“What if everything you thought you knew about cholesterol and heart disease was wrong?”
This was how Tamzyn Murphy Rd, head of content on Network Network, opened a thought and strong conversation with Dr. Rolandos Pavlou-one General Physician, Certified Nutrition Network and Expert in the upcoming Health Cardiovascular Education.
What followed was a deep dive into the origin, imperfections and consequences of one of the most established doctrines of the drug: the lipid case-The belief that nutrition and blood cholesterol is the main cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Dr. Pavlou did not hold back: “He started in 1858 with the discovery of Virchow … And he was really more careful than modern scientists.
As we move on to start the Cardiovascular Education on August 27This interview served as a strong reminder because it is more critical than ever for clinical doctors – and anyone with a heart – to re -examine science and reconsider the stories they told us.
A personal trip to the heart of the myth of cholesterol
For Dr. Pavlou, this was never just an academic exercise.
“The trigger was the episode of my father’s heart. He was in statins for seven years … and still had a heart attack. That made me ask,” How could that happen? ”
This question asked him on a multi -year journey of research, leading to a book (currently in Greek), multiple lectures and a mission to challenge the status quo. “I found the Noakes Foundation. explained.
Today, Dr. Pavlou is a top voice on the nutrition network, helping clinical doctors not only the weaknesses of traditional CVD prevention strategies but also the metabolic radical causes of heart disease – and how to correct them.
What is the case of lipids – and why does it fail?
The lipid hypothesis suggests that eating saturated fat and dietary cholesterol increases blood cholesterol, which then clogs arteries and causes heart attacks. It sounds intuitive. After all, cholesterol is found in the arterial plates.
But as Dr. Pavlou and countless others revealed, science just doesn’t last.
“The idea was based on very raw cases – such as the hydraulic installation model. Eat fat, clogs your pipes, but this is not how the body works.”
One of the biggest problems, he said, is Accumulation with causal relevance. For example, early studies such as Study of seven countries The ancel keys drew links between the intake of saturated fat and heart disease-but cherry selected data excludes countries that do not fit the narrative and have failed to adapt for confusing factors such as sugar intake, smoking and stress.
“He noticed only 34 Cretans – during Lent, when they didn’t eat meat! It was completely wrong.”
More condemnable, Dr. Pavlou added, was that many critical studies are suppressed – such as Minesota coronary experimentwhere replacing saturated fat with seed oils reduced cholesterol but increased mortality. This data sat unpublished in a basement for decades until researchers such as Dr. Christopher Ramsden discovered it.
“For every 30 mg/dl decrease in cholesterol, an increase of 22% in the mortality of all causes. In people over 65, it was 35%.”
Let this sink: The lower cholesterol is associated with higher mortality rates.
The industry behind the guidelines
How did we come up with decades of nutritional guidelines that promote a low fat diet despite evidence to the contrary?
“This was not just a human crusade,” Dr. Pavlou said. “Anecel Keys had the support of oil and sugar industries.
The result was the 1980 Nutrition Guidelineswhich demonized saturated fats and cholesterol, promoting vegetable oils and refined carbohydrates – storms now associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and yes, cardiovascular disease.
Tamzyn Murphy noted listeners to basic resources: Nina teicholz’s book The big surprise of fat; Zoë Harcombe’s Research and doctoral dissertation, both of which strictly depresses conflicts of interest and the wrong science behind nutrition policy.
But isn’t cholesterol on the plates?
Yes, but that doesn’t mean it causes plates.
Dr. Pavlou explained: “Cholesterol found in atherosclerotic plates is not the same as what we see in LDL is often in crystalline form and the plates also contain platelets, fibrous and even red blood cell residues.”
In other words, Cholesterol may be present on scene of crime but not the perpetrator– It is possible for a correspondent, part of the body’s attempt to cure inflammatory or injured arteries.
“If the hydraulic installation model was right, the veins should clog more than the arteries – because blood flow is slower, but they do not.
Statins: Solving a number or treatment of a person?
Statins-the most prescription cholesterol reduction drugs in the LDL-C target world. But if LDL is not the villain, what do we really achieve?
“Modern medicine faces a number – not a person,” Dr. Pavlou noted. “Even when a ketogenic diet improves everything – CRP, HBA1C, triglycerides, HDL -Soctors are still panicked if LDL goes up.”
Statins reduce cholesterol but studies show that they have Minimum effect on overall mortalityEspecially in people without previous heart disease. And the side effects? Deep.
“Statins prevent the mevalonate pathway – so you not only reduce cholesterol but also CoQ10, which is essential for the function of muscles and mitochondria.”
Side effects include:
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Cognitive issues and memory loss
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Hormonal imbalance (cholesterol is the precursor in all steroid hormones)
- Reduced immune function
“It’s not just a side effect. It is a direct result of what statins do” He stressed.
What really causes heart disease?
If it is not cholesterol, what causes the global epidemic of cardiovascular disease?
Dr. Pavlou pointed to five main culprits:
- Chronic inflammation
- They are often driven by seed oils, over-processed foods and insulin resistance.
- Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes Resistance
- “Diabetes increases the cardiovascular risk ten times, but doctors focus on LDL instead of reversing diabetes.”
- Smoking
- An established pre-inflammatory and vascular toxin.
- Lifestyle and anxiety
- Chronic stress and lack of movement are important contributors.
- Extremely processed diets
- “We have done what the instructions told us: reduced meat, butter, eggs. And yet 93% of Americans are metabolic unhealthy.”
CRP, not LDL: The real risk indicator?
“In Jupiter’s study – the one approved by Crestor – found that patients with high CRP (inflammation index), not with high cholesterol, benefited from statins.”
This insight may be the key to understanding why statins occasionally help-Not because they reduce cholesterol but because they have moderately anti -inflammatory results.
“But even this comes with a trade -an indication of a compression. You can reduce CRP, but also harm your body’s ability to combat infections.”
What about lipoprotein (a)?
Lipoprotein (a), or Lp (a)It is a genetically defined variant of LDL that bears an additional protein, giving her Promotion of thrombus and inflammatory properties. In contrast to LDL, Statins can increase LP (A) flat.
“It is one lipoprotein that is truly linked to cardiovascular risk, but instead of suppressing it, let’s reduce the inflammation and metabolic dysfunction that cause its activity.”
The upcoming cardiovascular education includes a special lecture on LP (A) Siobhan hugginsExploring emerging research and strategies.
What should we eat instead?
Dr. Pavlou supports the return to Diet suitable for species-An a diet of low carbohydrates, high nutrient diet built on real, whole foods.
“We have to rely on red meat, liver, eggs from hens bred by pasture, butter with grass and fat and low carbohydrate vegetables such as tolerated.”
His message is clear: Remove over-processed foods, seed oils, sophisticated grains and sugar. Eat nutritious dense foods that recognize your body.
Should anyone ever get statins?
Dr. Pavlou does not completely exclude statins – but only as latter.
“If a patient refuses to make changes in the lifestyle – no diet, no exercise – then may a statin have a place, but combining statins with a ketogenic diet?
Become a member of cardiovascular education for health
Dr. Pavlou’s ideas just scratch the surface of what is covered in the food network Health Cardiovascular EducationStarting on August 27th. His three in -depth lectures cover:
- THE History of Lipid Case
- Cholesterol and ldl-c In physiology and pathology
- A complete Statin analysistheir effectiveness and lesions
“We will be happy to see people take the course and watch full lectures” He shared. “We need more professionals who can deal with the person, not just the number.”
If you are a health care professional, nutritionist or just someone who cares about your heart health – this is your opportunity to finally separate the event from fiction.
Return to the heart of the subject
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide– But behind each statistics is a parent, a child, a partner, a friend.
‘We face numbers, not people’ said Dr. Pavlou. “And that has to stop. Because they are real people – our loved ones.”
By reviewing the evidence, challenging cases and returning to ancestral, metabolic supporting diet, we can shift from diseases of diseases to True heart health.
Let’s recover the narrative. Let’s put the heart back to the drug.
🔗 Are you ready to rethink cardiovascular health?
Participate in Education here → Nutrition Network Cardiovascular Education
Your heart – and your patients’ hearts – you have nothing less.
