The Real Truth About Cholesterol, Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Health SUMMARY

What if your cholesterol isn't trying to kill you—it's trying to protect you? In this solo deep-dive, Coach Debbie Potts breaks down the outdated cholesterol myths and reveals the root-cause truth behind cardiovascular disease. Drawing from the work of Dave Feldman, Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Paul Mason, Ivor Cummins, and Dr. William Davis, Debbie explains why heart disease is an inflammatory, metabolic, and endothelial problem—not a cholesterol problem.

Learn which markers truly predict risk, how to interpret your labs beyond LDL, the role of genetics and epigenetics, and what it really takes to reverse plaque and rebuild a resilient metabolism.

If you're ready to move beyond fear and finally understand your cardiovascular health through the lens of functional, ancestral, and root-cause medicine, this episode is your roadmap.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• LDL isn't "bad"—oxidized, inflamed LDL in a damaged arterial wall is.

• Heart disease = terrain dysfunction: insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and loss of nitric oxide.

• ApoB + inflammation predict risk far better than total cholesterol.

• Context matters: High LDL in a low-inflammation, insulin-sensitive body ≠ the same risk as in a high-inflammation body.

• Saturated fat isn't the enemy; oxidized seed oils and sugar are.

• You can't out-supplement poor habits. Sleep, stress regulation, circadian alignment, and daily movement build vascular resilience.

• Plaque can stabilize or regress when you heal the root causes.

• The WHOLESTIC Method™ integrates nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, digestion, hydration, and happiness to rebuild your health from the inside out.

TESTS & TOOLS MENTIONED - talk to your provider!

• ApoB (

• LDL-P (

• Triglyceride : HDL ratio (

• hs-CRP (

• Lp(a) (

• Fasting Insulin / HOMA-IR (

• Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score (0 = clean)

• CCTA / Cleerly AI Analysis for plaque composition

• Carotid IMT, Omega-3 Index, Homocysteine, Vitamin D + K2

🧠 RESOURCES & REFERENCES

• Dave Feldman – The Cholesterol Code (CholesterolCode.com)

• Dr. Ben Bikman – Why We Get Sick

• Ivor Cummins – Eat Rich, Live Long

• Dr. Paul Mason – Low-Carb Down Under lectures

• Dr. William Davis – Super Gut & Undoctored

• Dr. Aseem Malhotra – The Pioppi Diet

• Dr. Nathan Bryan – The NO Solution (Nitric-Oxide Science)

🌿 CONNECT & COACHING

🎯 Work with Coach Debbie Potts: Book your personalized PNOĒ Metabolic & WHOLESTIC Method™ Assessment in Solana Beach, CA or virtually worldwide. 👉 www.DebbiePotts.net

🎧 Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music