Tag: cholesterol

  • The Truth About Inflammation and Heart Disease

    Introduction: Rethinking Heart Health

    For decades, we’ve been told that cholesterol and calcium buildup are the culprits behind heart disease. But what if the real enemy isn’t cholesterol or calcium at all?

    In this post, we’ll break down the role of HDL, LDL, and calcium. We will also explain why chronic inflammation is the hidden cause of arterial plaque. It is also responsible for calcification and cardiovascular risk.

    What Are HDL and LDL? Why You Actually Need Both

    Cholesterol is essential to life — your body can’t function without it.

    • LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) delivers cholesterol from the liver to your cells, where it’s used for:
      • Building cell membranes
      • Producing hormones
      • Synthesizing vitamin D
      • Making bile acids for fat digestion
    • HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) acts as a cleanup crew, carrying unused cholesterol back to the liver for recycling or excretion.

    Despite what you may have heard, LDL is not “bad.” Both HDL and LDL are necessary for your body to regulate and repair itself.

    What About Calcium Buildup in Arteries?

    Many people worry when they hear about calcium deposits or a high Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score. But calcium buildup is not a disease — it’s a healing response.

    Here’s what’s actually happening:

    1. Tissue damage occurs in your blood vessels, often due to chronic inflammation.
    2. Your body sends cholesterol and calcium to patch up the damage.
    3. Over time, these “patches” can harden into plaques.

    This process is called atherosclerosis. It’s not caused by cholesterol or calcium themselves. Instead, it’s caused by inflammation that signals the need for repair.

    Cholesterol and Calcium Are Not the Villains

    Let’s be clear:

    Cholesterol is not the problem.
    Calcium is not the problem.
    The plaque buildup itself isn’t even the problem.
    The problem is chronic inflammation.

    Inflammation is the root trigger that causes the body to deposit cholesterol and calcium at the site of damage.

    What Causes Inflammation in the First Place?

    Chronic inflammation can be driven by many factors, including:

    • Poor diet (high in sugar, seed oils, and processed food)
    • Nutrient deficiencies (especially magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3s)
    • Lack of physical activity
    • Chronic stress
    • Poor sleep
    • Toxins and gut imbalances

    When inflammation is left unchecked, the repair signals keep firing — and cholesterol and calcium keep piling up.

    How to Reduce Inflammation Naturally

    Instead of trying to lower cholesterol at all costs, the better strategy is to reduce inflammation at its root:

    1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods: Focus on vegetables, healthy fats, grass-fed meats, and fermented foods.
    2. Avoid inflammatory triggers: Eliminate seed oils, processed sugars, and ultra-processed snacks.
    3. Get moving: Even light exercise helps reduce systemic inflammation.
    4. Support gut health: Probiotics, fiber, and removing food sensitivities can calm inflammation.
    5. Manage stress: Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which fuels inflammation.
    6. Correct nutrient deficiencies: Especially vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3s, and antioxidants.

    Final Thoughts: Inflammation is the Real Risk Factor

    If you’re seeing signs of calcium buildup or high cholesterol, don’t panic. Instead of blaming cholesterol or calcium, find out what your body is trying to repair. Consider how you can support true healing.

    By addressing chronic inflammation, you can stop the damage before it starts — and avoid the dangerous build-up that follows.

    Want to Learn More?

    At Living Abundantly, we help you get to the root of chronic illness. We use a whole-person approach that includes nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and testing.


    👉 Explore Supplements that support cholesterol balance naturally
    👉 Read More: The Illusion of Disease – Reframing Health Through Systems and Self

  • Is Cholesterol Really the Enemy? Debunking Myths

    For decades, we’ve been told that cholesterol is the enemy. But is it really that simple?

    Over the past 40 years, the “healthy” cholesterol range has gotten lower and lower. Statin prescriptions have skyrocketed. Yet heart disease continues to rise. What gives?

    The Changing Story of Cholesterol

    More and more doctors now agree: total cholesterol alone isn’t the best indicator of heart health.

    • HDL (“good” cholesterol) should be high.
    • Triglycerides should be low.
    • Some doctors now question the focus on LDL (“bad” cholesterol) altogether.
    • Others argue that more specific markers like ApoB, LDL particle size, or Lp(a) are what really matter.
    • Meanwhile, some naturopathic and functional medicine doctors say healthy cholesterol levels vary significantly. According to them, healthy levels range from 200 to 500, depending on the person!

    Confused yet?

    Here’s the Truth

    Cholesterol is not a disease.
    It’s a natural, essential substance your body produces on purpose. Cholesterol supports your brain, hormones, nerves, and cell membranes. Without it, your body can’t function properly.

    If cholesterol rises, it may be a sign of something wrong—but it is not the cause of disease.

    Pills that lower cholesterol don’t address why it went up in the first place. In fact, lowering cholesterol too much can be dangerous:

    • Low cholesterol is associated with increased risk of ADHD, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
    • Statins can reduce brain cholesterol—which is critical for cognitive function—but most doctors don’t even monitor brain-related effects when prescribing them.
    • Cholesterol is essential to brain health, yet we treat it like a toxin.

    What the Data Shows

    • Half of all people who suffer heart attacks have “normal” or even “good” cholesterol levels.
    • Despite the drastic increase in statin prescriptions, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease are still rising.
    • Several studies show that many people who live to 100+ actually have “high” cholesterol. This challenges the idea that lower is always better.

    The Keto Connection

    New studies and documentaries show a growing body of evidence. Many people who follow a ketogenic (keto) diet experience very high cholesterol levels. Yet, they stay metabolically healthy. In fact, some of these individuals:

    • Control or reverse type 2 diabetes
    • Improve mental health conditions
    • Resolve inflammatory disorders

    They do this not by avoiding cholesterol. Instead, they embrace a low-carb, high-fat lifestyle. This lifestyle improves insulin sensitivity and lowers inflammation, even as LDL numbers increase.

    This emerging research challenges the outdated model that cholesterol = heart disease. It highlights the importance of context and metabolic health over raw numbers.

    What Should You Do?

    Instead of obsessing over your cholesterol number:

    • Remove inflammatory and processed foods.
    • Eat real, whole foods with healthy fats like omega-3s. (click here to learn more about the 90 essential nutrients)
    • Avoid seed oils and trans fats.
    • Focus on nutrient-dense foods, especially those rich in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K2).

    If you’ve already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or heart disease, this still applies—especially if you’re on medication. You may eventually be able to reduce or discontinue those meds under your doctor’s guidance—but it starts with fixing the root causes.