Most people think the cholesterol number on their lab report tells them whether their heart is at risk. But former National Lipid Association President Dr. Kevin Maki explains that LDL is just one piece of a much bigger picture and focusing on it alone can mean missing the markers that matter most.In this episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon sits down with Dr. Kevin Maki, former President of the National Lipid Association and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, to discuss:Why ApoB and Lp(a) are better predictors of heart risk than LDL and why only about 2% of people ever get Lp(a) testedWhat a beef-vs-chicken feeding study revealed about red meat and cholesterol (the LDL results came back identical at 112 mg/dL)The evidence behind the seed oil debate, including why higher linoleic acid levels tracked with lower inflammation markers across a 2,000-person datasetWhy the balance of cholesterol-raising and cholesterol-lowering foods matters more than saturated fat aloneThe simple "ABCs" framework: A1c, blood pressure, cholesterol - for actually lowering long-term cardiovascular riskBy the end, you'll know which numbers actually predict heart risk, which tests to ask your doctor for, and how to cut through the conflicting noise around fat so you can make evidence-based decisions for the long haul.Thank you to our sponsors:OneSkin - Get 15% off at https://bit.ly/4tZnOpk with code DRLYONBodyHealth - Use the code LYON20 to get 20% off your first order https://bit.ly/48SJ7AC Amp - Visit https://bit.ly/3RcmqBz to get your AI-powered at-home gym for smarter, personalized training.Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle LyonPremium Podcast Subscription: Ad-free episodes, key takeaway summaries, exclusive Q&A, and behind-the-scenes content https://foreverstrong.supercast.comWeekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon’s clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/Find Dr. Kevin Maki at:Midwest Biomedical Research: https://www.mbclinicalresearch.com/ LinkedIn: / kevin-c-maki-phd-497ba34 Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/TikTok: @drgabriellelyon X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon Chapters00:00 - Introduction00:31 - Dr. Kevin Maki and the National Lipid Association01:04 - New dietary guidelines and the LDL confusion02:04 - What raises and lowers LDL cholesterol03:51 - Cholesterol levels from birth through puberty05:11 - The lipid panel kids should get before age 1106:42 - Lp(a): the test only 2% of people get08:18 - ApoB and the three risky particle types11:35 - Do we have evidence for "lower is better"?14:09 - The FLASH-GLICK risk factor framework17:10 - The 10% saturated fat guideline explained19:36 - Many dietary patterns can be healthy24:50 - Beef vs. chicken: identical LDL results27:10 - The balance of fatty acids that matters29:24 - Olive oil vs. corn oil feeding study31:00 - Lower for longer: 40-year risk reduction34:15 - Genetic cholesterol disorders and risk40:33 - The omega-3 index and why it matters49:10 - Are seed oils really driving inflammation?53:11 - How seed oils are processed and refined1:07:48 - Inherited beliefs and outdated nutrition science1:08:54 - Butter vs. cheese and high-fat dairy surprises1:14:48 - Exercise effects on HDL and triglycerides1:21:20 - The ABCs of reducing cardiovascular riskIf you found this episode valuable, share it with someone who would benefit from it.Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.