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The Trip LabAuthor: Mary Ella Wood, DO
Welcome to The Trip Lab, kitchen table conversations about integrative medicine and psychedelics with your host and attending physician, Dr. Mary Ella Wood. Taking an evidenced-based approach, we will break down the latest research, interview leaders in the field, and answer all the questions that don't often get brought up in the doctor's office. Instagram: @thetriplabpodcast - Email: thetriplabpodcast@gmail.com Language: en-us Genres: Alternative Health, Health & Fitness, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#19 – DEEP DIVE SERIES: Hyperlipidemia (Why Cholesterol and Statins Aren’t the Villains You Think They Are)
Episode 19
Monday, 22 December, 2025
In this Deep Dive episode of The Trip Lab, we unpack hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) beyond the oversimplified “LDL bad, HDL good” narrative. We also take a clear-eyed look at the most common concerns people have about statins, what the evidence actually shows, and where these medications fit—and don’t fit—within a thoughtful, individualized approach to cardiovascular risk.From there, we explore integrative strategies for managing elevated cholesterol and why, for many patients, lifestyle, metabolic health, and inflammation-targeted interventions may be more effective than medications alone.In this episode, we discuss:Why cholesterol is biologically essential and not inherently pathologicalThe limitations of relying on LDL alone to assess cardiovascular riskHow inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle influence lipid metabolismWhen elevated cholesterol truly signals disease—and when it may reflect a compensatory or adaptive responseThe role of advanced markers such as ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP and CAC scoresWhy risk stratification—not fear-based medicine—should guide clinical decision-makingWhat statins can (and cannot do) and we break down the concerns people have with themWhy integrative approaches (nutrition, exercise, herbal options and mind-body medicine) truly treat the root cause of diseaseThis episode is for clinicians, patients, and anyone looking to move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives toward a more nuanced, evidence-based understanding of cardiovascular health.
