Understanding Cholesterol & How to Optimize Your Levels with JJ Virgin

Answering 2 Community Questions

In today’s episode, JJ reveals the truth about cholesterol and how to optimize your cholesterol levels. Listen as JJ shares the cholesterol markers you should be asking your healthcare provider for, as well as her top diet and supplement tips that can go a long way toward helping you maintain healthy cholesterol levels. JJ also answers a listener’s question about fruit, explaining her favorite fruits and what makes them good options. Today’s Q&A is packed with information to help you be your own best health detective!

Main Points From Today’s Episode

1. It’s not all about lowering cholesterol! Listen as JJ talks about HDL and LDL cholesterol, and what you need to know about each.

2. JJ shares the cholesterol markers you should be looking at, as well as her top tips to help optimize your cholesterol levels. When it comes to supplements, the supplement annatto tocotrienols has been shown to help reduce cholesterol by as much as 15-20% in some people.

3. Another listener asks if any fruits are better than others. JJ shares her favorite fruits and what makes them good options.

Episode Play-By-Play

[0:34] Listener’s question: What are 1-2 things I can do to lower my cholesterol?

[0:52] HDL and LDL cholesterol, and what you need to know about each

[1:00] The cholesterol markers you want to be looking at: Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a), LDL and HDL particle size and number, homocysteine, fibrinogen, ApoE4, Apo A and Apo B, serum ferritin, insulin, and blood sugar, including hemoglobin A1c

[2:02] What you need to keep in mind when you’re lowering cholesterol

[2:15] One of the issues with statins

[2:49] Foods rich in soluble fiber that can help with cholesterol reduction

[3:12] How making an oil change can make a difference

[3:27] The impact of sugar

[3:32] The supplement annatto tocotrienols has been shown to help reduce cholesterol by as much as 15-20% in some people.

[4:08] Concluding remarks about cholesterol

[4:25] Second listener’s question: Are any fruits better than others besides green bananas?

[4:30] Start by eating seasonally, locally, and opting for organic.

[4:44] The benefits of resistant starch in green bananas

[5:02] JJ’s favorite fruits and why

[5:22] Where fruit gets into trouble