April 1, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode, Dr. Alfred Alessi and Matt Tack tackle the complex topic of cholesterol, questioning its role as a villain or a misunderstood element in health. They delve into cholesterol's role in the body and challenge the conventional myth linking it directly to heart disease. The discussion shifts to the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular health, as well as the effectiveness of statins. They explore the benefits of functional medicine for enhancing heart health and outline comprehensive cardiovascular wellness strategies. Listeners are offered exclusive perks, and the episode concludes with closing remarks and a summary of key insights.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Fixing the root cause, not just the numbers,right?
Lowering cholesterol doesn't fix yourinflammation, doesn't fix insulin resistance or
arterial damage, which are the real root causesof heart disease.
So instead of relying on statins, focus onlowering chronic inflammation through diet and
lifestyle, reversing insulin resistance withfasting, exercise and blood sugar control.
(00:22):
Welcome to Health Decode, your number onesource for real health information with your
host, Doctor.
Alessi and Matt Tack.
Alright.
Welcome back to another episode of HealthDecoded, the show where we cut through the
noise and get to the real story behind health,nutrition, and longevity.
(00:42):
I'm your host, doctor Alessi.
And I'm your host, Matt Tack.
And today, we're tackling one of the biggestmyths in medicine.
Is cholesterol really the villain we've beentold it is?
And I love this topic.
For decades, mainstream media has blamed highcholesterol for heart disease, and they have
pushed statin medications as the only solution.
(01:05):
But let's break down today.
Is this really science or is this just somepharmaceutical propaganda?
So today, what we're gonna break down.
The truth about cholesterol's role in the body,what is it?
Why inflammation, not cholesterol, is the rootcause of heart disease and cardiovascular
events?
How statins might be doing more harm than good?
(01:27):
And then the real root cause approach to hearthealth and longevity.
So buckle up this episode is going to rufflesome feathers.
How you doing brother before we get into it?
How are you?
I'm doing great, man.
I am doing great this wonderful
morning in Florida, man.
It's beautiful.
This weather is slowly getting hot again, soI'm just trying to take advantage of all these,
(01:51):
like, nice cool mornings we got for the nextprobably couple weeks.
So, Yeah, man.
I'm I'm super pumped.
I'm super pumped.
This is the best time of year to be in Florida.
It is.
We need to get on the golf course probably.
But whenever that could happen, we'll find thetime.
Anyway, let's let's get right into it, man.
So let's talk about real quick.
First things first, cholesterol, what is it?
(02:12):
And, you know, why do why does it really calledlike the misunderstood molecule?
And so for decades, cholesterol has beenunfairly demonized as the primary villain
behind heart disease.
And what if we've been blaming the wrong thingthis whole time, right?
So the reality is cholesterol is essential forlife.
Without it, we would literally not survive.
(02:33):
So let's talk about what are the vital roles ofcholesterol in the body real quick.
Cholesterol isn't just some harmful substanceclogging our arteries.
It's a crucial biological molecule that ourbody needs for every major function.
Literally, our cells are made of cholesterol.
So, our cells have a membrane and the membraneintegrity requires cholesterol.
(02:56):
Every cell is wrapped in a cholesterol richmembrane which helps to regulate what enters
and exits the cell.
Without cholesterol, the cells would lose theirstructure and essential nutrients wouldn't be
properly transported.
There would be no life.
And so, cholesterol is also responsible forhormone production.
We actually talked about this in our lastepisode, how cholesterol is the precursor to
(03:20):
all major steroid hormones includingtestosterone, which is crucial for muscle
growth, metabolism, libido.
Produces estrogen and progesterone which areessential for reproductive health and hormone
balance, as well as cortisol.
Cholesterol will help regulate the stressresponse and inflammation.
And so, it also is responsible for vitamin Dsynthesis.
(03:43):
Your body converts cholesterol into vitamin Dwhen it's exposed to sunlight.
And so vitamin D is also essential for immunefunction, bone health, mood regulation, and low
cholesterol can lead to low vitamin D or adeficiency.
We talked a lot about that in our last episodeas well.
Brain function and cognitive health.
(04:03):
Cholesterol plays a key role in the componentmyelin.
Myelin is basically a protective sheath aroundyour nerve cells that ensures that the brain is
efficient at signaling.
I like to think of myelin like the rubber outerlining on a like a wire, right?
That's going somewhere.
It helps to insulate that and allow for fastertransmission of signal.
(04:24):
So that makes it very important for memory andlearning.
Low cholesterol has been linked to cognitivedecline and dementia, as well as the ability
for our body to produce neurotransmitters.
So this controls mood and mental clarity.
A study actually in the archives of neurologyfound that low cholesterol levels were
associated with an increased risk ofAlzheimer's disease.
(04:46):
Cholesterol is also responsible for bileproduction and fat digestion.
So, cholesterol is a precursor to bile acids,which help your body to digest and absorb
dietary fats.
So without adequate cholesterol, the body willstruggle to break down these essential fats,
which then leads to malabsorption anddeficiencies of fat soluble vitamins such as A,
(05:09):
D, E and K.
And so that's kind of a whole cascade of whatcan happen when our body has deficient
cholesterol.
And so what is this myth right the cholesterolheart disease myth.
And what does research actually show on thisshow we're all always about research science
based facts, not just like hypothesis.
Obviously, we have our biases, but let's basesome of that off of literature.
(05:33):
And so the idea that cholesterol directlycauses heart disease is based on outdated and
flawed research.
So, the first one, the Framingham study theFramingham Heart Study of 1971.
This is one of the longest runningcardiovascular studies and it found no direct
correlation between high cholesterol and heartdisease in people 50.
(05:55):
In fact, individuals with higher cholesterolactually had a lower mortality rate.
The Lion Diet Heart Study in 1999 showed that aMediterranean diet actually reduced heart
disease by seventy percent without loweringcholesterol levels.
So this suggests that dietary patterns, notcholesterol, are the real drivers of
cardiovascular health.
(06:17):
And a neuroscientist, Doctor.
David Diamond, was quoted saying cholesterol isnot the enemy.
It's a necessary component of every cell inyour body.
Lowering cholesterol without addressinginflammation is like blaming firefighters for a
fire just because they show up at the scene.
And so what's the takeaway here?
Cholesterol is not inherently bad.
(06:38):
The body produces cholesterol for a reason.
And artificially lowering it withoutconsidering overall health can actually do more
harm than good.
So if cholesterol is not the enemy, why doesmodern medicine focus so much on lowering it?
Hint here, follow the money, right?
Big Pharma is going to make billions of dollarsin profits from statin drugs.
(07:00):
And so, if you really want to focus onprotecting your heart, you have to focus on the
real cause of heart disease, which we're goingto get into next and talk about inflammation.
Right?
What is inflammation?
How does it happen?
And how is it the actual component here notcholesterol?
So then what is the real cause of heartdisease?
(07:20):
Inflammation and oxidative stress are twoindicators that you need to look at.
So if cholesterol isn't the culprit, then herewe go.
What is it?
For decades, cholesterol has been blamed forheart disease, but modern research tells a
different story.
If cholesterol were the main problem, then whydo fifty percent of people suffer from heart
attacks who have normal cholesterol levels?
(07:42):
Here's a study from the British Medical Journalin 2017 found that half of heart attack victims
had cholesterol levels in the normal range,suggesting that cholesterol is not the primary
driver of heart disease.
So then what is it?
The real enemies are chronic inflammation,oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction.
(08:05):
And here's some true causes of what causesheart disease.
Instead of fixating on cholesterol, we need toaddress the root cause of cardiovascular
disease.
So chronic inflammation.
Inflammation damages the artery walls, causingthe body to send cholesterol as a band aid to
repair the injury.
Over time, the repeated damage and repaircycles to lead to plaque buildup and the
(08:29):
narrowing of arteries.
What causes it?
Here we go.
Poor diet, high sugar intake, smoking, stress,and toxins.
Doctor.
Mark Houston, an MD, he's a cardiovascularexpert, says this.
The primary cause of heart disease is not highcholesterol.
(08:50):
It's chronic inflammation, insulin resistance,and oxidative stress.
Lowering cholesterol without addressing thesefactors is like fixing a leaky roof with duct
tape.
So insulin resistance and high blood sugar.
When blood sugar remains elevated due to poordiet, it triggers inflammation and arterial
(09:11):
stiffening, increasing heart disease risk.
This is why diabetics are two to four timesmore likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
Here's a study by Diabetes Care in 2019 foundthat people with insulin resistance had a
higher risk of heart attacks than those withhigh LDL, the silent death killer, cholesterol.
(09:36):
Right?
So oxidative LDL, this is a big trigger.
The real villain.
LDL cholesterol itself is not harmful.
It becomes dangerous when it becomes oxidized,inflammation, and free radicals rain the body.
Think of LDL like a car.
If it's parked safely, no problem.
(09:57):
But if it gets rusted out oxidized, it causesdamage wherever it goes.
Here's a study from the Journal of AmericanCollege of Cardiology found that individuals
with high levels of oxidized LDL, that rustyLDL, were four times more likely to suffer from
a heart attack regardless of their totalcholesterol levels.
(10:19):
This is why we preach resistance training andmeditation.
These are ways to reduce oxidative levels.
Right?
So here's a key takeaway.
Cholesterol is not the enemy.
It's a symptom.
Cholesterol is like a firefighter that arrivesat the scene of a burning house.
As, doctor Alessia aforementioned, blamingcholesterol for heart disease is like a blaming
firefighters for fires.
(10:41):
Instead of lowering cholesterol, we need to fixthe root issue here.
Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, andoxidative stress are the three indicators that
are going to increase those cholesterol levels.
Now let's explore how to truly protect yourheart without relying on statins.
But real quick, a word from our sponsors.
(11:02):
This episode of Health Decoded is brought toyou by Authentic Nutrition, the brand
redefining what it means to fuel your body theright way.
At Thentic Nutrition, they believe that whatyou put into your body matters.
That's why every single product is crafted withclean, premium ingredients and dosed with
(11:23):
maximum efficacy to ensure you're not justmeeting your health goals, you're exceeding
them.
No fillers, no shortcuts, no gimmicks.
Whether it's their advanced supplements forenergy, recovery, or gut health, you can trust
that what's on the label is exactly what's inthe bottle.
Fentic Nutrition delivers science backedformulations that work as hard as you do.
(11:44):
If you're tired of products that promise theworld but don't deliver, it's time to make the
switch to authentic nutrition.
Elevate your health with transparency, quality,and results you can feel.
Check them out today at authenticnutrition.comand use promo code Alessi 15 to get 15% off.
That's thenticnutrition.com.
(12:09):
Promo code a l e s s I one five to save 15% andtake the first step toward real, lasting
health.
Authentic Nutrition, fuel your best self.
Now back to the episode.
Welcome back.
So are statins really preventing heart disease?
(12:30):
Statins are the number one prescribed drug inthe world with millions of people taking them
daily to lower cholesterol.
But the real question is, do they actuallyprevent heart disease?
Here's a study from the British Medical Journalin 2015 found that statins only reduce the
absolute risk of heart of a heart attack by onepercent in healthy individuals despite
(12:52):
significantly lowering cholesterol levels.
So if they are barely moved the needle on heartdisease prevention, why are they so heavily
prescribed by doctors?
The problem with statins?
Statins are ineffective at loweringcholesterol, just as we discussed, but not the
root cause of heart disease.
More concerning is the fact that statins comewith significant side effects, many of which
(13:16):
are often downplayed.
So here's a quote from a cardiologist statingstatins lower cholesterol, but they don't
address the root cause of their heart disease.
Meanwhile, they come with significant sideeffects that often under, often go ignored.
So here's some of the statin side effects thatwe see and standard standard American medicine,
(13:41):
right?
Muscle pain and weakness.
Statins deplete your CoQ10, a critical enzymefor muscle and mitochondria production.
And many patients experience muscle aches,fatigues, and even muscle breakdown.
Increased risk of diabetes.
Statins are worsened insulin resistance,raising blood sugar levels and leading to type
(14:02):
two diabetes.
One of our favorite sources, JAMA, in 2013said, found that post menopausal women on the
statins had a forty eight percent increasedrisk of developing diabetes.
Here's another one, brain fog and memory loss.
Cholesterol is essential for brain functions asstatins lower it indiscriminately.
(14:25):
And here's another study from Frontiers andAgings of Neuroscience in 2018 showed that
older adults on statins had a higher incidenceof cognitive decline and memory issues.
Another one hormone imbalances and low test,something we're extremely big on, but
cholesterol is the precursor for all steroidhormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and
(14:48):
cortisol.
So an expert review of clinical pharmacology in2018 found that statins can significantly lower
testosterone levels in men, which we're seeingas a rapid pace over the last twenty years.
And the statins treat a symptom, but not theroot cause.
Lowering a cholesterol does not fix chronicinflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative
(15:11):
stress, the real drivers of heart disease.
Instead of focusing solely on cholesterol, weneed to address the root cause through, and
here are the four measures.
Number one, anti inflammatory diets.
Are you getting more like a Mediterranean dietwith a proper balance of proteins and
carbohydrates, and a good amount of fats?
(15:32):
Balancing blood sugar and insulin sensitivity.
Are you promoting resistance training in yourday to day?
Get to getting yourself out of bed breath toreduce your oxidative stress loads.
Supporting mitochondrial production.
How how do you do that?
Right?
And that's through the process of movement.
(15:53):
So you need to move more.
You need to walk.
Insulin resistance is done through resistancetype training.
And managing stress and lifestyle factors.
What are you putting in your day to day?
And we have a six week challenge coming up thatyou can be part of.
I'm gonna plug that in because these are greatways that you can start implementing all four
(16:13):
of these factors over a six week period thatare absolutely going to change your life.
Yeah, that's great man.
That was a great plug for that because that'sexactly what this is about.
It's about educating and helping people to makehealthier choices when truthfully they probably
just don't know, right?
It's not their fault, they just don't know whatthat looks like.
Now let's get into we obviously got somebackground, what is cholesterol?
(16:36):
What's the real cause of heart disease?
It's not cholesterol, it's the inflammation andthat chronic level of high inflammation plus
insulin resistance.
And so what is the functional medicineapproach?
We always want to give some actionabletakeaways, right?
So how do we actually protect the heart withoutjust blindly taking a statin, right?
Most people go to the cardiologist and theyjust say here take this, right?
(16:57):
There's not a lot of like depth into thatprocess.
It's just like boom bang, you're in and you'reout, you have a statin drug now that you're on
forever.
It's kind of crazy.
And so, how do we actually protect the heart,right?
So again, statins are going to lowercholesterol, but that's not the problem and so
they're missing the whole point.
Inflammation, insulin resistance and arterialdysfunction.
(17:17):
So if you really want to protect your heart,you need a functional approach that focuses on
the root cause, which is lowering theinflammation, improving your metabolic health
and strengthening your cardiovascular systemfrom the inside.
So how do we do that?
How do we reduce inflammation naturally?
Chronic inflammation is going to damage bloodvessels.
So the key to preventing this, eliminateinflammatory foods and prioritize nutrient
(17:42):
dense, heart healthy choices.
And no, that's not Cheerios, okay?
I know they put a heart on the box, thatdoesn't mean that's a healthy choice.
That is marketing, by the way.
So, adopting an anti inflammatory diet.
Prioritizing Omega-three fatty acids, numberone, right?
Wild caught fish, grass fed meats, things likeflax seeds, coconut oils, load up on
(18:03):
antioxidants, berries, dark leafy greens,turmeric, green tea and then increasing your
fiber intake, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds,all of these things are going to help with
that.
And so a study from the American Journal ofClinical Nutrition found that increasing
omega-three intake reduced the risk of heartdisease by thirty percent.
(18:24):
Whereas you mentioned the study that thestatins lowered the risk of heart disease by
one percent.
So that should tell you right there that theinflammation is the problem, not the
cholesterol, right?
That kind of solidifies it for us.
And so, what's the next step?
It's cutting out seed oils.
This is a big one, right?
Industrial seed oils like canola, soybean, cornand sunflower are high in omega-six fatty acids
(18:49):
which drive inflammation up and oxidativestress.
The excess omega-six's create an imbalance inthe omega-six to three ratio which can worsen
cardiovascular health.
Real quick, I just learned this the other day,Canola oil was created as an engine lubricant
during the, I think it was during the Cold War.
They used this to quickly manufacture missiles,weapons and stuff like that.
(19:12):
Was a lubricant.
And then after the war ended, they had so muchof this stuff on deck.
They were like, how do we get rid of this?
Oh, let's just repurpose this as cooking oilfor people to eat.
And so the it was kind of a crazy littledocumentary I watched, but that kind of that
kind of shook me.
I'm not buy I don't buy anything with canolaoil anyway, but now I'm even more vigilant
about that.
(19:33):
So next, how do we optimize the omega threeintake?
So we want to aim for a one to one or in myopinion, two or three to one of omega three to
omega six.
The average American ratio currently is 20 toone.
Right?
So we're eating so much more omega six thanthree.
So prioritizing wild caught fatty fish, pastureraised eggs is a great one, and then grass fed
(19:56):
meats.
Now on top of that, this is something wediscussed in the last episode, Sometimes that's
not going to be enough for us with the way thatthe American food system is.
So this is where we recommend an omega-threesupplement that has both EPA and DHA, right?
Those are the two different types of theomega-3s that we want.
So what's the next step?
Addressing insulin resistance, which is a huge,huge thing.
(20:20):
Insulin resistance is one of the biggestdrivers of heart disease, but it gets ignored
in conventional medicine.
High insulin is gonna trigger inflammation,it's gonna stiffen the arteries and it's gonna
promote fat storage around the organs.
All of which increase cardiovascular risk.
So, how do we now promote insulin lowering thatinsulin resistance?
(20:42):
So, intermittent fasting is going to improvethe sensitivity, right?
So, fasting lowers your blood sugar, itimproves your function of insulin and it
reduces overall inflammation.
You have to think about it like this, everytime you have sugar in your bloodstream,
insulin has to respond to take it from thebloodstream and put it where it needs to go.
Whether that's the brain, the muscles, theorgans, it's going to utilize it.
(21:03):
When sugar is chronically high in thebloodstream, insulin gets worn out, right?
And so the sensitivity to that goes down,right?
Imagine if you watch TV all day, yoursensitivity to like sounds and lights and stuff
goes down as well because you're sodesensitized.
And so, when we fast, there's less sugar comingin, the body now improves the sensitivity of
that insulin making it more apt to function.
(21:25):
So, we recommend starting with like a twelvehour overnight fast, right?
That's a simple way to just get used to it.
And then working your way up to like a sixteento eight, right?
Where you're doing sixteen hours, no food, andthen an eight hour eating window.
That's a great kind of daily intermittentschedule.
That's something I do probably three or fourdays a week.
Longer fasts, however, like twenty four toforty eight hours can actually further reset
(21:47):
your insulin sensitivity and thus improvemetabolic flexibility.
So, a study in Diabetes Care 2020 found thatregular strength training lowered heart disease
risk more than statins in pre diabeticindividuals.
That's awesome.
So, that's a great, great study that was donethat showed the benefits of strength training,
(22:08):
something that you and I preach for longevityand that everyone should be doing.
So let's get into that.
Strength training and movement.
So exercise is one of the most powerful insulinsensitizers.
It's going to lower blood sugar, improvevascular function, and thus reduce
inflammation.
Strength training improves muscle insulinuptake, which reduces excess blood sugar.
(22:31):
Aerobic exercise like walking, cycling,swimming is going to help clear triglycerides
and improve blood vessel function.
And then daily movement, right?
10,000 plus steps a day, avoiding prolongedsitting.
This is going to keep blood flow and preventmetabolic stagnation.
It's also going to help with lymphaticdrainage, getting the lymph system to clear
(22:52):
toxins and metabolic waste.
So then how do we support arterial health andvascular function?
And here's a few really profound and strongways to do that.
So, a healthy heart isn't just about avoidingblockages, it's about maintaining flexible,
well functioning arteries that can properlytransport oxygen and nutrients throughout the
body.
(23:13):
Magnesium and potassium, these are amazing forblood pressure.
Magnesium relaxes the blood vessels and helpsregulate the heart rhythm, while potassium is
going to balance sodium levels and prevent thestiffening of the arteries.
So, some of the best sources of magnesium, darkleafy greens, avocado, almonds, pumpkin seeds,
as well as a magnesium supplement with multipleforms.
(23:35):
And then best sources of potassium, bananas,potatoes, citrus fruits and beans.
The next one on the list, CoQ10 for heartenergy.
So CoQ10 is a coenzyme basically essential formitochondrial energy production, especially in
your heart.
So, the heart has the highest demands in thebody of mitochondrial energy production.
(23:56):
It's beating all day long, boom, boom, boom,right?
So, it needs that.
So, statins are actually going to deplete yourCoQ10, which lead to muscle fatigue, weakness
and reduce heart function.
Kind of counterintuitive if you ask me.
So consider supplementing one hundred to threehundred milligrams a day of CoQ10, especially
if you're taking a statin.
(24:16):
And then the next one is vitamin K2 for arteryprotection.
We discussed this vitamin in the last episodeas well and how it's important to bind with
vitamin D3 for optimal absorption.
So vitamin K2 directs calcium into the bonesand the teeth where it's supposed to be and
away from the blood and the arteries where itcan cause the calcification and stiffness.
(24:39):
And so, a study in the European Journal ofNutrition 2019 found that vitamin K2
supplementation reduced arterial stiffness by50%, significantly improving heart health.
So some of the best sources of K2 grass feddairy like butter and cheeses opting for grass
fed of course, natto which is basicallyfermented soybeans, pasture raised eggs, beef
(25:02):
liver, or a bioavailable supplement, of course.
So, what's the key takeaway here?
As always with functional medicine, fixing theroot cause, not just the numbers, right?
Lowering cholesterol doesn't fix yourinflammation, doesn't fix insulin resistance or
arterial damage, which are the real root causesof heart disease.
(25:23):
So, of relying on statins, focus on loweringchronic inflammation through diet and
lifestyle, reversing insulin resistance withfasting, exercise and blood sugar control, and
then support your arterial health withessential nutrients like magnesium, CoQ10 and
K2.
So, by addressing the root causes, you're notjust reducing risk factors, you're building
(25:44):
long term health which will then last alifetime.
And so in closing, is cholesterol the realenemy?
No.
Are statins the best way to prevent heartdisease?
Probably not.
And what's the real solution?
Addressing inflammation, insulin resistance,and oxidative stress through diet and
lifestyle.
So, you've been told that you need a statin,don't just take this as gospel, get to the root
(26:10):
cause of your heart health.
Obviously, if there are levels that are way outof control, you can use it short term and then
get back to a state of balance.
But at Adolescent Functional Health, we'realways going to take a functional medicine
approach to cardiovascular wellness instead ofjust slapping a prescription on the problem.
We're going to test for inflammation markers,insulin resistance and nutrient deficiencies.
(26:31):
So if you're interested, schedule aconsultation.
Let's create a personalized plan for lifelongheart health.
And listeners of the Health Decoded podcast whoare on our newsletter can get exclusive
discounts and price reductions on allsupplements and blood work.
And as always, if you found value in today'sshow, like, subscribe, and share this episode
(26:53):
with someone who needs to hear it and wanna getin touch with us or be featured on an episode,
email us questions at ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
And then you can go over to Alessi FX Healthdot com to sign up for our newsletter and check
out our resources page to learn more about ourapproach to nutrition and cutting edge
therapies.
We wanna thank you for tuning in to today'sepisode of Health Decoded where we break down
(27:16):
the science, bust the myths, and help you takecontrol of your health naturally.
Until next time, as always, stay curious, stayempowered, and remember, your health is in your
hands.
Thank you for tuning in to Health Decoded wherewe break down the truth about all things health
and empower you to take charge of yourwell-being.
(27:37):
If you found value in today's episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share it with
someone who needs to hear this.
For more resources and personalized support,visit us at AlessiFunctionalHealth.com and sign
up for our newsletter.
To hear your questions answered live on theshow, send them to askalessiFXhealth dot com.
(27:57):
That's ask@ALESSIFXhealth.com.
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember, your health is in your hands.
Fixing the root cause, not just the numbers,right?
Lowering cholesterol doesn't fix yourinflammation, doesn't fix insulin resistance or
arterial damage, which are the real root causesof heart disease.
So instead of relying on statins, focus onlowering chronic inflammation through diet and
lifestyle, reversing insulin resistance withfasting, exercise and blood sugar control.
(00:22):
Welcome to Health Decode, your number onesource for real health information with your
host, Doctor.
Alessi and Matt Tack.
Alright.
Welcome back to another episode of HealthDecoded, the show where we cut through the
noise and get to the real story behind health,nutrition, and longevity.
(00:42):
I'm your host, doctor Alessi.
And I'm your host, Matt Tack.
And today, we're tackling one of the biggestmyths in medicine.
Is cholesterol really the villain we've beentold it is?
And I love this topic.
For decades, mainstream media has blamed highcholesterol for heart disease, and they have
pushed statin medications as the only solution.
(01:05):
But let's break down today.
Is this really science or is this just somepharmaceutical propaganda?
So today, what we're gonna break down.
The truth about cholesterol's role in the body,what is it?
Why inflammation, not cholesterol, is the rootcause of heart disease and cardiovascular
events?
How statins might be doing more harm than good?
(01:27):
And then the real root cause approach to hearthealth and longevity.
So buckle up this episode is going to rufflesome feathers.
How you doing brother before we get into it?
How are you?
I'm doing great, man.
I am doing great this wonderful
morning in Florida, man.
It's beautiful.
This weather is slowly getting hot again, soI'm just trying to take advantage of all these,
(01:51):
like, nice cool mornings we got for the nextprobably couple weeks.
So, Yeah, man.
I'm I'm super pumped.
I'm super pumped.
This is the best time of year to be in Florida.
It is.
We need to get on the golf course probably.
But whenever that could happen, we'll find thetime.
Anyway, let's let's get right into it, man.
So let's talk about real quick.
First things first, cholesterol, what is it?
(02:12):
And, you know, why do why does it really calledlike the misunderstood molecule?
And so for decades, cholesterol has beenunfairly demonized as the primary villain
behind heart disease.
And what if we've been blaming the wrong thingthis whole time, right?
So the reality is cholesterol is essential forlife.
Without it, we would literally not survive.
(02:33):
So let's talk about what are the vital roles ofcholesterol in the body real quick.
Cholesterol isn't just some harmful substanceclogging our arteries.
It's a crucial biological molecule that ourbody needs for every major function.
Literally, our cells are made of cholesterol.
So, our cells have a membrane and the membraneintegrity requires cholesterol.
(02:56):
Every cell is wrapped in a cholesterol richmembrane which helps to regulate what enters
and exits the cell.
Without cholesterol, the cells would lose theirstructure and essential nutrients wouldn't be
properly transported.
There would be no life.
And so, cholesterol is also responsible forhormone production.
We actually talked about this in our lastepisode, how cholesterol is the precursor to
(03:20):
all major steroid hormones includingtestosterone, which is crucial for muscle
growth, metabolism, libido.
Produces estrogen and progesterone which areessential for reproductive health and hormone
balance, as well as cortisol.
Cholesterol will help regulate the stressresponse and inflammation.
And so, it also is responsible for vitamin Dsynthesis.
(03:43):
Your body converts cholesterol into vitamin Dwhen it's exposed to sunlight.
And so vitamin D is also essential for immunefunction, bone health, mood regulation, and low
cholesterol can lead to low vitamin D or adeficiency.
We talked a lot about that in our last episodeas well.
Brain function and cognitive health.
(04:03):
Cholesterol plays a key role in the componentmyelin.
Myelin is basically a protective sheath aroundyour nerve cells that ensures that the brain is
efficient at signaling.
I like to think of myelin like the rubber outerlining on a like a wire, right?
That's going somewhere.
It helps to insulate that and allow for fastertransmission of signal.
(04:24):
So that makes it very important for memory andlearning.
Low cholesterol has been linked to cognitivedecline and dementia, as well as the ability
for our body to produce neurotransmitters.
So this controls mood and mental clarity.
A study actually in the archives of neurologyfound that low cholesterol levels were
associated with an increased risk ofAlzheimer's disease.
(04:46):
Cholesterol is also responsible for bileproduction and fat digestion.
So, cholesterol is a precursor to bile acids,which help your body to digest and absorb
dietary fats.
So without adequate cholesterol, the body willstruggle to break down these essential fats,
which then leads to malabsorption anddeficiencies of fat soluble vitamins such as A,
(05:09):
D, E and K.
And so that's kind of a whole cascade of whatcan happen when our body has deficient
cholesterol.
And so what is this myth right the cholesterolheart disease myth.
And what does research actually show on thisshow we're all always about research science
based facts, not just like hypothesis.
Obviously, we have our biases, but let's basesome of that off of literature.
(05:33):
And so the idea that cholesterol directlycauses heart disease is based on outdated and
flawed research.
So, the first one, the Framingham study theFramingham Heart Study of 1971.
This is one of the longest runningcardiovascular studies and it found no direct
correlation between high cholesterol and heartdisease in people 50.
(05:55):
In fact, individuals with higher cholesterolactually had a lower mortality rate.
The Lion Diet Heart Study in 1999 showed that aMediterranean diet actually reduced heart
disease by seventy percent without loweringcholesterol levels.
So this suggests that dietary patterns, notcholesterol, are the real drivers of
cardiovascular health.
(06:17):
And a neuroscientist, Doctor.
David Diamond, was quoted saying cholesterol isnot the enemy.
It's a necessary component of every cell inyour body.
Lowering cholesterol without addressinginflammation is like blaming firefighters for a
fire just because they show up at the scene.
And so what's the takeaway here?
Cholesterol is not inherently bad.
(06:38):
The body produces cholesterol for a reason.
And artificially lowering it withoutconsidering overall health can actually do more
harm than good.
So if cholesterol is not the enemy, why doesmodern medicine focus so much on lowering it?
Hint here, follow the money, right?
Big Pharma is going to make billions of dollarsin profits from statin drugs.
(07:00):
And so, if you really want to focus onprotecting your heart, you have to focus on the
real cause of heart disease, which we're goingto get into next and talk about inflammation.
Right?
What is inflammation?
How does it happen?
And how is it the actual component here notcholesterol?
So then what is the real cause of heartdisease?
(07:20):
Inflammation and oxidative stress are twoindicators that you need to look at.
So if cholesterol isn't the culprit, then herewe go.
What is it?
For decades, cholesterol has been blamed forheart disease, but modern research tells a
different story.
If cholesterol were the main problem, then whydo fifty percent of people suffer from heart
attacks who have normal cholesterol levels?
(07:42):
Here's a study from the British Medical Journalin 2017 found that half of heart attack victims
had cholesterol levels in the normal range,suggesting that cholesterol is not the primary
driver of heart disease.
So then what is it?
The real enemies are chronic inflammation,oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction.
(08:05):
And here's some true causes of what causesheart disease.
Instead of fixating on cholesterol, we need toaddress the root cause of cardiovascular
disease.
So chronic inflammation.
Inflammation damages the artery walls, causingthe body to send cholesterol as a band aid to
repair the injury.
Over time, the repeated damage and repaircycles to lead to plaque buildup and the
(08:29):
narrowing of arteries.
What causes it?
Here we go.
Poor diet, high sugar intake, smoking, stress,and toxins.
Doctor.
Mark Houston, an MD, he's a cardiovascularexpert, says this.
The primary cause of heart disease is not highcholesterol.
(08:50):
It's chronic inflammation, insulin resistance,and oxidative stress.
Lowering cholesterol without addressing thesefactors is like fixing a leaky roof with duct
tape.
So insulin resistance and high blood sugar.
When blood sugar remains elevated due to poordiet, it triggers inflammation and arterial
(09:11):
stiffening, increasing heart disease risk.
This is why diabetics are two to four timesmore likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
Here's a study by Diabetes Care in 2019 foundthat people with insulin resistance had a
higher risk of heart attacks than those withhigh LDL, the silent death killer, cholesterol.
(09:36):
Right?
So oxidative LDL, this is a big trigger.
The real villain.
LDL cholesterol itself is not harmful.
It becomes dangerous when it becomes oxidized,inflammation, and free radicals rain the body.
Think of LDL like a car.
If it's parked safely, no problem.
(09:57):
But if it gets rusted out oxidized, it causesdamage wherever it goes.
Here's a study from the Journal of AmericanCollege of Cardiology found that individuals
with high levels of oxidized LDL, that rustyLDL, were four times more likely to suffer from
a heart attack regardless of their totalcholesterol levels.
(10:19):
This is why we preach resistance training andmeditation.
These are ways to reduce oxidative levels.
Right?
So here's a key takeaway.
Cholesterol is not the enemy.
It's a symptom.
Cholesterol is like a firefighter that arrivesat the scene of a burning house.
As, doctor Alessia aforementioned, blamingcholesterol for heart disease is like a blaming
firefighters for fires.
(10:41):
Instead of lowering cholesterol, we need to fixthe root issue here.
Chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, andoxidative stress are the three indicators that
are going to increase those cholesterol levels.
Now let's explore how to truly protect yourheart without relying on statins.
But real quick, a word from our sponsors.
(11:02):
This episode of Health Decoded is brought toyou by Authentic Nutrition, the brand
redefining what it means to fuel your body theright way.
At Thentic Nutrition, they believe that whatyou put into your body matters.
That's why every single product is crafted withclean, premium ingredients and dosed with
(11:23):
maximum efficacy to ensure you're not justmeeting your health goals, you're exceeding
them.
No fillers, no shortcuts, no gimmicks.
Whether it's their advanced supplements forenergy, recovery, or gut health, you can trust
that what's on the label is exactly what's inthe bottle.
Fentic Nutrition delivers science backedformulations that work as hard as you do.
(11:44):
If you're tired of products that promise theworld but don't deliver, it's time to make the
switch to authentic nutrition.
Elevate your health with transparency, quality,and results you can feel.
Check them out today at authenticnutrition.comand use promo code Alessi 15 to get 15% off.
That's thenticnutrition.com.
(12:09):
Promo code a l e s s I one five to save 15% andtake the first step toward real, lasting
health.
Authentic Nutrition, fuel your best self.
Now back to the episode.
Welcome back.
So are statins really preventing heart disease?
(12:30):
Statins are the number one prescribed drug inthe world with millions of people taking them
daily to lower cholesterol.
But the real question is, do they actuallyprevent heart disease?
Here's a study from the British Medical Journalin 2015 found that statins only reduce the
absolute risk of heart of a heart attack by onepercent in healthy individuals despite
(12:52):
significantly lowering cholesterol levels.
So if they are barely moved the needle on heartdisease prevention, why are they so heavily
prescribed by doctors?
The problem with statins?
Statins are ineffective at loweringcholesterol, just as we discussed, but not the
root cause of heart disease.
More concerning is the fact that statins comewith significant side effects, many of which
(13:16):
are often downplayed.
So here's a quote from a cardiologist statingstatins lower cholesterol, but they don't
address the root cause of their heart disease.
Meanwhile, they come with significant sideeffects that often under, often go ignored.
So here's some of the statin side effects thatwe see and standard standard American medicine,
(13:41):
right?
Muscle pain and weakness.
Statins deplete your CoQ10, a critical enzymefor muscle and mitochondria production.
And many patients experience muscle aches,fatigues, and even muscle breakdown.
Increased risk of diabetes.
Statins are worsened insulin resistance,raising blood sugar levels and leading to type
(14:02):
two diabetes.
One of our favorite sources, JAMA, in 2013said, found that post menopausal women on the
statins had a forty eight percent increasedrisk of developing diabetes.
Here's another one, brain fog and memory loss.
Cholesterol is essential for brain functions asstatins lower it indiscriminately.
(14:25):
And here's another study from Frontiers andAgings of Neuroscience in 2018 showed that
older adults on statins had a higher incidenceof cognitive decline and memory issues.
Another one hormone imbalances and low test,something we're extremely big on, but
cholesterol is the precursor for all steroidhormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and
(14:48):
cortisol.
So an expert review of clinical pharmacology in2018 found that statins can significantly lower
testosterone levels in men, which we're seeingas a rapid pace over the last twenty years.
And the statins treat a symptom, but not theroot cause.
Lowering a cholesterol does not fix chronicinflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative
(15:11):
stress, the real drivers of heart disease.
Instead of focusing solely on cholesterol, weneed to address the root cause through, and
here are the four measures.
Number one, anti inflammatory diets.
Are you getting more like a Mediterranean dietwith a proper balance of proteins and
carbohydrates, and a good amount of fats?
(15:32):
Balancing blood sugar and insulin sensitivity.
Are you promoting resistance training in yourday to day?
Get to getting yourself out of bed breath toreduce your oxidative stress loads.
Supporting mitochondrial production.
How how do you do that?
Right?
And that's through the process of movement.
(15:53):
So you need to move more.
You need to walk.
Insulin resistance is done through resistancetype training.
And managing stress and lifestyle factors.
What are you putting in your day to day?
And we have a six week challenge coming up thatyou can be part of.
I'm gonna plug that in because these are greatways that you can start implementing all four
(16:13):
of these factors over a six week period thatare absolutely going to change your life.
Yeah, that's great man.
That was a great plug for that because that'sexactly what this is about.
It's about educating and helping people to makehealthier choices when truthfully they probably
just don't know, right?
It's not their fault, they just don't know whatthat looks like.
Now let's get into we obviously got somebackground, what is cholesterol?
(16:36):
What's the real cause of heart disease?
It's not cholesterol, it's the inflammation andthat chronic level of high inflammation plus
insulin resistance.
And so what is the functional medicineapproach?
We always want to give some actionabletakeaways, right?
So how do we actually protect the heart withoutjust blindly taking a statin, right?
Most people go to the cardiologist and theyjust say here take this, right?
(16:57):
There's not a lot of like depth into thatprocess.
It's just like boom bang, you're in and you'reout, you have a statin drug now that you're on
forever.
It's kind of crazy.
And so, how do we actually protect the heart,right?
So again, statins are going to lowercholesterol, but that's not the problem and so
they're missing the whole point.
Inflammation, insulin resistance and arterialdysfunction.
(17:17):
So if you really want to protect your heart,you need a functional approach that focuses on
the root cause, which is lowering theinflammation, improving your metabolic health
and strengthening your cardiovascular systemfrom the inside.
So how do we do that?
How do we reduce inflammation naturally?
Chronic inflammation is going to damage bloodvessels.
So the key to preventing this, eliminateinflammatory foods and prioritize nutrient
(17:42):
dense, heart healthy choices.
And no, that's not Cheerios, okay?
I know they put a heart on the box, thatdoesn't mean that's a healthy choice.
That is marketing, by the way.
So, adopting an anti inflammatory diet.
Prioritizing Omega-three fatty acids, numberone, right?
Wild caught fish, grass fed meats, things likeflax seeds, coconut oils, load up on
(18:03):
antioxidants, berries, dark leafy greens,turmeric, green tea and then increasing your
fiber intake, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds,all of these things are going to help with
that.
And so a study from the American Journal ofClinical Nutrition found that increasing
omega-three intake reduced the risk of heartdisease by thirty percent.
(18:24):
Whereas you mentioned the study that thestatins lowered the risk of heart disease by
one percent.
So that should tell you right there that theinflammation is the problem, not the
cholesterol, right?
That kind of solidifies it for us.
And so, what's the next step?
It's cutting out seed oils.
This is a big one, right?
Industrial seed oils like canola, soybean, cornand sunflower are high in omega-six fatty acids
(18:49):
which drive inflammation up and oxidativestress.
The excess omega-six's create an imbalance inthe omega-six to three ratio which can worsen
cardiovascular health.
Real quick, I just learned this the other day,Canola oil was created as an engine lubricant
during the, I think it was during the Cold War.
They used this to quickly manufacture missiles,weapons and stuff like that.
(19:12):
Was a lubricant.
And then after the war ended, they had so muchof this stuff on deck.
They were like, how do we get rid of this?
Oh, let's just repurpose this as cooking oilfor people to eat.
And so the it was kind of a crazy littledocumentary I watched, but that kind of that
kind of shook me.
I'm not buy I don't buy anything with canolaoil anyway, but now I'm even more vigilant
about that.
(19:33):
So next, how do we optimize the omega threeintake?
So we want to aim for a one to one or in myopinion, two or three to one of omega three to
omega six.
The average American ratio currently is 20 toone.
Right?
So we're eating so much more omega six thanthree.
So prioritizing wild caught fatty fish, pastureraised eggs is a great one, and then grass fed
(19:56):
meats.
Now on top of that, this is something wediscussed in the last episode, Sometimes that's
not going to be enough for us with the way thatthe American food system is.
So this is where we recommend an omega-threesupplement that has both EPA and DHA, right?
Those are the two different types of theomega-3s that we want.
So what's the next step?
Addressing insulin resistance, which is a huge,huge thing.
(20:20):
Insulin resistance is one of the biggestdrivers of heart disease, but it gets ignored
in conventional medicine.
High insulin is gonna trigger inflammation,it's gonna stiffen the arteries and it's gonna
promote fat storage around the organs.
All of which increase cardiovascular risk.
So, how do we now promote insulin lowering thatinsulin resistance?
(20:42):
So, intermittent fasting is going to improvethe sensitivity, right?
So, fasting lowers your blood sugar, itimproves your function of insulin and it
reduces overall inflammation.
You have to think about it like this, everytime you have sugar in your bloodstream,
insulin has to respond to take it from thebloodstream and put it where it needs to go.
Whether that's the brain, the muscles, theorgans, it's going to utilize it.
(21:03):
When sugar is chronically high in thebloodstream, insulin gets worn out, right?
And so the sensitivity to that goes down,right?
Imagine if you watch TV all day, yoursensitivity to like sounds and lights and stuff
goes down as well because you're sodesensitized.
And so, when we fast, there's less sugar comingin, the body now improves the sensitivity of
that insulin making it more apt to function.
(21:25):
So, we recommend starting with like a twelvehour overnight fast, right?
That's a simple way to just get used to it.
And then working your way up to like a sixteento eight, right?
Where you're doing sixteen hours, no food, andthen an eight hour eating window.
That's a great kind of daily intermittentschedule.
That's something I do probably three or fourdays a week.
Longer fasts, however, like twenty four toforty eight hours can actually further reset
(21:47):
your insulin sensitivity and thus improvemetabolic flexibility.
So, a study in Diabetes Care 2020 found thatregular strength training lowered heart disease
risk more than statins in pre diabeticindividuals.
That's awesome.
So, that's a great, great study that was donethat showed the benefits of strength training,
(22:08):
something that you and I preach for longevityand that everyone should be doing.
So let's get into that.
Strength training and movement.
So exercise is one of the most powerful insulinsensitizers.
It's going to lower blood sugar, improvevascular function, and thus reduce
inflammation.
Strength training improves muscle insulinuptake, which reduces excess blood sugar.
(22:31):
Aerobic exercise like walking, cycling,swimming is going to help clear triglycerides
and improve blood vessel function.
And then daily movement, right?
10,000 plus steps a day, avoiding prolongedsitting.
This is going to keep blood flow and preventmetabolic stagnation.
It's also going to help with lymphaticdrainage, getting the lymph system to clear
(22:52):
toxins and metabolic waste.
So then how do we support arterial health andvascular function?
And here's a few really profound and strongways to do that.
So, a healthy heart isn't just about avoidingblockages, it's about maintaining flexible,
well functioning arteries that can properlytransport oxygen and nutrients throughout the
body.
(23:13):
Magnesium and potassium, these are amazing forblood pressure.
Magnesium relaxes the blood vessels and helpsregulate the heart rhythm, while potassium is
going to balance sodium levels and prevent thestiffening of the arteries.
So, some of the best sources of magnesium, darkleafy greens, avocado, almonds, pumpkin seeds,
as well as a magnesium supplement with multipleforms.
(23:35):
And then best sources of potassium, bananas,potatoes, citrus fruits and beans.
The next one on the list, CoQ10 for heartenergy.
So CoQ10 is a coenzyme basically essential formitochondrial energy production, especially in
your heart.
So, the heart has the highest demands in thebody of mitochondrial energy production.
(23:56):
It's beating all day long, boom, boom, boom,right?
So, it needs that.
So, statins are actually going to deplete yourCoQ10, which lead to muscle fatigue, weakness
and reduce heart function.
Kind of counterintuitive if you ask me.
So consider supplementing one hundred to threehundred milligrams a day of CoQ10, especially
if you're taking a statin.
(24:16):
And then the next one is vitamin K2 for arteryprotection.
We discussed this vitamin in the last episodeas well and how it's important to bind with
vitamin D3 for optimal absorption.
So vitamin K2 directs calcium into the bonesand the teeth where it's supposed to be and
away from the blood and the arteries where itcan cause the calcification and stiffness.
(24:39):
And so, a study in the European Journal ofNutrition 2019 found that vitamin K2
supplementation reduced arterial stiffness by50%, significantly improving heart health.
So some of the best sources of K2 grass feddairy like butter and cheeses opting for grass
fed of course, natto which is basicallyfermented soybeans, pasture raised eggs, beef
(25:02):
liver, or a bioavailable supplement, of course.
So, what's the key takeaway here?
As always with functional medicine, fixing theroot cause, not just the numbers, right?
Lowering cholesterol doesn't fix yourinflammation, doesn't fix insulin resistance or
arterial damage, which are the real root causesof heart disease.
(25:23):
So, of relying on statins, focus on loweringchronic inflammation through diet and
lifestyle, reversing insulin resistance withfasting, exercise and blood sugar control, and
then support your arterial health withessential nutrients like magnesium, CoQ10 and
K2.
So, by addressing the root causes, you're notjust reducing risk factors, you're building
(25:44):
long term health which will then last alifetime.
And so in closing, is cholesterol the realenemy?
No.
Are statins the best way to prevent heartdisease?
Probably not.
And what's the real solution?
Addressing inflammation, insulin resistance,and oxidative stress through diet and
lifestyle.
So, you've been told that you need a statin,don't just take this as gospel, get to the root
(26:10):
cause of your heart health.
Obviously, if there are levels that are way outof control, you can use it short term and then
get back to a state of balance.
But at Adolescent Functional Health, we'realways going to take a functional medicine
approach to cardiovascular wellness instead ofjust slapping a prescription on the problem.
We're going to test for inflammation markers,insulin resistance and nutrient deficiencies.
(26:31):
So if you're interested, schedule aconsultation.
Let's create a personalized plan for lifelongheart health.
And listeners of the Health Decoded podcast whoare on our newsletter can get exclusive
discounts and price reductions on allsupplements and blood work.
And as always, if you found value in today'sshow, like, subscribe, and share this episode
(26:53):
with someone who needs to hear it and wanna getin touch with us or be featured on an episode,
email us questions at ask@AlessiFXHealth.com.
And then you can go over to Alessi FX Healthdot com to sign up for our newsletter and check
out our resources page to learn more about ourapproach to nutrition and cutting edge
therapies.
We wanna thank you for tuning in to today'sepisode of Health Decoded where we break down
(27:16):
the science, bust the myths, and help you takecontrol of your health naturally.
Until next time, as always, stay curious, stayempowered, and remember, your health is in your
hands.
Thank you for tuning in to Health Decoded wherewe break down the truth about all things health
and empower you to take charge of yourwell-being.
(27:37):
If you found value in today's episode, pleasesubscribe, leave a review, and share it with
someone who needs to hear this.
For more resources and personalized support,visit us at AlessiFunctionalHealth.com and sign
up for our newsletter.
To hear your questions answered live on theshow, send them to askalessiFXhealth dot com.
(27:57):
That's ask@ALESSIFXhealth.com.
Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered,and remember, your health is in your hands.
Popular Podcasts
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Betrayal: Season 4
Karoline Borega married a man of honor – a respected Colorado Springs Police officer. She knew there would be sacrifices to accommodate her husband’s career. But she had no idea that he was using his badge to fool everyone. This season, we expose a man who swore two sacred oaths—one to his badge, one to his bride—and broke them both. We follow Karoline as she questions everything she thought she knew about her partner of over 20 years. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-3 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.