IS YOUR CHOLESTEROL NORMAL ON KETO? - Dr. Westman Reacts

GROUNDBREAKING NEW DATA about high cholesterol on keto! 🤯 Dr. Westman explains the findings and what they mean for YOU. 🥓🧀
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Dr. Eric Westman, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine & Internal Medicine, & founded the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic. He is a Fellow in The Obesity Society. He is the author of The New Atkins for a New You, Cholesterol Clarity, and Keto Clarity, and End Your Carb Confusion & co-founder of Adapt Your Life.
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Dr. Westman and the Adapt Your Life team do not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions online. We provide education to help people better understand their own health and support their well-being. Make sure you are working with YOUR licensed provider to monitor your health and medications. These posts and videos are not designed to and do not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or to any other individual. We do not promote or endorse affiliate links and/or products unless they are our own.

[@shannon2003]

My cholesterol levels have always been high . My HDL is high and my triglycerides are low. I’m happy And I ignore doctors. I’m 72 and I take zero medications.

[@tachik3179]

Me too, I am 74

[@misse2013]

I feel like this is the Dr I trust the most for providing unbiased, honest information. Thank you for that! 🙏

[@omnimetric84]

To the person who said that keto people feel fine until their heart attack, I respond: so do non-keto people right before their own heart attacks!

[@wendycarter5718]

Never ever had a cholesterol test in my 75 years of life !! Was keto for ten years , been mainly carnivore for the last two ! Rarely ever see a doctor ( probably twice in the last 15 years ! ) I have not got a clue about my “bloods” , I have not got a clue about my blood pressure , I have not got a clue about my cholesterol levels !! I garden, I dig my allotment (i help others dig their allotments ), I walk my dog for miles , I do my house work ,I am constantly active ,I eat well , I don’t obsess about “numbers “ . I weigh 8 stone 4 lbs at 5’ 6”. If I drop dead tomorrow ,so be it !! I’ve had a good enough life .

[@kmathis2352]

My dad has had high blood pressure his whole life, which they say makes him high risk for stroke or heart attack. He's 95, and still doing fine. I was just told that I have high cholesterol for the first time (at age 55), and I have no intention to take a statin.

[@AnneMB955]

I really understand where you’re coming from. I decide to have a blood test to see if my vitamin levels were okay. Trying to save money if I don’t need supplements.

[@ianstuart5660]

That's a beautiful bit of wisdom you've shared, thanks!

[@oglelaura]

I'm really considering going that route. All this health focus is crazy making. (Although I did need two surgeries that did not relate to poor lifestyle).

[@GMAAndy333]

Just listened to Dr Anthony Chaffee,MD. He unequivocally states that high cholesterol & high LDL is totally benign on its own and even healthy.

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Just watched his video that was suggested to me. Awesome and very assuring . 👍

[@joec1212]

​@@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc post a link please

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

It’s called The truth about Heart disease and cholesterol . Search Dr Anthony Chaffee and find that video. All these doctors are great and complement each other’s information .

[@leemanwrong]

Yep you have genes that encode for the production of cholesterol and lipoproteins, whatever your levels are thats what they're supposed to be.

[@ecwestman]

I’m more careful with my language than some influencers. The more I learn, the more I also learn how much more there is to learn! ; ) -Dr Westman

[@freerider7064]

My dr was concerned about cholesterol and said if I do this calcium score he'd be fine with no meds. I scored a zero. Woohoo

[@meatvenus]

My CAC/CTA showed some ‘mixed plaques’ in my LAD. My CAC was 64. I am 60 yo Female who drank, smoked & partied until age 40 approximately. Never overweight really and always very active (which I am CERTAIN stood to me.) finally came around to LCHF lifestyle in last couple years and my LDL skyrocketed! (Which is why I had a look under the hood so to speak) All the docs I saw were more upset than me! Panicked even. Absolutely wanted me on Statins and the Cardiologist even said to me.. “just take the statins and eat whatever you want “😮 Wow! I have a close friend who just survived a Heart attack. His numbers were far ‘better’ (by docs standards) than mine. My HBA1c is 5.0 My HDL IS 105, my Trigs are 80. My Insulin is 3.7 I eat BBBE plus some decaf w/double cream & a bit of 85% dark chocolate 😮

[@RVlivingcoast2coast]

I'm 55 yr Male, on keto for 6 years, lost all my excess weight in 1st year, and have maintained ever since. Last Dr visit: BMI-21.29, BP: 116/73, Total Cholesterol - 310, HDL-101, LDL-201, Triglycerides- 41. My last doctor wanted me on statins, so I switched doctors. My new doctor's response to these numbers was: 'I can't explain the high LDL, but all the other numbers point to good health' and he didn't recommend any medications. It blows my mind that my original doctor could only focus on that single LDL number.

[@grattigib]

I'll be 57 in April and been low carb for 5 years with very similar numbers and PA response. I've stuck with him because he runs tests that I request.

[@SeaStarGazer1111]

@RVlivingcoast2coast how did you get your HDL so high?

[@RVlivingcoast2coast]

@@SeaStarGazer1111 Once I dropped weight on keto, I got even more motivated, so I added regular exercise to my routine. I started with walking, and worked my way up to running 3 to 4 times a week. With just keto and walking, my HDL got up to around 76. Once I started running, it went over 100.

[@SeaStarGazer1111]

@@RVlivingcoast2coast WOW that’s incredible! So daily exercise is key to increasing HDL. On Keto did your fasting glucose & hbA1C go up? I just got my blood work done, both of those tests went up 🫤. Glucose went up 10pts & A1C went from 5.2 to 5.5. I cut out ALL processed foods, eliminated added sugars, I do the 16:8 fast 5x week, consume 35 or less carbs daily. I don’t get it, why those numbers went up.

[@bestowbeauty7]

@SeaStarGazer1111 From the July 2, 2024 video Why Fasting Glucose and A1c are Higher on a Carnivore Diet and What to Do (Judy Cho) 5:15 If I’ve been carnivore for a while and my fasting blood sugar or A1c goes up, that might be because my red blood cells live longer while I’m on a carnivore diet, and that gives glucose more time to stick to the red blood cells. Think of the high fasting blood sugar or high A1c as a false positive, because red blood cells living longer is a good thing. By an acceptably high level, Judy means a fasting blood sugar of maybe 5.8 or an A1c in the low hundreds. Dr. Paul Mason confirms this in the June 2024 video Plants do this to blood cells 4:30 timestamp.

[@jimrutherford2773]

I'm going to cut through all the convoluted interpretation of this study. I've seen it for years, anyone can twist and spin a study to meet their agenda. N=1 multiplied by the millions of people including myself who have gone on a low carb higher fat diet and went from poor health to great health. That means something. I can vouch first hand 90% of my ailments and poor blood scores changed for the better if not went away completely. That means something.

[@grimakastatik]

My ldl is 248 but my triglycerides were cut in half and in normal range, same with my other markers. And I feel 100x better than before carnivore diet. Oh and also 60 pounds lighter.

[@cynthiagilbreth1352]

Almost exactly the same as me!

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

But your LDL!😂. How you feel means a lot.

[@Karel8X]

Also, exactly the same, LDL 251, TGL in the middle of the "normal" range, at 85. 8 months on carnivore now, went from 180 pounds to 160. Feel great.

[@bagamias-hula]

Diddo. Vldl dropped to near zero, trig to 50, hdl to 60, ldl 200.

[@rawmilkmike]

@bagamias-hula Statins are like antidepressants. A vegetable has no worries. Of course, they'll decrease your chance of a heart attack. But they'll increase your chance of heart failure and type two diabetes.

[@johnsokol-oh1vj]

After two months on the diet my HDL And LDL are normal!!! I'm so happy, folks!!!!

[@9929kingfish]

after a year eating a ketogenic diet, by LDL went up to 268,. All other metabolic makers improved. I'm okay with a high LDL.

[@Zumbamom]

Me too over a year carnivore 300 LDL my doc flipped - I said don’t talk to me I don’t agree with you

[@Zill7711]

Me too 👍😊

[@davidgmillsatty1900]

@@ZumbamomBring him the paper if you can find it.

[@nataliajimenez1870]

I suggest you follow Dave Feldman and Nick Norwitz. They have found that slightly increasing the daily amount of carbs to 50 grams a day reduces LDL significantly for those in the keto diet. This may be important for those in the keto diet with extremely high LDL. If you have been able to reverse your insulin resistance, it may be worth it to slightly increase the carbs just as a precaution. The reduction is higher than the one seen with statins without the side effects of statins. They suggest using lower glycemic carbs like squashes so that the insulin is not increased too much. If you are carnivore, consuming a bit more yogurt or milk might be enough (this is suggested by Dr Cywes for his long term carnivores)

[@adelinekeys6582]

Me too. My triglycerides are low and that's more important

[@NatashaFitnessYogaPilates]

Thank you. I’m kind of freaking out. I’m doing keto for cancer. Feel amazing / living normally. Started this year so it’s been 8 months now and my oncologist suggested to run my cholesterol. Shocked to see my total at 376!! My triglycerides were 63 (normal). She wants me to talk my regular doctor about it. 😭 I want to find someone that really understands the numbers and a keto diet.

[@NoName-xo9sk]

I don't know where I heard that eating a few cabs before a test will bring LDL down. But after my Doc told me he wated to put me on a statin, when my LDL went up. For a week, before my blood work, i ate a cup of blueberries. LDL completely normal

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Hmm. I’ll try that!

[@NoName-xo9sk]

@@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc I figured it couldn't hurt, and to clarify, I did 1 cup a night for a week . Before my test. Berries for a short time did not cause me any ill effects.

[@greyh314]

Look up the Feldman Protocol. It explains how you can manipulate cholesterol levels for testing

[@NoName-xo9sk]

@@greyh314 that maybe where I heard that. I have watched his videos. 👍

[@JoaninFlorida]

Have some oreos! Lol

[@ronaldlenz5745]

I just got some "partial" labs. My Doc's nurse called and said my TG was "too low" at 22 (USA Labcorp units of measure) and my HDL was 109. She actually didn't say what the LDL was. She was speechless when I said "how can TG be too low and what do you want me to do about it?" I am very low carb, I walked 4.5 miles before the labs on an empty stomach. The general medical community is rather clueless. My TG/HDL ratio is 0.20, rather spectacular by all of my research.

[@LouCadle]

??? too low for what?

[@chrismktgpsu]

I think they meant too low for them to prescribe you something lol. Great job exercising and looking out for your own personal health 👍

[@deondebeer4373]

I am 60 and 4 years on Keto - with a high HDL low Tri and a little bit high LDL - I am cycling and do race of 230km MTB still in 11h30 I feel stronger the when I was 30 years old - one major positive of Keto is that all my cramping on a tough race went away

[@carolhafemann8414]

My husband reversed type 2 diabetes has high cholesterol he had his arteries scoped befor a heart surgery his arteries are clear no blockages and he is a lifetime smoker. He’s been ketoish my term cause he still has doughnuts and some high carb food about 5 days a month. I he was told they don’t have to have his arteries checked for at least 10 years. His gp wants him on a statins . But I said we should not treat him for something he doesn’t have. This study helps backme . I also have hi ldl and will not go on statins. Thank you for sharing these results

[@24bellers20]

Sounds like me. Went keto then carnivore 15 months ago due to pre existing conditions. Every blood marker improved but my ldl increased. I feel better now than in the last 40 years.

[@VellaShon]

When I came off my metformin within a year, and reversing my Type 2... I and virtual MD did know something was going to happen. They gave me prevastatin due to cholesterol number readings, but came off of them within week due to have allergy to it. They were gonna give another one, but they say it could do same. I learned they had to see inside and not numbers, from that time on I been doing great. I brought those numbers down unexpectedly, I been in remission this long for almost 3 years now.

[@cates_keto]

Fantastic video Dr. Westman! You are always so up to date and helpful!!! Every single person who I tell that I am on a ketogenic diet back away from me as if I have rabies!!! And as they are backing away they whisper “isn’t that dangerous? Couldn’t you die from that?” So sad! (I live in rural Ireland 🇮🇪 so not the most advanced population, of if I were in the city I would doubtless meet people on similar lifestyles!!) 😂🎉❤ I love your videos!! ❤

[@jimlofts5433]

In Australia the CAC must be in a different scale as below 100 is ok but above 400+ is when the statin prescribing pressure increases I have a friend with Angina and he has a CAC of 1300 - I have CAC of 12, age 73 which is a bloody surprise as I lived bad with SAD + + alcohol / carbs / sugars / veg oils / margarine - Keto 20 months never going back to those days

[@Eb4Ex]

This was the most plain-talking, fact-based review of LMHR work I have seen to date... TY... I think they have yet a long way to go before conclusions can be drawn... Appreciate you...🙂

[@jimlofts5433]

agree but the interesting thing is that after 4 plus years on Keto, those with high LDL don't already have higher plaque than the control group in the Miami Heart Study - So the expectation is the initial result should be the same ?? - we shall see

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

It’s the beginning to explain the phenomenon. Dave has a nice narrative on his theory as to what’s going on. He calls it the lipid energy model.

[@SandraCarterAtHomeNC]

Thank you Doctor. I have been on keto for over a year and my LDL went up to 279 but my HDL also went up to 84. My Doctor instantly wanted to put me on a Statin drug. I did not start it. Thank you for the information on the study.

[@1219art]

My ldl is 424 triglyceride 70 and hdl is 90 in ketogenic diet 50 lbs lighter in 7 months and feeling great...my primary doctor is so worried want me back on statin but i told my doctor i will not take it anymore.thank you to all doctor who promotes keto.

[@GJJC13]

how much was your ldl before starting keto?

[@sharonillenye8036]

my dr trying to have me go to pcsk9 inhibitor due to my ldl went to 255 (used to be 160 off statin/ 89 on statin) and after he tested for LP a found to be 486nmol/L . that statin, I won't take anymore. almost made me think I needed knee replacements.

[@judyanderson4766]

Great breakdown for the layperson, thanks so much to the group of forward thinkers, i.e Westman, Feldman, Norwitz, Diamond, Lustig, Hickman and many others. You are changing the world.

[@njsongwriter]

I do. And I'm not worried. Im also one month away from being 77.

[@peregrinuslohr5512]

Very helpful. Thanks! What I'd like to see is a study that shows whether or not Keto/Carnivore can REDUCE or reverse the build up over time. Thanks for this breakdown.

[@biodivers5294]

This research is ‘the state of the art’ in my opinion. I can imagine the resistance against it 😅

[@anobjectinmotion8518]

I am so incredibly grateful that you posted this. My Dr called me in to discuss my increased change in LDL and wanted (demanded) to know what i had changed to cause this change. Doctors are hard to find in my town and I don’t want her to fire me, so i was vague and non committal about anything, really, lol. It’s quite depressing that I have to be less than truthful with my physician and feel like I am more ‘in the know’ than her but i have children and grandchildren to be here for, so I appreciate all that you do Dr Westman to help us be as healthy as possible as long as possible.

[@rickjean63]

Thank you DrWestman for explaining something quite complex in way the even an non medical educated person have a chance to understand. We all heard about that LDL is not all there is to care about, but to have a study to confirm it is very reassuring. Can´t wait to hear the rest. (keto/ketovore 2yrs, doing carnivore mont now).

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

I appreciate this information so much. This is the one biggest fear that keeps haunting so many of us on Carnivore and it’s hard to get comfortable with higher LDL labs. There are so many different levels that we all find ourselves on when we all compare our LDLs. We question how high is too high or why isn’t my HDL a lot higher . The one question many of us would like answered while on Carnivore which is rarely discussed is : How or is there a way to lower ones LDL even a little bit if it’s way up there , just to relieve some worry , while on Carnivore? One of you doctors that we all watch really should go here and address this big elephant in the room question please . Knowing there are always some that don’t fit the perfect scenario, let’s address this and discuss if any type of foods can be eaten now and then or besides Berberine , a small amount of leafy greens in a week or a minimal amount of broccoli? Because you all have made some concessions for those that want to add dairy or certain veggies in certain cases so do you have any good known dietary suggestions that could help lower LDL even a little while on Carnivore? Or could you suggest anything those of us might be doing wrong while on Carnivore? This sure would be a valuable video for many. Thank you so much for all your hard work ! Personally I am a retired RN , have lost 23 lbs and feel great on Carnivore. All the info makes perfect sense to me and I am staying on it for life! And yes, I’ve got a primary dr that had a cow with my 279 LDL. I am trying to find this answer myself if I have to but just experimenting but I bet y’all have some ideas. Thank you much!

[@grimakastatik]

I got 248 myself recently and my Dr. Freaked out. But I feel better. My triglycerides are normal now. Same with other markers that weren't. I'm going to try to get a scan of the LDL and test the particle sizes. That's the only way to tell.

[@davidcalhoun7385]

@@grimakastatik Dr. Ben Bikman in his Book "Why We Get Sick" says that we can approximate our LDL particle size by dividing our triglyceride level (in mg/dL) by our HDL (in mg/dL). If the result is under 2, the larger, buoyant LDL particles predominate. Above 2 and the small dense particles are more prevalent.

[@chuckleezodiac24]

exercise & eat half a stick of butter per day instead of a whole stick. fatty fish. avocados, nuts & seeds... psyllium husk or flax seeds... dark chocolate. garlic.

[@bradje12]

@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc I think one of the main takeaways of the presentation by Dr Westman is that the LDL level is not a good marker for coronary artery disease. If it is not a good marker, then there is no point measuring it as a marker for CAD. In other words, we have no cause for concern about LDL levels as they don't predict your heart health. That's what this study is attempting to show. Dr Chaffee has a short video about LDL. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJStZ2ZmZpqkfqssi=Ts1BjHsO_wXZv2Gz

[@Melbketoshrink]

Try adding psyllium husk 5-7g pre meals .. it halved my LDL. It’s obviously plant based so just keep that in mind. I stopped doing that recently just to see how high my LDL would go & I’m definitely in LMHR territory now. Having a CIMT & CAC score done today. Best of luck!

[@kaychesnut2898]

I am looking forward to seeing more on this study. I fit the LMHR profile but only 2.5 years duration, and hope to be part of the second cohort study. I live within biking distance of where they do the scans...coincidentally Budhoff was the physician who reviewed my test result. CAC score was 0.

[@auntymarushkafah]

My PCP wants me to take a statin. I don't want to. CAC score 0, cholesterol over 220, probably because I use cream. Too much cream, a lot of cream. Good to bad cholesterol ratio perfect. I told her I will stop using whipped cream.

[@grimakastatik]

Mine wanted to shove one down my throat too. But I refuse to take something unless my doctor can prove I'm at risk for heart disease. But you can't off of just ldl cholesterol.

[@chadfitch3293]

If I had a CAC of zero there is no way I’m taking a statin

[@auntymarushkafah]

@@chadfitch3293 Exactly.

[@aztonyusa]

Cream or any food doesn't increase cholesterol in your blood. Total cholesterol doesn't matter. Research videos on KZbin by Dr. Westman or Dr. Berry

[@LouCadle]

your doctor is your employee. If she gives bad advice, fire her and find a better doctor.

[@vivianhudacek1556]

Thank you so much for your clear presentation! I shared my labs, taken several months ago, with my primary care physician this week. He wanted me to start statins & said that “it’s not a question of if but when” I have a heart attack or stroke. Needless to say, I’ve been in a twit since then. I’m a 73-year-old female, 120 pounds (lost 15 on keto, which I’ve followed for a little over a year). I feel great & have lowered my A1c from pre-diabetic to 5.5. I really don’t want to take a statin & prefer to continue keto. HDL=116, trig=72, LDL=258, VLDL=9, ratio of T.chol/HDL=3.3. I hope I’m making a wise choice.

[@thecolonel-truesoutherngen2230]

the important ratio is triglycerides/hdl.

[@khill6510]

Will be excited to see the results in a year. I've been on Keto for a year and a half and I would have volunteered for this study.

[@shirleyfurlow2161]

Thank you for taking the time to share and explain the results of this important study.

[@jimlofts5433]

Thank you again - well explained - good luck to all LMHR participants - It all helps build the science good or bad - we adapt we learn that the science is never settled

[@Blessed-Grateful]

Fantastic Video; thank you Dr. Westman

[@sheaview8427]

I have a very high HDL, but I have no other comorbidities, and I've lost 51 pounds on a ketovore diet. The number bothers me, but I also know a statin did not prevent me from developing a small amount of plaque in my arteries. I will never take a statin or any other prescription medication again unless it's a matter of life or death.

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Statin did not prevent anything for me either. I stopped mine too. I’m researching what other ways there are to lower it while on Carnivore. I’d like some videos on this from any of all the Carnivore Doctors etc . 👍

[@hugoanderkivi]

​@@KarenMacLeod-zn4rcWhy lower? Your body's genes dictate the levels based on the environment. Change the environment, and the gene expression changes, epigenetics. You shouldn't at all be worried about your lipid and cholesterol levels when you are eating a species-appropriate diet, which you are doing with carnivore.

[@maxwatermeyer4406]

@@hugoanderkivil also think in the absence of carbs and sugar there is no inflammation and the Glycalyx can do its work by keeping the LDL our of the intima…

[@LouCadle]

I'm one of those who don't get higher LDL on keto/carnivore. Mine is 90. HDL 80. Trig below 45. (When I tried vegetarianism for half a year in my 30s, cholesterol soared.) Still, I find this information interesting.

[@ecwestman]

Thx. Very important to keep in mind that the extreme LDL elevations are uncommon.

[@petercyr3508]

Here is good way to look at it. High LDL is normal when your energy transport of fat is corrected in ketosis. Low LDL is pathological and indicates an inability to burn fat.

[@timmiet47321]

So, could frequent exercisers cause this rise in ldl? Oops. Answered at the 6:45 mark.

[@KAT-dg6el]

My LDL is 288 I’ve been on keto carnivore for a year and have not lost 1 pound.

[@timmiet47321]

@@KAT-dg6el Do you need to lose weight?

[@chadfitch3293]

@@KAT-dg6elif you are trying to loose weight you’ve got to take Dr Westmans class I believe intake opens Jan 8 or 9th. I did it it’s phenomenal.

[@aulbertwest9648]

My total chi was 138. HDL. 56. LDL, 63. Triglycerides. 104. A1C. 6.2 for someone with diabetes that is considered under control. I did some fasting too. No drugs. The only thing that was off was that I have Osteoporosis in my upper right leg. Don't have it in the lower right leg because it's a prosthetic. Nurse Practitioner said walk, drink milk and eat sardines. Need Calcium. I do go on and off but I'm blessed. I like keto because it works for me.

[@chremis]

Love the content, Dr. Westman, one of my fav channels. I have seen you mention the 1/3rd split, higher, same or lower LDL...to me, is a hypothesis that for healthy individuals at ideal weight, who have lost weight, the individual will always have elevated LDL on a long term keto/low carb lifestyle. If so, this may suggest a larger population below the tip of the iceberg suggested by LMHR. Thanks. My point being this potential larger pool of folks offer greater scope for further research/study.

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Yes! Agreed!

[@ecwestman]

Yes. This ‘thread’ of a study has the potential to unravel the ‘sweater’ of the cholesterol hypothesis. It will be important to keep pulling this thread if the results are a certain way.

[@TheShumoby]

Last lab was LDL 199, HDL 72, Trigs 42, VLDL 5. I've low carb keto for 6 year. I'm not worried about it. CAC 3 years ago was 0.

[@BigDGolf-23]

I eat no processed foods for the passed 2 months. I feel a very clean sensation in my thinking. My ketone levels after not eating go up to about 3.5 from 1.0 after about 12 hours. I'm in mild keto non stop. Feel great. I even eat strawberries, pecans, pistachios in small amounts. I might not live too be 100, but i probably won't keel over from cancer i hope. I'm going to enjoy life.

[@maxinemorris130]

Thank you Dr Westman for explaining this study clearly.

[@outerbanks854]

Does intermittent fasting affect ldl and or hdl

[@stevelanghorn1407]

Thanks for this. Excellent explanation of a vitally important study, whatever the final results / outcome.

[@critter4004]

But, how high is too high... my LDL continues to rise after 5 years of clean keto and carnivore... now over 400. I'm a 67 yo female.

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Yes! My point exactly . I’d like more education on can one lower cholesterol while on Carnivore with any tweeks?

[@ArcoZakus]

"... how high is too high ..." Maybe that depends on why it is high. If it is because our bodies are transporting a lot of cholesterol to protect wounded arteries, the high LDL is an indicator for the amount of damage, which is what is bad. If it is high because it is transporting fat throughout the body for energy I would think that is good. (Lipid heart health model vs. lipid energy model, Dave Feldman & Dr. Nick Norwitz) A better measurement for health is plaque (CT-angiogram, CAC score), not LDL.

[@Cat-ht7ki]

As we age higher cholesterol associates w lower all cause mortality. Cholesterol has protective functions. Especially re our immune system

[@marynguyen6417]

After being on keto/ketovore for 6 years, refusing to take statin, my CAC score now is a big ZERO!

[@GJJC13]

Have you had a previous CAC score and, if so, what #? Thanks

[@krisjustin3884]

Exceptional medical report! Well discussed!

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

I appreciate all of your encouraging comments and suggestions about my wanting to lower my cholesterol. I realize I should not be concerned. And I need to grasp that the higher number most likely is to my benefit providing I keep all the other numbers in check. It’s awesome to have a community of like minds that care enough to comment. Thank you . I welcome the educational tips ! 😊

[@pabeader1941]

The one point that I found interesting in the data was the number of extra high LDLs with 0 TPS

[@charlesincharge3404]

Plaque accumulates in damaged sections of the coronary arteries. This is where the pressure is highest. The particles are forced between the layers of the arterial walls. So, for plaque to form, that portion of the artery would already need to be damaged.

[@kathydicioccio6094]

I agree with Dr Malcolm Kendrick on thrombogenesis.

[@johnsokol-oh1vj]

, oh, I'm age 71 on Jan 13, and have lost 15 lbs. John. I've stayed away from potatoes and pasta.

[@henryancheta6668]

My Pastor is a retired Paramedic, he claims Keto elevates cholesterol, ultimately given a person a heart attack. I am following the Keto diet. This info helps me to understand that the change in the matter is not significant. I definitely will like to hear the bottom certainty of this matter. Thanks for the video.

[@michelephelps1087]

I appreciate your honesty in presenting what remains unknown.

[@LiberationSeeker101]

Perhaps what can be looked into is the matter of LDL particle count and size (also conveniently not tested for in the study). The standard test measures LDL-C (amount of cholesterol that the LDL is carrying, not what kind). You can order a fractionated LDL panel like an NMR profile, which would get more specific: LDL-P, small LDL-P and LDL size. In short, large particles are better than smaller, denser ones. You can even add another test to that for oxidized LDL if you want to get even more specific (since the oxidized LDL is what actually does most of the damage). However, if for whatever reason you can't get your hands on this extra test, most studies show that a good indicator of having the smaller, denser particles (the harmful ones), is having high triglycerides (even with LDL-C normal). So if your LDL-C is a bit high but your triglycerides are low (and all the other markers of inflammation/A1C/insulin/BP/etc. are ok) chances are you're in the clear. 😎

[@ecwestman]

Did you notice on the baseline slide that the marker of inflammation (CRP) was lower for the LMHR group? I forgot to mention it in the video!

[@GJJC13]

Great information. I also wonder why the study does not include LDL particle sizes.

[@wSpaceArt]

​@ecwestman I also noted this 0.5. Miami group hsCRP 22:40 was low too, 0.7

[@wSpaceArt]

I saw a comment that if the ratio of Triglycerides /HDL is smaller than 2, likely the larger the LDL particles.

[@petertownsend6375]

We need hundreds of Keto/carnivore low carb doctors.

[@jarichards99utube]

Thank You Dr Westman... 🙂👍 AND - a VERY Happy New Year 2024 To You...!!! -70SomethingGuy

[@kdemetter]

17:51 Looking at those figures, it's interesting to see my total cholesterol, HDL and LDL are very similar to the keto group group there when I was doing purely carnivore (well it was basically BBE) for about 5 months last year, but my HDL ratio and triglycerides were worse ( my total cholesterol was 324 , LDL was 255 , HDL was 58 , triglycerides 72). Those results worried me a little, so I switched from carnviore back to keto ( well I basically added avocado and olive oil, and added a bit of fairly low carb berries once a week, and more variety in meat, also adding fatty wild caught fish) . In 3 months, my figures changed spectacularly : total cholesterol dropped to 227 , LDL dropped to 154 , and HDL went up slightly to 67 , triglycerides went down to 59 I'm not sure what to make of it. HDL and triglycerides improving would suggest that I do better on keto than carnivore. But I personally felt much better just on carnivore. Since January, I've started carnivore again but now I'll keep the avocado oil, olive oil and fish as well. I'll evaluate in 3 months again ( curious to see if it was the plant matter or ratio of fats that improved things).

[@wSpaceArt]

Keep sharing this please. Thanks

[@KarenMacLeod-zn4rc]

Agreed. Looking at the same plan. Not a big change. If you can, do a follow up post . 🤓

[@sdjohnston67]

Excellent presentation for a general audience! Thank you.

[@BigVine-m5i]

Very clearly explained. Thanks Dr. Westman.

[@Rusty6507]

And 0 of the keto group were on statins…but 26 of the Miami study were on meds

[@TeeAnn]

This was a great explaination of this study! I watched some other videos on the study and this one helped me the most :)

[@williamcrooksii9139]

Just started the carno diet. First time ever my LDL is high. CHOLESTEROL, TOTAL 307 H

[@KirstiCheetahh]

What is normal??? The "normal" ranges are normal for carb eating people, not for healthy people. On keto for 2 years now. LDL 360, HDL 84, TG 66, HbA1c 5.2%, BMI 18.7 I do not worrie at all. High LDL-c is good for health and longevity!

[@valeriegorham4396]

Waow! That is great!

[@jeffjanusik7822]

How do I get this information to my doctor! They refuse to give me their phone numbers, their email addresses, and don’t listen to me when I tell them, they think I’m crazy!

[@lindamorristx]

They usually have a portal you can communicate through. Try sending a link to the video through that.

[@suziegriffith]

Thank you, Dr Westman! LMHR here.

[@susanareddecop78]

Thank you for sharing looking forward to see the next one

[@ronaldlenz5745]

Great presentation Dr. W!!

[@kevinbaird2527]

I am a heart valve replacement person with an Onyx mechanical valve, they want me extra low on LDL so they have me on statin and my LDL runs 35 to 50. I had a cath before open heart surgery and my arteries were clean.

[@craftycalley]

Thank you. I took notes and screen captured the graphs so that I am armed for when my LDL goes up at my next test as I’m back on keto. All I did before to keep the level “normal” was eat more carbs.

[@steve1711]

Recent annual review at clinic in UK. Excellent blood pressure and HbA1c, and BMI of 20. triglycerides low, HDL good and trig/HDL ratio of 0.65. But LDL was 125 - clinic said this "You may benefit from a statin to reduce your Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score. Atorvastatin 40mg is recommended" Thank you but no. Also said would you like to book a shingles, pneumonia, Flu and covid booster jab. No thank you.

[@ianstuart5660]

Preposterous suggestions from the clinic! Just the as in Canada and USA! BOLLOCKS!...😂😂

[@marionsanta2883]

I'd be more worried about experimental jabs than cholesterol...

[@ianstuart5660]

@marionsanta2883 No doubt about it, yet, they're still pushing them!

[@priit7777]

Maybe add the source links to this new information into the video description!?

[@Insomniac4791]

I’ve been on keto for 25 years and am just beginning carnivore to get rid of a stomach issue I developed after a viral infection. Let me assure anyone reading my comment, my blood work is golden, I do not have heart disease.

[@wadechroninger7101]

If it’s a Metabolic Issue, it only makes sense then the solution would be a Metabolic one as well, right, and not an artificial chemical one…

[@jolantamsk3894]

Awesome!!! Thank you to ALL!!

[@naomijones3521]

So how do I know if I am a hyper responder or have familial cholestemia?

[@carlawalker8219]

Looking forward to end of this study

[@SPDATA1]

No, I'm NOT worried. ❤ Carnivore ❤

[@mariad1151]

I may have to write a love letter to Jason Fung. Have you watched his "Obesity is Not Caused by a Lack of Exercise"? Two profound & poetic statements (parapharased here): 1. Hunger is not under the control of one's will. 2. One's basal metabolic rate is not under the control of one's will. I can hardly tell you what such understanding does after a lifetime of brow-beating for being obese. Jason, tho always thin, breaks through to something fundamental & profound. It derived from his true love of people. Even fat people cannot articulate these facts so clearly. It's science at its best. The answers are far from us. The answers are not keto or fasting or bariatric surgery. It will take lifetimes to figure it out if anyone ever cares to--after all, it affects a small portion of the population. But how about Jason Fung?! Poet or scientist?--I cannot say. Humanitarian for sure. May he & his be blessed with the pure love he has brought to a persecuted population.❤️❤️

[@kathydicioccio6094]

I agree. He’s awesome. ❤

[@ArcoZakus]

" ... after all, it affects a small portion of the population . ..." Not anymore. It has been rising at alarming rates and affecting people at ever increasingly earlier ages. Watch interviews of Dr. Casey Means, Calley Means, Dr. Robert Lustig.

[@mariad1151]

@@ArcoZakus well some of us store excess calories on our arses & would like to moon the skinny-fat folk who get metabolic problems while the fat arse ones don't (ha ha 😛) & the hysterical fat phobic docs! 🌚 😛🤣🤣 up to 80% genetic I just read

[@adelinekeys6582]

Iowered my LDL by walking and reducing alcohol

[@ucfkid67]

And laying off the meth

[@porkysbikerlife7893]

I was happy with Keto, I am not happy that no one mentioned my cholesterol going up or the dramatic hair loss at all!

[@beckyrichmond2046]

I have recently had a blood test and it has come back with a cholesterol level of 8.7(no idea what that number relates to) my Dr has consistently insisted I use statins but I have refused. I have been on a low carb diet for years, I am not overweight and cycle 10 miles daily just to keep myself fit. I am 62 years old. I have asked for a breakdown of the cholesterol and this has been met with hesitation, should I be concerned 🤷‍♀️ ❤ to Dr Westman and his channel and have followed for a long time 😊

[@ecwestman]

Check out my cholesterol course at Adaptyourlifeacademy. Lots of details in there!

[@porpolo]

Since being on Keto for the last 6 months I've lost almost 30 pounds. My Triglycerides came way down from 146 to 78 but my total soared to 300 and my LDL went to 221. Doctor is freaking out telling me to start a statin right away. Cardiologist is telling me only the LDL matters.

[@josephcostello1812]

Thank you doctor! Very good summary of a study I’m closely following!

[@garanger71]

Dr. Westman, I have a question, hopefully you see this and answer, I trust your opinion, I seem to be having trouble finding information on ....Turkey in relation to low keto or carnivore diet..Just wondered the health benefits or non benefits of turkey in the diets

[@ecwestman]

Turkey is fine.

[@Roberto-cg2gr]

Have a research on effect of keto with high small dense LDL and increase in large dense LDL

[@TA_33]

Does the fact that one group is taking Hyperlipidemia Medication have any effect on this study?

[@carlawalker8219]

I had to go below 20 carbs to get scale to move so I am going to close to zero carb for right now

[@kathleenedens7953]

I've been ketovore lifestyle for 3 months. I just had labs done again and went from 250 to 361.

[@JoliaKakouni]

So is it dangerous?

[@elinino5275]

I took out a 1 million dollar insurance policy and they didnt even check LDL 😂😂

[@johnaltoft7187]

I embarked on a keto diet, but not long into it, my cardiologist was alarmed at a rising LDL level, discovered during a routine blood analysis. I was taking 20mg Rosuvastatin and hoping to retire it, instead I was put on a 10mg Ezetimibe pill as well. I’m so confused, why are these statins such contentious medicines, surely there’s an underlying truth somewhere, yet even cardiologists are polarized on the issue. Does it mean that half of the doctors are ill informed, misguided or swayed by pharmaceutical interests? I’m putting my trust in a Dr., but not sure if he’s in the right camp!

[@aztonyusa]

Much more than half, more like 99%. There's plenty of videos on KZbin by low carb doctors on statin drugs.

[@ekondigg6751]

As Dr Westman points out, cholesterol is not a disease. Atherosclerosis is. If cholesterol is not the problem, statins are not the solution...

[@johnaltoft7187]

@@ekondigg6751 I appreciate your response, and certainly I’m aware of the difference between a marker and a disease. Here’s my point in a nutshell, “Some doctors say black, others say white!” How does the layman decide where the truth lies?

[@ekondigg6751]

@@johnaltoft7187 Yes, it's difficult for us to decide where the truth lies. I looked into the history and development of the "diet-heart" hypothesis, and discovered that, right from the beginning it wasn't on solid ground: Ancel Keyes, who had a solid reputation due to his work for the US army, influenced Senator McGovern to set out the first ever diet guidelines to avoid saturated fat. This was based on a 7 country study. But he actually had data on many more countries, and when trying to see a correlation between saturated fat and CVD, there was none when the data on all the countries were used. Therefore, this whole thing started with a flawed study using cherry-picked data. Now this was about saturated fat in the diet, not cholesterol. These are different things. The body makes the amount of cholesterol it needs. It's an important building block for many things in cells, for hormones and the immune system. It's not just some kind of fat, as Ancel Keyes seemed to think. Apart from starvation, or consuming phytosterols (plant equivalents of cholesterol), consumption of saturated fat or foods with cholesterol or not, makes no difference to the amount of cholesterol in the blood, as Ancel Keyes already knew at the time. From that time to the present, there has been a lot of research into cholesterol and CVD (Cardiovascular disease). It was clear from the beginning that cholesterol levels did not correlate with CVD. So the hypothesis got refined to LDL as bad cholesterol, and HDL as good cholesterol. LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein, not cholesterol. It's a nutrient transporter that the liver makes. The cholesterol component in LDL is exactly the same cholesterol as in HDL (High Density Lipoprotein). Unfortunately, LDL levels have been found not to correlate with CVD either. So it has fairly recently been refined down to VLDL (Very low density lipoprotein), oxidised LDL, and other variants in an effort to find a correlation with CVD - unsuccessfully. There is a saying among the researchers: "Correlation does not prove causation" As an example: imagine that there are more people struck by lightning who drive Ford cars than drivers of other cars. That's a correlation, but driving Ford cars will not cause anyone to be struck by lightning. But there's a second saying: "Lack of correlation disproves causation". That's what we have seen over decades of research into cholesterol and CVD. Personally, I think it's high time to stop wasting all this effort on a hypothesis that has not stood the test of time and look for the real cause(s). Sorry about the length of this comment.

[@hugoanderkivi]

​​@@johnaltoft7187Find the actual experts who can back up their claims. Professor Bart Kay is one of them.

[@yooochoooob]

So, now that we've observed that the LMHR phenotype people in the study didn't show any significant risk increase for CHD with way above "normal" LDL levels ... A couple of new questions come to mind such as ... Are the LMHR's elevated LDL small-dense or large-buoyant ? ... AND ... do people in the LMHR phenotype perhaps have some OTHER special characteristic which protects them against possible LDL-induced CHD but which NON LMHR phenotypes would find problematic ! Presumably, the LMHR's bodies don't ramp up their LDL production just for 5h1ts & Giggles ... WHERE is all that excess LDL being utilised ?

[@williamwolfe5146]

In the last year of keto and carnivore, my total cholesterol started at 240... Now my LDL alone is 477... Doctor is freaking out telling me if I don't take his drug I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke and then I'll be on 12 different meds

[@GigiWright]

3 months in keto Tryglicerides 87 was 130 HDL 86 was 68 Even my crazy high as my Dr. puts it LDL decreased 10% 270 So Tryglicerides down 30% HDL up 15% My Dr. could care less and wouldn't listen to anything I said. Also my Liver enzymes went from high flagged to normal again my Dr. is not impressed. I turned down statins and BP med prior to keto lost 16lbs have 10 more I'd like to lose I'm a tiny person very petite so 25lb.over weight is very bad for bone structure. My main concern is inflammation as I'm 66. Waiting on the tests you mentioned results.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

Niacin can reduce vascular inflammation. Dr. Ford Brewer has the information . 👌

[@matslindfors2969]

I see in tjhe KETO group that HDL are higher and Triglyceides are lower. Put that in perspection!

[@4bennybear]

And that took place during the covid craziness, imagine going to LA CA then.

[@sallymorgan6453]

Been keto for 3 months, lost 20 pounds. I'm now 130#, post-menopausal female. Just had labs, LDL is in the 400s! Triglycerides are still high normal. I'm trying to schedule a calcium scan. I am hashi-thyroiditis. Anyone have this experience?