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 pathological
• The limitations of relying on LDL alone to assess cardiovascular risk
• How inflammation, insulin resistance, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle influence lipid metabolism
• When elevated cholesterol truly signals disease—and when it may reflect a compensatory or adaptive response
• The role of advanced markers such as ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP and CAC scores
• Why risk stratification—not fear-based medicine—should guide clinical decision-making
• What statins can (and cannot do) and we break down the concerns people have with them
• Why integrative approaches (nutrition, exercise, herbal options and mind-body medicine) truly treat the root cause of disease

This episode is for clinicians, patients, and anyone looking to move beyond simplistic cholesterol narratives toward a more nuanced, evidence-based understanding of cardiovascular health.