Cholesterol: Diet, Exercise and Statins

The first time Dr. Vickie learned her cholesterol was high, she was 26 years old and surviving on hospital cafeteria hamburgers and Coca-Cola. High cholesterol runs in her family — and that personal history is exactly why she's passionate about helping you understand yours. In this episode, Dr. Vickie takes you to mini medical school for a deep dive into cholesterol: what it is, where it comes from, why your body needs it, and what the brand new 2026 guidelines say about managing it. She breaks down the PREVENT heart disease calculator — a tool built on data from millions of people — and explains exactly what numbers you need to know your 10-year risk for heart attack and stroke. You'll learn why diet and exercise can move the needle more than doctors once thought, which foods raise and lower your LDL, and the truth about statins — including the real side effect profile and why some of the fear around them is rooted in misinformation rather than science. In this episode: Why your brain cholesterol has nothing to do with your blood cholesterol LDL targets for low, high, and very high-risk individuals How fiber and saturated fat affect your cholesterol more than eggs ever will The Mediterranean and Portfolio diets for heart health An honest, balanced look at statins — side effects, myths, and when they make sense How the Healthy Looks Great on You LAB is focusing on heart health all of April Healthy Looks Great on you the LAB Cholesterol: Good vs. Bad  PREVENT heart risk calculator Cholesterol guidelines 2026