Debunking Health Myths: Truth About Oreos, Heart Disease, Cholesterol & Keto Diet | Dave Feldman

The current thoughts around LDL cholesterol center on the fact that there is no scenario in which high LDL numbers could occur in healthy individuals. Traditionally, the belief is high levels of LDL can lead to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of metabolic health. Today’s guest is here to share his hypothesis and research on how higher cholesterol levels in metabolically fit individuals could be a physiological response rather than a pathological response that can lead to disease.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dave Feldman to discuss high levels of LDL in metabolically healthy individuals. Dave shares the current research on high LDL and cardiovascular disease in individuals eating a ketogenic diet. He also shares his personal approach to focusing on metabolic health and the key markers critical to overall health. Dave discusses the process and findings of the Oreo experiment conducted by his colleague and explains why this experiment further proves their hypothesis on how LDL particles move through the body.

Dave Feldman is a software and platform engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of the Citizen Science Foundation. His life took a radical turn upon seeing his cholesterol skyrocket after adopting a ketogenic diet, and he became obsessed with understanding why this is common with those who are likewise leaner and more metabolically healthy. Through a series of self-experiments and partnering with formal researchers, he has since published the "Lipid Energy Model," which may explain this phenomenon.

In this episode, Dhru and Dave dive into:
-Dave’s hypothesis on LDL
-Rethinking our approach to high LDL
-The research on high LDL and cardiovascular disease
-The Oreo experiment and what it shows about fat adaptation
-The pushback to lean mass hyper responder
-Soft plaque versus hard plaque and the risk of cardiovascular disease
-Dave’s personal approach in focusing on overall metabolic health
-Fasting Insulin and Vitamin D
-Endothelial health and cardiovascular health
-The vegan’s twin study and the correlation to LDL
-Dhru’s experience

Also mentioned in this episode:

To learn more about Dave:

This episode is brought to you by:

[mbennett]

Thank you for the info. This is something I was struggling to figure out for the last 12 months since I started the keto diet.
My health improved remarkably, HDL shot up, triglycerides plummeted
However LDL was also up by 80%.
I searched for answers but found nothing.
This podcast shed much needed light into this unexplained phenomenon and I’m so grateful for

[johntatman]

Prior to the1970's and the advent of statins normal cholesterol was 300 and then was dropped to 200 since the drug company had a way to drop it.

[MrQuadcity]

Key takeaways:

1. **Challenging LDL Cholesterol Assumptions**: Dave Feldman proposes that high LDL cholesterol might not be harmful in metabolically healthy individuals on low-carb or ketogenic diets, suggesting a need to revisit current health guidelines.

2. **Research and Controversy**: Feldman's hypothesis, inspired by personal observations and preliminary studies, calls for further research into the relationship between high LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk in metabolically healthy individuals. This includes conducting studies like the one at UCLA and the controversial Oreo cookie experiment.

3. **Lipid Energy Model**: This model suggests that LDL cholesterol levels are influenced by energy metabolism rather than just dietary fat intake. Experiments, like the one involving Oreo cookies, indicate that high carbohydrate and sugar intake can significantly decrease LDL cholesterol levels, challenging established beliefs about dietary fats and processed foods.

4. **Importance of Apolipoprotein B and Metabolic Health**: ApoB is highlighted as a more accurate biomarker for cardiovascular risk, with changes in lipid profiles indicating shifts in metabolic health. The lipid energy model and discussions around apoB provide a more nuanced understanding of cardiovascular risk beyond just LDL cholesterol levels.

5. **Endothelial Function and Plaque Formation**: The process involving inflammation and endothelial function in plaque formation is complex, indicating that LDL cholesterol's role in heart disease is conditional on other factors like inflammation and endothelial health.

6. **Impact of Diet on LDL Cholesterol**: The comparison between plant-based diets and omnivorous diets in terms of LDL cholesterol levels underscores the influence of diet composition, especially carbohydrate and fiber intake, on lipid profiles. However, overall cardiovascular health depends on a broader range of factors including diet, physical activity, and metabolic health.

7. **Personal Health Journeys**: Feldman shares personal experiences with diet, health conditions, and managing lipid levels, emphasizing the importance of personalized health approaches and the challenges in disseminating scientific knowledge to the public.

8. **Advocacy for Open Inquiry**: Feldman encourages skepticism and open-mindedness in scientific inquiry and public discourse on health. He invites public participation in research efforts through the Citizen Science Foundation and highlights the role of community and funding in advancing scientific understanding.

[mathfaster]

Here’s the question that Dr. Malcom Kendricks asks. Veins and arteries both involve blood flow where the LDL concentration is the same. Why is there no plaque in the veins? Veins are used in heart bypass surgery and may later develop plaque.

[vinzkyvijayaraj]

Wow!! Thank you Dhru, I have been waiting for this podcast with Dave Feldman!!!

[pattihy]

Did Nick’s triglycerides go up when his LDL went down?

[willemvanriet]

When HDL: LDL is 3:1 it doesn't matter what your LDL nr is, as long as your trigs are low. This always happens on a low carb diet with IF.

[teresa]

I'm not willing to take statins. I do have over 200 in LDL, but my HDL is high and my triglycerides are normal. My blood pressure is normal about 125/75. I am not convinced that anything is wrong with my heart health. Thank you for this information. I think it's necessary to update the research.

[fiddlestyx]

How did Nick's apo b come down with the cookie experiment?

[ML-yfdl]

Still waiting for Dave and Nick to get into the topic of oxidized LDL… 😢

[bevmartin]

I'm confused when you mention "fasting insulin levels" I've had insulin dependent diabetes for 35 years. I've tested my fasting blood sugar levels and blood sugar levels throughout the day and night. This will tell me if there is too much or too little insulin in my body at any given time. Its the blood sugar levels I need information on so I can eat/drink something if they are low or take some insulin if they're high.
Confusing terminology!

[janekershaw]

You would think the Daily Mail/mainstream media would be all over this!!! Headline news about Oreo vs Statin!!!
Not heard a word 🤔

[UnknownUser-scjx]

Be more scared of the 💉 then saturated fats and cholesterol

[annalexander]

I remember your the one with l d l about boats

[michaelfonda]

Blood work was good couldn't get out of bed 10 medications went carnivore jogging now off all medications blood work looks bad for cholesterol not going back

[annalexander]

Put dr berg on when I get treatment am not exercising anymore toget hurt

[timothywebb]

This is more of a question than a statement., What I find truly interesting is their choice of Oreo cookies with this quick study. I decided to do a deep dive into Oreo cookies and the ingredients in them. Their choice of Oreo cookies almost seems deliberate because of the ingredients, which I will list. The reason it seemed deliberate is because the ingredients actually do lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, I believe they had to know this going in; Tell me why they would use an Oreo cookie to do this kind of study unless they knew about the ingredients that happened to change cholesterol levels, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, AND COCOA have the ability to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. The bad thing is that all the other ingredients are not a good choice for a healthy body, at least for most. I am a student studying functional nutrition, am I missing something here?

[kathyann]

We were healthier before "Science" became our new religion. The problem is the Scientists don't know what they don't know. Looks like what the Oreo experiment proves is that "carbs are essential". He needs to do the experiment again and eat a sweet potato instead. I expect the bad cholesterol would drop even lower.😊

[orhanyuce]

High ldl gives sign, not fire but smoke I am metabolically super healthy fasting insulin 88, bimi22, 170ldl, calcium score 590, crestor 20mg now ldl 73

[bobcocampo]

Please discuss keto 🥑🥓🥚🧀 and intelligence with keto doctor