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Living Simpler with Amy MewbornAuthor: Amy Mewborn
Welcome to Living Simpler the podcast for high-achieving women who are doing all the "right" things but still feel tired, bloated, burned out, and wondering, "What the heck happened to me?" Hosted by Amy Mewborn, former finance executive turned wellness entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and certified Integrative Health Practitioner, this show is your weekly invitation to step out of survival mode and into the life and health you actually want. Each episode breaks down the confusing, overwhelming world of health, hormones, metabolism, and mindset with real, actionable tips to help you boost energy, balance your hormones, reduce inflammation, and finally feel like yourself again. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" but your body just isn't cooperating this podcast will help you uncover what's really going on underneath the surface and what simple shifts will actually move the needle. Life gets to feel simple. Healing gets to feel doable. And YOU get to feel like yourself again. Subscribe now and join Amy every week for honest conversations, expert guidance, and a whole lot of encouragement to take your power back one simple step at a time. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Nutrition Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What Your Doctor Is Not Telling You About Heart Health and Statins
Episode 28
Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
In this eye-opening episode, host Amy Mewborn challenges conventional wisdom about heart disease, cholesterol, and statin medications. Drawing from her own health crisis—a week-long ICU stay two years ago due to dangerously high blood pressure—Amy reveals that what we've been told about protecting our hearts is incomplete at best, and fundamentally misdirected at worst. The episode explores a paradigm shift in cardiovascular health: heart disease is not a cholesterol storage problem, but an inflammatory and oxidative injury disease. With someone dying from heart disease every 34 seconds in the United States, and heart disease being the #1 cause of death worldwide, Amy presents research-backed evidence that standard cholesterol panels miss the markers that actually predict cardiovascular risk. This is a must-listen for anyone concerned about their heart health, currently taking statins, or struggling to understand conflicting health information. Key Topics Discussed The Flawed Cholesterol Narrative: How the conventional model—saturated fat → high LDL → plaque → heart attack—is incomplete, with over 50% of heart attack victims having normal or only mildly elevated cholesterol Inflammation as the Real Culprit: Heart disease is driven by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, not cholesterol itself. The landmark CANTOS trial demonstrated that reducing inflammation WITHOUT lowering cholesterol significantly reduced heart attacks and strokes LDL as a Misunderstood Repair Molecule: LDL is essential for transporting fat-soluble vitamins, supporting hormone production, and rebuilding damaged tissue. The problem isn't LDL itself—it's what happens to LDL when exposed to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress The Critical C-Reactive Protein Marker: Individuals with high hs-CRP have 2-4 times higher cardiovascular risk, even with normal cholesterol—a staggering risk differential that standard panels miss Historical Evidence: Before 1920, coronary heart disease was rare. In 1909, Americans consumed 32% of calories from fat (butter, tallow, full-fat dairy), yet heart disease deaths were a fraction of today's rates The Industrial Seed Oil Crisis: Between 1950-2000, consumption of industrial seed oils increased over 400%, while saturated fat intake declined—yet heart disease rates climbed sharply Statin Medications and CoQ10 Depletion: Statins block an enzyme that produces both cholesterol AND CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10), literally starving the heart of critical energy for mitochondrial function. Statins are also associated with increased insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes risk, and muscle pain/weakness Comprehensive Cardiovascular Testing: Moving beyond standard cholesterol panels to include: hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) Triglyceride to HDL ratio ApoB (total cholesterol-carrying particles—more predictive of plaque formation than cholesterol amount) Lp(a) (genetically inherited, sticky, inflammatory LDL) Fasting insulin and A1C (blood sugar management) Insulin Resistance as a Driving Force: One of the most powerful underlying drivers of cardiovascular disease that standard screenings often miss Food as Medicine: The PREDIMED trial found that consuming roughly 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily reduced cardiovascular events by MORE than 30%—comparable to or greater than many medications, without side effects Heart-Healthy Foods (Research-Backed): Wild-caught fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) Extra virgin olive oil (used generously) Pomegranates and berries (especially blueberries and strawberries) Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale) Legumes (beans, lentils) Walnuts and seeds (flax, chia) Avocados, oats, apples, garlic, onions Foods to Minimize: Industrial seed oils, refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed packaged foods (dietary drivers of chronic inflammation) The Salt Myth: Very low-salt diets can activate the sympathetic nervous system, elevate stress hormones, and increase insulin resistance within one week. Natural mineral salts support hydration, blood volume, nerve signaling, and adrenal function. The real issue is the sodium load in ultra-processed foods Emotional and Relational Health: Chronic stress, unprocessed grief, sustained anger, and relational conflict drive up cortisol, leading to inflammation, elevated blood sugar, disrupted sleep, and arterial damage. Social connection, purpose, peace, prayer, meditation, nature time, and community are physiological interventions Evidence-Based Supplements for Cardiovascular Support: Omega-3 fish oil (EPA/DHA) – reduces triglycerides and inflammation Magnesium glycinate – supports heart rhythm, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity CoQ10 – essential for mitochondrial energy, especially for statin users Berberine – improves insulin resistance Aged garlic extract – supports blood pressure Curcumin – reduces inflammation Vitamin K2 + D3 – directs calcium to bones instead of arteries Fiber – improves cholesterol ratios and blood sugar regulation The Power of Personal Choice: Heart disease is not inevitable or random—it's the cumulative result of daily choices: the food we eat, the stress we carry, the sleep we get, and the inflammation we feed or fight every day Notable Moments & Case Study Amy's Personal Health Crisis: Two years ago, Amy experienced a week-long ICU stay due to blood pressure so high that her brain swelled and hit her skull, creating stroke-like symptoms. This deeply personal experience drives her mission to share this critical information with others facing similar risks—including her parents (high blood pressure), her best friend (blood clots and AFIB), and her husband (high blood pressure and cholesterol). Michelle's Transformation: A powerful case study of a 44-year-old active, non-smoking woman with a cholesterol reading of 210 that her doctor wanted to treat with a statin. Her full lab picture revealed: Elevated fasting insulin High CRP Poor triglyceride to HDL ratio A1C edging toward pre-diabetic range Rather than medication, the approach focused on ROOT CAUSE: Removed seed oils and processed snacks Added more protein, fiber, wild-caught fish, olive oil Addressed sleep and stress Added targeted supplementation (magnesium, omega-3 fish oil, CoQ10) Results after 6 months: Inflammation markers dropped significantly, fasting insulin normalized, total cholesterol slightly increased, and she felt like "a completely different person." Her doctor agreed the full panel showed meaningful improvement. Key Statistic: Someone in the United States dies from heart disease every 34 seconds. Key Quote: "The problem is not the LDL itself. The problem is what happens to LDL when it is exposed to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress." Research Studies Referenced CANTOS Trial: Landmark clinical study demonstrating that reducing inflammation WITHOUT lowering cholesterol significantly reduced heart attacks and strokes PREDIMED Trial (New England Journal of Medicine): Found that consuming ~4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily reduced cardiovascular events by MORE than 30% World War One Autopsies: Showed minimal evidence of arterial disease that's now considered almost universal in middle-aged adults Action Steps for Listeners Amy provides five actionable steps listeners should take: Request Comprehensive Testing (within 30 days): Ask your doctor for hs-CRP, ApoB, Lp(a), triglyceride to HDL ratio, fasting insulin, and A1C—not just standard cholesterol panels Eliminate Industrial Seed Oils (within 2 weeks): Read labels carefully and replace with extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and small amounts of quality butter or ghee Eat for Anti-Inflammation (starting today): Add one serving of wild-caught fatty fish per week Add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily Increase fiber, reduce refined sugar and packaged foods Start with 2-3 manageable changes and build over 30 days Support Your Stress System (this week): Identify one intentional practice—a 15-minute walk, 5 minutes of prayer, a weekly commitment that fills you up. Treat cortisol management as cardiovascular medicine Have a Deeper Conversation with Your Doctor (if on/considering statins): Ask about inflammatory markers, CoQ10 depletion, and whether addressing lifestyle factors first is an option. You deserve a physician willing to have this conversation Important Disclaimer Amy emphasizes: "I am NOT telling you to stop taking any medication your doctor has prescribed. That is a conversation you need to have with a physician who knows your full picture." However, listeners deserve to understand the full picture and ask the right questions before making these decisions. Key Takeaway Heart disease is not inevitable, random, or simply a matter of genetics or bad luck. It's the cumulative result of daily choices—the food we eat, the stress we carry, the sleep we get, and whether we feed or fight inflammation every single day. You have more power than you've been led to believe. Connect & Learn More Free Living Simpler Health Resources: https://living-simpler.com/resources Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymewborn Shop Amy's Top Wellness Picks: https://www.amazon.com/shop/amymewborn Shop Amy's Fave Shaklee Products: https://us.shaklee.com/en_US/amymewborn/storefront Until next time… Keep living SIMPLER. Keep living WELL. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. You might be changing her life without even knowing it.
