115. The Truth About Cholesterol, Lipids, and Heart Risk

There is a lot of noise online right now around cholesterol, keto, carnivore, and what actually counts as “healthy” and in this episode, Susan cuts straight through it. She unpacks some of the biggest myths being repeated in the wellness space, explains why high cholesterol should never be brushed off without deeper testing, and shares why a one-size-fits-all approach can do more harm than good.This conversation is a powerful reminder that your body is not a trend. Susan breaks down the connection between lipids, inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, and cardiovascular risk in a way that actually makes sense. If you’ve ever been told your labs are “fine,” wondered whether high-fat diets are really safe for everyone, or wanted to better understand what testing actually matters, this episode will leave you thinking differently about your health and how to advocate for it.In this episode:Why high cholesterol on keto or carnivore should not automatically be ignoredThe biggest myths Susan sees around LDL, HDL, and heart healthWhy standard cholesterol panels often miss the full pictureThe difference between LDL particle size, particle number, ApoB, and Lp(a)How inflammation and insulin resistance quietly raise cardiovascular riskWhy genetics can dramatically change how someone responds to high-fat dietsThe key labs and advanced testing Susan recommends asking forWhy personalized health matters more than following the latest diet trendRESOURCES:Stello Glucose Monitorhttps://www.stelo.com/Find all of Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes: Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/12/episode115/Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcastFind listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/linksP.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast