Topic: LDL cholesterol is a weak predictor of heart disease compared to markers of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. True cardiovascular risk is driven far more by metabolic dysfunction than by cholesterol numbers alone.

Summary: In this episode, Ben challenges the long-standing belief that LDL cholesterol is the primary driver of heart disease. While LDL has dominated cardiovascular conversations for decades, large-scale data show that nearly half of people hospitalized with heart disease have “normal” LDL levels.

Cardiologist and public health advocate Dr. Aseem Malhotra challenges the conventional cholesterol narrative, reveals why insulin resistance and chronic inflammation may be the true drivers of heart disease, explains the lifestyle and stress-reduction strategies shown to reverse arterial plaque, and shares the tests, diet, and practical interventions he uses to help patients dramatically lower their cardiovascular risk.

Dr. Aseem Malhotra is an NHS-trained consultant cardiologist, bestselling author, and internationally recognized public health advocate known for his work on heart disease prevention, metabolic health, and reducing excess sugar consumption.

If you’re interested in reading books on metabolic health, based on a couple of hundred years of clinical experience, click on the following link for my current bibliography, last updated on April 1, 2026.

Metabolic Bibliography