No concerning numbers, I think cholesterol assessment without an NMR particle size analysis is not indicative of much. I have very low oxidized LDL numbers because I don’t have insulin resistance and the CRP is related to inflammation, usually caused by oxidized cholesterol cleanup by macrophages.
Discussion
I’m a big supporter of NMR; tri / HDL is the best approximation, I have been able to find so far, in absence of NMR
I think that the standard values for triglycerides and HDL/LDL ratios are not appropriate for some people, and that “high” cholesterol is not proven to be any specific risk without the effects of other factors like insulin resistance and inflammation. Statins prevent the body from maintaining the cholesterol concentrations targeted, lowering average wellness as a result even though the cholesterol looks good on paper. To answer your question though, my cholesterol ratios and levels are all clinically healthy even though I often eat a dozen eggs and a ribeye with some broccoli, butter and cheese for dinner. 😁 Bottom line is if the NMR looks good, the cholesterol numbers don’t matter at all IMO.
Fully agree. Statins also mess with vitamin D synthesis. From what I’ve read the predictive value of (total) cholesterol measures is all over the place and mostly worthless. If I remember correctly, blood pressure is at least somewhat valuable as a predictive measurement.
I know you do fasts, do you also use other approaches to keep insulin resistance and inflammation down?
And sounds like a great dinner 🤤
I agree that vitamin D is key. Because it’s a fat soluble vitamin manufactured at the skin surface being obese makes it impossible to maintain adequate concentrations in the blood where it’s needed. The adipose tissue literally absorbs the vitamin as fast as it is produced. Blood concentration measurements and massive supplement is the only solution, something most general practitioners don’t do. In some cases it’s a feedback loop; sunscreen, low vitamin D, cancer growth, UV damage, high blood glucose, cancer grows, more sunscreen etc.
Regarding insulin resistance, I use dietary choices and time regulated food consumption. Fruit and carbs are a rare dessert like treat. I love pasta, sometimes I’ll have it for a daily meal but I know that the next day I will be exceptionally hungry for 23 hours because the glucose has been utilized leaving an insulin gap in fat metabolism. I avoid hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, and interesterified (the newest obfuscation BS from the food industry) fats, and seed oils, preferring saturated fats from natural sources like avocados, coconuts, dairy, and meat. I try to know my sources, produce meat myself when I can, buy organic even if it’s likely just marketing because the most effective voting is done with money. So far, my health seems to be holding out, and I have good wellness. I wish you good body wellness, it’s an effortful journey, but well worth the work put in to understand how our bodies function. 🫂
Thanks, I appreciate it 🫂
Another thought about blood pressure, athletes routinely see systolic BP levels of 220 for the duration of the exertion. Generally, for healthy individuals I think that stable systolic BP of up to 165 is not a health risk, yet medicine will recommend and prescribe pharmaceuticals with side effects readily for mildly elevated BP levels. Also, the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is the more important metric for circulation system health, not the mean values of BP itself. The AMA is owned by big pharmaceutical companies. Just look around for the branding on your next visit to your doctor. The metrics used to diagnose disease risk are influenced by sponsorships, it’s important to keep this in mind when following recommendations from the medical complex.