The Hey Val Journal
Calm, plainspoken writing on cholesterol, saturated fat, and heart-conscious eating.
Can You Have a Heart Attack With Normal LDL?
Can you have a heart attack with normal LDL? The question sounds paradoxical. Cholesterol causes heart disease — everyone knows that. So if your LDL is normal, you'
What a CAC Score of Zero Actually Means for Your Cardiovascular Risk
What a CAC score of zero actually means for your cardiovascular risk You got a coronary artery calcium scan — maybe because your LDL was borderline, or your cardiologist
What Is Small Dense LDL — and How Do You Know If You Have It?
What is small dense LDL — and how do you know if you have it? LDL is usually treated as a single thing on a blood test — one number,
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Signs You Might Have It and What to Do
Familial hypercholesterolemia: signs you might have it and what to do Familial hypercholesterolemia is the most common serious genetic disorder in medicine. It affects approximately 1 in 250
Triglycerides High but LDL Normal — What That Pattern Actually Means
Triglycerides high but LDL normal — what that pattern actually means You got your lipid panel back. LDL looks fine — maybe 115 or 120 mg/dL, comfortably below the
What Is Non-HDL Cholesterol — and Why Does It Matter More Than LDL?
What is non-HDL cholesterol — and why does it matter more than LDL? Non-HDL cholesterol appears on every standard lipid panel. Most clinicians don't explain it. Most
Can Stress Raise Your Cholesterol?
Can stress raise your cholesterol? It's a question that comes up constantly after a stressful year — a divorce, a job loss, a family illness, a period
High Cholesterol at 32 With No Family History — What Does It Mean?
High cholesterol at 32 with no family history — what does it mean? You went in for a routine physical. The lab came back with LDL flagged high. You&
My LDL Went Up After Starting Keto — What's Actually Happening?
My LDL went up after starting keto — what's actually happening? This is one of the most common questions in r/Cholesterol and r/keto. LDL can
Mediterranean Diet vs DASH Diet for Heart Health: Which Is Better?
Mediterranean Diet vs DASH Diet for Heart Health: Which Is Better? Both diets are well-studied. Both work. Both will frustrate you in slightly different ways. Here's
The 7 Hidden Sources of Saturated Fat in Your Daily Diet
The 7 Hidden Sources of Saturated Fat in Your Daily Diet You cut back on red meat. You stopped putting butter on your toast. So why is your
Why Exercise Lowers Cholesterol (And Why Most People Miss the Point)
Why Exercise Lowers Cholesterol (And Why Most People Miss the Point) You've heard "exercise lowers cholesterol" your whole life. The truth is more nuanced
Plant Sterols: The Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement That Actually Works
Plant Sterols: The Cholesterol-Lowering Supplement That Actually Works The supplement aisle is full of products that promise cholesterol benefits and deliver almost nothing. Plant sterols are the rare
Soluble Fiber and Cholesterol: How It Actually Works
Soluble Fiber and Cholesterol: How It Actually Works You've heard "eat more fiber" a thousand times. Here's the part nobody explains: only
How to Read Your Lipid Panel: A Plain-English Guide
How to Read Your Lipid Panel: A Plain-English Guide Your lab portal shows you a wall of numbers, abbreviations, and arrows pointing in directions you don't
Menopause and Cholesterol: Why Your Numbers Change and What to Do
Menopause and Cholesterol: Why Your Numbers Change and What to Do You eat the same way you've eaten for years. You exercise the same. But your
The Cholesterol Follow-Up Appointment: Exactly What to Ask Your Doctor
The Cholesterol Follow-Up Appointment: Exactly What to Ask Your Doctor You have 15 minutes, you've been thinking about your cholesterol for three months, and the moment
What Changed in the 2026 Cholesterol Guidelines (And Why It Matters For You)
What Changed in the 2026 Cholesterol Guidelines (And Why It Matters For You) In March 2026, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association released new dyslipidemia
ApoB vs LDL Cholesterol: What's the Difference and Which Should You Track?
ApoB vs LDL Cholesterol: What's the Difference and Which Should You Track? You've heard Peter Attia or Andrew Huberman talk about apoB. Your doctor
How Long Does It Take to Lower Cholesterol with Diet?
How Long Does It Take to Lower Cholesterol with Diet? You started cutting cheese a week ago and you've been thinking about your numbers every day.
Statins Now Recommended Starting at Age 30: What That Means for You
Statins Now Recommended Starting at Age 30: What That Means for You The headline scared a lot of young adults. The reality is more nuanced. The 2026 guidelines
What Is Lp(a)? The Cholesterol Test Your Doctor Probably Hasn't Ordered
What Is Lp(a)? The Cholesterol Test Your Doctor Probably Hasn't Ordered If you've been seeing the term "Lp(a)" everywhere lately
Is an LDL of 160 Dangerous? A Calm, Honest Answer
Is an LDL of 160 Dangerous? A Calm, Honest Answer You got your lab results back. The LDL number is 160. You don't really know what
I Just Got High Cholesterol — What Do I Do Tonight?
I Just Got High Cholesterol — What Do I Do Tonight? You opened the email or the patient portal, scrolled to the lipid panel, and saw a number that
Ultra-Processed Food Guide
What Is Ultra-Processed Food? The Simple Guide You've probably heard it a hundred times: "eat less processed food." It's become the default
Saturated Fat and Heart Health
Why Saturated Fat Matters More Than Calories for Heart Health Everyone counts calories. Almost nobody tracks the one thing that actually predicts heart disease. We've been