Support your 60,000 miles of vasculature naturally–after 60
Most of us have grown up hearing about “good” HDL and “bad” LDL cholesterol, but new research is showing a far more complex story. Risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) shows wide variation across individuals, so there is a genetic component to be considered too. In essence, there is no “bad” cholesterol. Different types of cholesterol may have had unique benefits in a bygone age but not in today’s world where we are challenged, daily by a multitude of dietary and lifestyle insults that predispose us to heart disease. Did you know that 50% of patients having heart attacks, admitted to hospital, have normal lipid (fats) levels?
In recent expert sessions from the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Dr. Erik Lundquist, Dr. Chris Magryta, and Calroy Science, Dr. Michael Twyman, thought leaders in functional and preventive cardiology shared how our understanding of heart disease has evolved – and what practical steps one can take to protect arteries and vascular health.
🧬 It’s Not Just About Cholesterol Levels
Heart disease isn’t driven by cholesterol alone. It’s influenced by how your body manages inflammation, oxidative stress, blood sugar, and immune balance.
Modern testing is now able to go deeper by fractionating cholesterol into its component parts, looking at cholesterol particle size and function, plus inflammatory markers that show what’s happening “upstream.” Nutrigenomics can also offer insights into predispositions for making cholesterol, inflammation and oxidative stress. You may not know that we naturally make our own cholesterol. Nutrigenomics answers the question: Do you naturally make more of your own cholesterol and could your diet and lifestyle habits unwittingly be making more? Potentially this can lead to gallbladder issues.
Key insights
Newer and old markers that may reveal early vascular injury or plaque vulnerability are:
- ApoB: how many damaging cholesterol particles are circulating
- ApoA: main constituent of HDL- transports excess cholesterol back to the liver
- hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α reflect inflammatory activity that can damage arteries. These aren’t always easy to measure. Nutrigenomics can give some insights.
- Lp-PLA2 (an inflammatory biomarker)
- suPAR, used to predict risk of an adverse cardiovascular event)
- GlycA, cardiovascular disease risk
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme released by white blood cells; can be a measure of oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Oxidised-LDL, HDL-c triglycerides and homocysteine (see previous blog).
- HDL sub particles.
Even HDL, once thought to be purely protective, has different subtypes – some help remove and recycle cholesterol, others lose function when inflammation is high. Having higher HDL is not necessarily better (this was news to me too!). A limited number of markers can be tested or requested from your GP. New markers can be tested privately via your nutritional practitioner and need to be contextualised given your diet and lifestyle. Make an appointment here to find out more or join my Golden Wellness heart health programme. Alternatively, gift yourself, wife, or husband, friend or partner a Gift Certificate to get the ball rolling to better heart health, a great birthday or Christmas, Diwali (or other holiday) present.
💡 What Really Drives Risk
Many of the “abnormal” patterns in advanced blood tests come back to everyday habits – particularly diets high in refined carbohydrates, low in omega-3 fats and polyphenols, poor sleep, and chronic stress.
These factors shift the gut microbiome, increase inflammatory molecules, and change how cholesterol behaves inside the body.
In short, it’s not just about how much cholesterol you make – it’s how your lifestyle shapes the way your body handles it. We do need cholesterol. Driving down cholesterol can also be problematic, think brain fog, and dementia. Other markers can help to gauge if certain statins are driving down cholesterol too far.
🚦 Spotting Early Warning Signs
Cardiovascular health can start to decline decades before symptoms appear.
Some useful tools to track early vascular changes include:
- Blood pressure (SYS>120, DIA>80)
- Salivary nitric oxide (NO) tests- a quick measure of vessel flexibility
- PWV: Pulse Wave Velocity (a clinical measure of arterial stiffness)
- MaxPulse scans for endothelial function
- Coronary Calcium Score – a snapshot of plaque build-up
Even young, fit people can show early changes- meaning prevention really does start now (and from birth!). Make an appointment here. I assess your risk factors through a comprehensive review of your diet, symptoms, and lifestyle, alongside the latest testing options — combining investigations from your GP with additional private laboratory tests where appropriate. I also work collaboratively with your GP to ensure joined-up care.
🌿 Natural Ways to Support Your Arteries
The experts emphasized three key levers for long-term vascular health:
- Optimise nitric oxide (NO) – by eating green leafy vegetables, beets, pomegranate, and using products that support NO balance.
- Lower inflammation – focus on a Mediterranean-style diet, turmeric, omega-3s, colourful produce, and good oral hygiene (gum inflammation may affect arteries too).
- Balance lipoproteins – support liver and gut health, limit sugars and refined carbs, and consider nutrients like vitamin K2, aged garlic, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Understand your cholesterol, inflammatory and oxidative stress nutrigenomic predispositions. Are you a hyper producer of cholesterol? How do you handle cholesterol?Do you make enough of your own (endogenous) antioxidants?
- Other genetic factors are APOE4, familial hypercholesterolemia and Lp(a).
Find out about your nutrigenomic predispositions by booking a 30-min Complementary Session or perhaps consider gifting yourself or your loved one a Gift Certificate, making a real difference more than chocolates or flowers can ever offer!
🧠 Putting It All Together
- High cholesterol isn’t always the enemy- context matters.
- Too little LDL can weaken immune resilience.
- Too much dysfunctional HDL can signal oxidative stress.
- The goal is balance and functionality, not just lower numbers.
Functional and lifestyle medicine helps us view cardiovascular risk as a continuum we can influence – by improving sleep, reducing stress, supporting gut health, and tailoring nutrition to our genetics and biochemistry.
❤️ Takeaway
- Cardiovascular wellness is not just about lowering cholesterol; it’s about lowering inflammation and improving function at the cellular and vascular level.
- Through targeted testing, smart nutrition, restorative sleep, and movement, you can support a resilient heart and a flexible, youthful vascular system – for life.
💬 In Summary
Your heart health is personal – shaped by your genes, lifestyle, and the daily choices that influence inflammation and repair.
By thinking beyond “good” and “bad” cholesterol, we can shift from disease prevention to health creation, supporting your heart from the inside out.
🩺 Want to learn more about your cardiovascular health profile?
Ask about advanced heart health panels, nitric oxide testing, or ways to strengthen your vascular resilience through nutrition and lifestyle. Remember too that cardiovascular health is inextricably linked to brain health too.
Book a 30-min Complementary Session or perhaps consider gifting yourself or your loved one a Gift Certificate, making a real difference to their lives.
Take the first step toward a healthier, more informed you.
Disclaimer (please do read this, it’s super important!):
The dietary and lifestyle changes, supplements, and treatments discussed in this post may interact with medications or have contraindications for certain individuals. Therefore, this blog post is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or qualified health professional before making changes to your diet, lifestyle, supplements, or medications. Individual needs vary, and what works for one person may not be appropriate for another. The author is not liable for any outcomes from applying information in this post. If you are experiencing a medical issue or emergency, seek professional help immediately.
References
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