Issue #81 ·
Healthy Lifestyle, High Cholesterol: The Role of Genetics
🩸Make sure you know your genetic risks, A reminder to take care of your gut health, and understanding measurements vs estimates
Hello friends,
What if you do everything right?
You exercise regularly.
You manage your stress.
You eat minimally processed whole foods.
And yet...
Some aspects of your health are not optimal.
This week in building health 👇
Consider the case of Dean Mastrojohn
Dean is a consultant for a big firm in New York. He works hard and takes care of his health with a good diet and regular sports.
Despite being athletic, he discovered he had high cholesterol, a family condition.
His doctor advised him to lose weight and exercise to avoid medication. Mastrojohn took this advice seriously and lost nearly 20 pounds, while weightlifting and playing pickup basketball.
Despite reaching his weight loss goals, his LDL cholesterol and triglycerides increased.
What happened?
How can he do everything correctly and still have high cholesterol?
Remember, it’s Lifestyle + Genetics
This story shows high cholesterol isn't only about lifestyle.
Genetics play a crucial role.
In Mastrojohn's case, his family history of high cholesterol contributed to his persistent elevated levels, despite his healthy habits.
Our bodies are complex systems influenced by environmental and genetic factors.
Many cases need additional interventions, such as medication, to manage health conditions effectively.
Lifestyle isn’t “right” and medication isn’t “wrong”
There is a lot of moralizing around health that upsets me.
People often view medication as a last resort or a sign of failure, but this perspective is misguided.
Maintenance medication is not “for those who failed to take care of themselves.” There is legitimate need, and we should not shame those who need it.
Lifestyle changes are essential for overall health and can help mitigate genetic predispositions.
What matters is finding the right approach for each individual, combining healthy habits with medical intervention.
It's crucial to work closely with healthcare professionals to develop a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs and genetic predispositions.
Understand Your Bigger Picture
Even if you’re living a healthy lifestyle:
Do you understand your genetics and family history?
Are there areas where your risks might be higher than the rest of the population?
Are you getting regular checkups to ensure nothing is overlooked?
And mentally:
Do you see medication as a “sign of failure”?
Do you think it’s for people lacking willpower to change?
Consider these factors to develop a well-rounded health maintenance strategy.
My favorite health things for the week
// one
How the Food You Eat Affects Your Gut
5 minutes | Ted Ed
When you eat, there’s an amazing biological process that’s going on in your gut the whole time.
It's a reminder that by feeding ourselves, we're also feeding tiny organisms that help us break down food, produce nutrients, and bolster our immune system.
// two
Measure Don’t Guess
6 minutes | Marco Altini
A lot of our smart devices now will give us some kind of “health score” or “wellness score”
But it’s important to remember that those scores are not ABSOLUTE measurements. They are estimates based on some kind of formula or algorithm.
There’s a tension between giving someone a simple number they can act on vs. giving true and accurate measurements.
If you want a deep dive into it, check out this paper. and for a quick primer, click below.
// three
A Link Between Microbe intake and Long Term Muscle Loss
17 minutes | Clinical Nutrition
I found a study linking live microbe intake to a lower risk of sarcopenia.
The research shows that those who consume high levels of live microbes have a significantly lower prevalence of sarcopenia.
In plain english?
It seems like having good gut health can impact your long term muscle mass.
Another reason to eat a good variety, including live microbes.
Until next time
Have a Healthy Weekend