocado oil
•Avocados
•Macadamia oil
•Tree Nuts
These have been consumed for millennia by humans.
Before fats were ever demonized as unhealthy.
•Animal fats/lard/tallow
•Fish oil
•Coconut oil
•Olive oil
•Avocado oil
•Avocados
•Macadamia oil
•Tree Nuts
These have been consumed for millennia by humans.
Before fats were ever demonized as unhealthy.
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4) Also consider taking these supplements, as they have the most research behind their anti-inflammatory effects:
•Omega 3 essential fatty acids
•Vitamin D3
•Tumeric (active ingredient is curcumin)
Make sure to chose & pay for high quality.
Your health is worth it!
•Omega 3 essential fatty acids
•Vitamin D3
•Tumeric (active ingredient is curcumin)
Make sure to chose & pay for high quality.
Your health is worth it!
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Since people ask in comments & DM’s, here are the products I take & use with patients
Omega 3’s (non-vegan)
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
Omega 3’s (non-vegan)
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
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Omega 3’s (vegan)
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
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Vitamin D3
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
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Vitamin D + K
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
us.fullscript.com/protocols/drbp…
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Do the above 4 steps for a minimum of 8 weeks.
12 weeks would be ideal.
Then go have your blood re-tested, and you will see a tremendous positive change in your labs!
And you will feel much better too!
12 weeks would be ideal.
Then go have your blood re-tested, and you will see a tremendous positive change in your labs!
And you will feel much better too!
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I love sharing & helping people!
Thank you for reading!
Dr. BP | Metabolism 2.0@DrBPHealth
High cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease.
And there is a good chance you can get off your statins (cholesterol medication).
Let me explain why & how.
THREAD
And there is a good chance you can get off your statins (cholesterol medication).
Let me explain why & how.
THREAD