Today we are continuing our cholesterol series.  In Part One we discussed what cholesterol actually is, as it is often vilified in conventional medicine.  We learned that our body needs cholesterol in order to build healthy cells.  Cholesterol is a part of the outer layer of our cells, the membrane of the cells.  It is also the initial part of the steroidogenic pathway.  In Part Two we dove deep into LDL and HDL.  We discussed that cholesterol cannot travel throughout the body on its own – it needs a friend.  LDL is responsible for moving cholesterol throughout the body to the tissues, whereas HDL’s role is to bring cholesterol from the tissues back to the liver. Today we are going to discuss apolipoproteins, in particular, Apo B and Apo A. We are going to talk about what they are – the role they play in the body – the cardiovascular risks or benefits associated with higher levels. 

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/⁠

** Level up your products: ⁠https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/⁠

** Find a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner: ⁠https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/⁠

** Interesting articles for more information**

ApoPred: Identification of Apolipoproteins and Their Subfamilies With Multifarious Features: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.621144/full

Effect of APOB polymorphism rs562338 (G/A) on serum proteome of

Biochemistry, Apolipoprotein B:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538139/

Apolipoprotein B and Cardiovascular Disease: Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8540246/

Physiological Bases for the Superiority of Apolipoprotein B Over Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Non–HighDensity Lipoprotein Cholesterol

The Association between Apolipoprotein B, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Subclinical Atherosclerosis—Findings from the SEPHAR National

Pleiotropic Effects of APOB Variants on Lipid Profiles, Metabolic Syndrome, and the Risk of Diabetes Mellitus: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9735756/

Apolipoprotein B Displays Superior Predictive Value Than Other Lipids for Long-Term Prognosis in Coronary Atherosclerosis Patients and

ApoB and Non-HDL Cholesterol Versus LDL Cholesterol for Ischemic Stroke Risk: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9545003/

Glycation Reduces the Stability of ApoAI and Increases HDL Dysfunction in Diet-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes: ⁠https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5800833/⁠

HDL Particle Subspecies and Their Association With Incident Type 2 Diabetes: The PREVEND Study: ⁠https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8118359/⁠

Apolipoprotein B and Cardiovascular Disease: Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/11/10/690

A Role for Proteoglycans in Vascular Disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6110991/

Association of apolipoprotein A1 with osteoporosis: a cross-sectional study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36864426/

Human apoA-I[Lys107del] mutation affects lipid surface behavior of apoA-I and its ability to form large nascent HDL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9926306/

ApoA1 and ApoA1-specific self-antibodies in cardiovascular disease: https://www.nature.com/articles/labinvest201656

Today we have a very special guest – Dr. Heather Zwickey. Dr. Zwickey is a researcher, teacher, and mentor who earned a PhD in immunology and microbiology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with a focus on infectious disease and vaccine development. She then went on and completed a postdoctoral fellowship and taught at the School of Medicine at Yale University where she focused on immunotherapy for cancer at NUNM. Dr. Zwickey then launched the Helfgott Research Institute and also established the school of graduate studies, developing masters’ programs in nutrition, research, and global health. Dr. Zwickey currently leads an NHS funded clinical research training program, teaches at many universities, and speaks at conferences around the world. She is passionate about the microbiome, and in particular the gut/brain axis, neuroinflammation, and psychoneuroimmunology, aiming to spread the word on how the immune system, nervous system, and our endocrine system interact.

Today we discuss:

Where to find Dr. Heather Zwickey:

Website: https://www.heatherzwickey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hzwickey/

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

** Find a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

** Interesting articles for more information**

The Vaginal Microbiome: V. Therapeutic Modalities of Vaginal Microbiome Engineering and Research Challenges: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8719494/

Towards a deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiota: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-022-01083-2

The Female Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Bacterial Vaginosis: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.631972/full

Today we are zeroing in on the two lipoproteins that are the key players of a lipid panel – LDL and HDL.  We have all heard that there is good and bad cholesterol – but what is it that makes them good or bad?  Are all LDL and HDL created equal?  Last week we talked broadly about what exactly cholesterol is and why it matters. We went in depth about cholesterol synthesis, the role it plays with our hormones, why we need cholesterol – though of course it has to be in balance. We discussed that cholesterol cannot travel throughout the body on its own – it needs a friend.  We are jumping into the deep end and today’s show will hopefully open your eyes to all of the things in healthcare we are not usually looking at – which may in fact be the biggest influence with regards to our cardiovascular health!

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

** Find a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

** Interesting articles for more information**

Biochemistry, LDL Cholesterol: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519561/

Role of HDL-Associated Proteins and Lipids in the Regulation of Inflammation: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/53776

Glycation Reduces the Stability of ApoAI and Increases HDL Dysfunction in Diet-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5800833/

Antioxidative activity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL): Mechanistic insights into potential clinical benefit: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214647417300326

HDL Particle Subspecies and Their Association With Incident Type 2 Diabetes: The PREVEND Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8118359/

Is High Serum LDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio an Emerging Risk Factor for Sudden Cardiac Death? Findings from the KIHD Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5453685/pdf/jat-24-600.pdf

Overview of OxLDL and Its Impact on Cardiovascular Health: Focus on Atherosclerosis: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.613780/full

Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/oxidized-low-density-lipoprotein

Physiological and pathological implications of cholesterol: https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/19/3/10.2741/4216

Dietary Cholesterol and the Lack of Evidence in Cardiovascular Disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024687/

Serum Cholesterol Levels and Risk of Cardiovascular Death: A Systematic Review and a Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9316578/

We are diving deep into a new series today talking all about cholesterol. We demonize cholesterol in conventional medicine – and there are valid points to be concerned about elevated levels. There are also very valid reasons to not treat a “borderline” level. I had to throw that word in there. If you know me then you know that I hate that word – borderline. All that means is we are waiting for diagnosable disease. I would rather not get a full blown disease.  Today we are going to discuss what cholesterol actually is. Why should we care about cholesterol.

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

** Find a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

** Interesting articles for more information**

Physiological and pathological implications of cholesterol: https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/19/3/10.2741/4216

Dietary Cholesterol and the Lack of Evidence in Cardiovascular Disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024687/

Serum Cholesterol Levels and Risk of Cardiovascular Death: A Systematic Review and a Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9316578/

The Impacts of Cholesterol, Oxysterols, and Cholesterol Lowering Dietary Compounds on the Immune System: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9602982/

The Microbiome Revolution Turns to Cholesterol: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1931-3128%2820%2930407-8

MITOCHONDRIAL CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7882000/

Impact of Cholesterol Metabolism in Immune Cell Function and Atherosclerosis”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7400846/pdf/nutrients-12-02021.pdf

Effects of dietary fats on blood lipids: a review of direct comparison trials: https://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/2/e000871

Cholesterol transport in steroid biosynthesis: Role of protein interactions and implications in disease states: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757135/pdf/nihms128256.pdf

Cholesterol: Its Regulation and Role in Central Nervous System Disorders: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cholesterol/2012/292598/

Cholesterol Metabolism in the Brain and Its Association with Parkinson’s Disease: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6844833/pdf/en-28-554.pdf

Updated Understanding of the Crosstalk Between Glucose/Insulin and Cholesterol Metabolism: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.879355/full

If you have been listening to the show for a while – then you know I am all about lifestyle and what we put into our bodies. The foods we eat are what will move the needle the fastest when looking to optimize our health. But – what about those times that we want a “convenience food”. What about those times we are at a social gathering or having family or friends over and we want to serve snacks.  Today we are going to talk about processed foods. We’re going to get into how to read food labels. Every day in my practice I go over this concept – how to read food labels – as it can shift our mindset and subsequently help us when we are looking to optimize our health. We are going to do a couple of side by side comparisons. We are going to talk about additives and preservatives. Then we are going to talk about better options – healthier choices for the times we want to snack.

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

** Find a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/

** Interesting articles for more information**

The Potential of High-Anthocyanin Purple Rice as a Functional Ingredient in Human Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8225073/pdf/antioxidants-10-00833.pdf

Nutritional and functional properties of coloured rice varieties of South India: a review: https://journalofethnicfoods.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42779-019-0017-3

The Artificial Food Dye Blues: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957945/pdf/ehp-118-a428.pdf

Butylated hydroxyanisole: Carcinogenic food additive to be avoided or harmless antioxidant important to protect food supply?: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021000271

Butylated Hydroxytoluene: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/butylated-hydroxytoluene

Alarming impact of the excessive use of tert-butylhydroquinone in food products: A narrative review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750022001111

Effects of the food additives sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium acetate, and citric acid on hemato-immunological pathological biomarkers in rats: Relation to PPAR-α, PPAR-γ and tnfα signaling pathway: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29986283/

Assessing the Health Impact of Phosphorus in the Food Supply: Issues and Considerations : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3884091/

Today we are starting the conversation on cortisol. This is a big topic! One I absolutely love talking about.  The importance of this subject – let's just say it is crucial for feeling and living your best life. There is a lot to unpack regarding cortisol as it is highly complex. As I am not here to overwhelm, I thought splitting this into digestible segments would make the most sense.  Today is Part One of the conversation.  We will first define - what is cortisol. Then we will talk about the function of cortisol. We are going to get deep into why cortisol is so important and why dysregulation of cortisol is so pertinent to our health and wellness.

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

** Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

Dr. Thomas Guilliams book: The Role of Stress and the HPA Axis in Chronic Disease Management: https://amzn.to/3HjA7XP

** Interesting articles for more information**

Physiology, Cortisol:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/

Molecular links between endocrine, nervous and immune system during chronic stress: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7882157/

Association between Higher Serum Cortisol Levels and Decreased Insulin Secretion in a General Population: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0166077

Stress adaptation is associated with insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-020-0107-8

A Comprehensive Overview on Stress Neurobiology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6043787/pdf/fnbeh-12-00127.pdf

The relationship between 24-hr urinary cortisol and bone in healthy young women: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911474/pdf/nihms715

Today we are talking about the exposome. This is a crucial topic that needs to be discussed. Once you understand this concept – and I get that it may not sound like a sexy topic. But trust me – once you understand this - you can’t unlearn it – it will be lifechanging. We're first going to define what exactly is the exposome.  Then we're going to discuss the ramifications of the exposome – why does it matter - and finally we're going to talk about what you can do to improve your odds.

Just a quick disclaimer that this podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be a substitute for medical advice from your practitioner.

**Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalnursepractitioner/

** Level up your products: https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/

**Interesting articles for more information**

The Exposome and Toxicology: A Win–Win Collaboration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9019839/pdf/kfab149.pdf

Associations between the Maternal Exposome and Metabolome during Pregnancy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8901044/pdf/ehp9745.pdf

The Exposome Paradigm to Understand the Environmental Origins of Mental Disorders: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9590645/pdf/ap-22-4-171.pdf

Addressing Exposome: An Innovative Approach to Environmental Determinants in Pediatric Respiratory Health

: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9237327/pdf/fpubh-10-871140.pdf

Epigenetic Regulation in Exposome-Induced Tumorigenesis: Emerging Roles of ncRNAs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9032613/pdf/biomolecules-12-00513.pdf

Exposome and Immunity Training: How Pathogen Exposure Order Influences Innate Immune Cell Lineage Commitment and Function: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7697998/pdf/ijms-21-08462.pdf

Advancing tools for human early lifecourse exposome research and translation (ATHLETE): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8683140/pdf/ee9-5-e166.pdf

The Socio-Exposome: Advancing Exposure Science and Environmental Justice in a Post-Genomic Era: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5604315/pdf/nihms838202.