Genetic High Cholesterol

author avatar Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

“The combination of your cholesterol and genetics puts you at high risk for heart disease,” the experts say.

And so you dutifully follow conventional advice.

You follow a low-fat diet even though mostly it’s so tasteless it seems like your taste buds fled in disgust. You take statin drugs in an attempt to fight your body’s genetic tendency and lower your cholesterol levels. Every time you get the slightest twinge in your chest, you expect it to signal a heart attack.

Every once in awhile, in a fit of frustration, you wish you’d chosen better family members. Ones who didn’t cause you to have high cholesterol.

You’re certain you’re doomed to an early death from heart disease.

But your high cholesterol levels haven’t sentenced you. You certainly aren’t guaranteed to develop heart disease or have a heart attack, despite the warnings of the experts.

So, what the heck is going on? Are the experts wrong? Is your genetic high cholesterol really nothing to be concerned about?

Well, here’s the thing…

In this article:

  1. Why You Should Get Confirmation You Have Genetic High Cholesterol
  2. Here’s What Genetic High Cholesterol Is
  3. How To Offset Genetic High Cholesterol
  4. You Deserve The Best Information
     

symbol of DNA


First of all, about 1 in 500 people have genetic high cholesterol, known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

I recommend you have a test done to make sure you have it. FH can be identified through genetic testing. If you’ve been diagnosed with FH, you may want to consider having your family members tested, in case you’re just discovering the condition exists in your relatives.

For three of the four genes associated with FH, at least 50% of direct relatives (parents, children, and siblings) will have the disease-causing gene variant as well.

As well, because doctors like to jump instantly to prescribing statins when someone has high cholesterol, it’s important to understand just what the cause is of your high cholesterol levels.

 

Here’s What Genetic High Cholesterol Is

So, what exactly is genetic high cholesterol?

Let me explain.

When you have high cholesterol because of genetics, it means the receptors in your liver for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - usually called the bad cholesterol - are defective. They aren’t able to receive the LDL cholesterol, break it down, and recycle it like they would if you weren’t affected by genetic high cholesterol. Thus, your LDL levels end up higher than they would if the receptors were functioning normally.

It’s important to understand that if you have genetic high cholesterol and premature heart disease runs in your family, then you’re at risk for heart disease. But if you don’t have the premature heart disease in your family, chances are you’re not at risk even with genetic high cholesterol.

Since we’ve been warned for decades about the inevitable dangers of high cholesterol, you may feel like you lost the genetic lottery. But that’s not so; there are several things you can do to offset this condition.

Let’s take a look at what those things are.

 

How To Offset Genetic High Cholesterol

Okay, your genetics cause high cholesterol. What can you do to offset this condition?

Try these simple yet effective remedies:

  • Take red yeast extract. Red yeast rice is a traditional Chinese culinary and medicinal product. Some red yeast rice products contain substantial amounts of monacolin K, which is chemically identical to the active ingredient in the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin. These products may lower blood cholesterol levels.
  • Drink apple cider vinegar with water and lemon. Some studies suggest that apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
  • Eat at least seven cups of vegetables each day.
  • Fast intermittently. Fasting lowers your Fat Storing Hormone, which in turn converts to cholesterol.
  • Go on a low cholesterol diet.
     

See how these could really help your body lower your cholesterol, even though you have faulty LDL receptors on your liver?

 

You Deserve The Best Information

The world is full of medical experts ready to prescribe you statin drugs and convince you you’re headed for an early death because you’ve got genetic high cholesterol.

But as you can see, having genetic high cholesterol isn’t as definitive as one plus one equals two when it comes to the future of your health.

If you want to live your life free from fear that your genetics have doomed you, you’ve got to be open to the idea that you’re going to be just fine.

That’s good news, right?

After reading this post, you’re equipped with the information you need to reassure you that you can live a long healthy life. Faulty LDL receptors be damned.

Your body hasn’t betrayed you. You just need to do a little tweaking, is all

So get to it!

several men and women jumping in the air


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