257. Exposing The Cholesterol Myth Doctors Won't Admit w/ Dr. Philip Ovadia
May 6, 2025
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In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Philip Ovadia, a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in metabolic health, challenges the misconceptions surrounding cholesterol. He explains why a high LDL level doesn't paint the whole picture of heart disease risk, advocating for a focus on metabolic health instead. The discussion dives into the implications of diet, the benefits of organ meat, and the role of advanced testing like CAC scans. Dr. Ovadia stresses the importance of individualized health assessments and the potential downsides of conventional treatments like statins.
Understanding LDL cholesterol in the context of overall metabolic health is crucial, as its rise may accompany healthier dietary choices.
Imaging techniques like coronary artery calcium scans provide better insights into cardiovascular health than relying solely on blood tests.
A personalized approach to cardiovascular risk should prioritize lifestyle and dietary changes over uniform prescriptions of lipid-lowering medications.
Deep dives
Understanding Cholesterol and Its Context
Cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol, is often vilified in conventional medicine, but it is essential to understand its context. The discussion highlights how a rise in LDL cholesterol can occur when individuals adopt healthier eating habits, such as an animal-based diet. Many people experience high cholesterol levels, but this is not necessarily indicative of increased heart disease risk. Instead, factors such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and the size and type of LDL particles must be examined to assess cardiovascular health accurately.
Imaging versus Blood Tests
When assessing heart disease risk, relying solely on blood tests can be misleading, making imaging techniques vital for a comprehensive evaluation. Tests such as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans and CT angiograms provide concrete visuals of arterial condition and plaque levels. These imaging assessments can reveal critical insights into a person's cardiovascular status, something blood tests alone cannot achieve. By evaluating plaque formation and arterial blockages through imaging, practitioners can better determine a patient's actual heart disease risk.
The Flaws in One-Size-Fits-All Guidelines
The current medical guidelines often suggest a uniform approach to treating elevated LDL cholesterol, neglecting the individual variances among patients. Many practitioners operate within a framework that emphasizes lowering cholesterol numbers without considering broader health contexts. This can lead to unnecessary prescriptions and patient anxiety, as doctors may overlook critical factors like metabolic health and inflammation. A more personalized approach to cardiovascular health that focuses on understanding individual risk factors may yield better patient outcomes.
Challenging the Effectiveness of Lipid-Lowering Medications
While statins and other lipid-lowering medications are widely prescribed, their overall effectiveness and safety come into question. Research indicates that these medications often provide limited benefits to individual patients and may even contribute to adverse health effects, such as insulin resistance. Patients with high LDL levels often experience startling elevations in fear regarding heart disease without substantial evidence supporting the immediate need for pharmacological intervention. A focus on lifestyle changes, particularly dietary improvements, could serve as a more holistic approach to managing cardiovascular risks.
Insulin Resistance: The Root Cause of Cardiovascular Disease
Insulin resistance is identified as a significant contributor to the development of heart disease, overshadowing cholesterol levels in terms of importance. Dietary choices play a crucial role in controlling insulin sensitivity, with specific emphasis on reducing processed sugars and seed oils. By adopting an animal-based or low-carb diet, individuals often find improvements in their metabolic health, which in turn can reverse insulin resistance. Addressing insulin resistance not only improves cardiovascular health but also reduces the likelihood of encountering associated health issues.
Examining Dietary Fats and Their Impact
The conversation around dietary fats, particularly linoleic acid found in seed oils, raises questions about their adverse effects on metabolism and overall health. Excessive linoleic acid consumption may lead to oxidative stress, which can hinder mitochondrial function and contribute to insulin resistance. A shift towards animal fats that are low in linoleic acid, such as tallow and butter, can be more beneficial for metabolic health. Individuals struggling with insulin resistance might find that reducing overall linoleic acid intake accelerates their recovery and improves their well-being.
🗞️ Newsletter — Reclaim Your Optimal health: https://www.paulsaladinomd.co/sign-up?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=DrOvadia--- --- ---Ever wonder why your LDL cholesterol might shoot up after you started eating healthier, cutting out seed oils and sugar, and your doctor freaked out?It's a common story, and the panic often misses the crucial context. In this conversation with Dr. Ovadia we dive deep into why that single LDL number doesn't tell the whole story about your heart disease risk. Because understanding your insulin sensitivity, inflammation levels, and even getting specific imaging like a CAC scan paints a far more accurate picture. So even the intense focus on lowering ApoB might be too simplistic, potentially overlooking the root causes of atherosclerosis and the significant downsides of certain medications. Hearing directly from a cardiothoracic surgeon who sees the consequences of system failures daily will honestly reveal highlights why a different approach, focused on metabolic health, is desperately needed. So if you've been scared by high cholesterol numbers despite feeling better than ever, this conversation provides critical insights and questions the conventional narrative.--- --- ---If you can't get fresh heart & liver in your diet, try our 100% grass-fed desiccated beef organs at Heart & Soil: https://shop.heartandsoil.co/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=DrOvadiaLooking for a healthy and delicious snack? This is why I created Lineage Provisions. Giving you real foods in the most convenient way. Check us out: http://lineageprovisions.com/psmdyt--- --- ---DR. OVADIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifixhearts/?hl=enWebsite: https://ovadiahearthealth.com/--- --- ---0:00 Healthy diet but high cholesterol? 6:36 Medical dogma surrounding LDL cholesterol12:18 Dr. Philip Ovadia's battle with obesity19:30 Which is the best heart scan technology? 30:26 The LDL paradox40:41 Unspoken dangers of low cholesterol48:34 What really causes insulin resistance?1:20:00 Can medicine admit it's wrong?--- --- ---Find out your ideal diet with my ANIMAL-BASED CALCULATOR: https://www.paulsaladinomd.co/ab-guide#calculator?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=DrOvadia
--- --- ---SOCIALSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulsaladinomdTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paulsaladinomd2Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulsaladinomdSend a message to the team: info@paulsaladinomd.coDISCLAIMERDr. Paul Saladino received his medical degree from the University of Arizona Medical School. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Saladino is a licensed physician in California, but he no longer practices in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Saladino and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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