Most doctors focus on LDL. But your lipidome holds the real clues to your cardiovascular risk. In this episode, Dr. Regina Druz introduces a tool she uses with patients called “cholesterol marbles,” a hands-on way to see cholesterol not as good vs. bad, but as a complex network of particles with very different roles.
What does it mean if your LDL is high? What’s the role of VLDL or small dense LDL? And why do some people with “great” HDL numbers still end up at risk? Dr. Druz breaks down how these lipoproteins behave, how they form, and how they quietly drive cardiovascular risk. She explains the “40-30-20-10 rule” to help make sense of why LDL still matters, while also showing why markers like ApoB and non-HDL cholesterol may be even more useful. You’ll also hear why high HDL isn’t always protective, why small dense LDL is particularly dangerous, and how metabolic dysfunction, often tied to diet and insulin resistance, can shift your lipid profile in the wrong direction.
Whether you’re managing high cholesterol or simply trying to understand your lab results, Dr. Druz will change the way you think about cholesterol labs, and what you should really be asking for in your bloodwork.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 What are Cholesterol Marbles?
01:28 The Lipidome and Why It Matters
07:04 How VLDL Becomes LDL
09:02 The “40-30-20-10 Rule” for Lowering Heart Risk
17:02 Small Dense LDL Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk
26:00 HDL Cholesterol Functionality
29:04 Genetic Profiles and Lipid Pathways
33:03 Heart Disease as a Fundamental Process of Aging
35:35 Guidelines for Lipid Management
Links
Schedule a Discovery Call: https://go.holisticheartcenters.com/apply
Access Courses and Events: https://holisticheartcenters.info/hearthealth
Get Heartwell Toolkits: https://shop.holisticheartcenters.com/
Schedule a Business Meeting:https://calendly.com/heartcenters
🎉 NEW! Interact with Own Your Heart Health Podcast — on NotebookLM: https://holisticheartcenters.info/notebook
Connect with Dr. Regina Druz:
Website: http://holisticheartcenters.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reginadruzmd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.reginadruz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticheartcenters
Twitter: https://x.com/heartCenters
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holisticheartcenters
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