LDL is NOT bad. LDL is good. LDL is a beautiful molecule. A miracle actually. LDL is so critical, all mammals manufacture it. But Pharma and the doctor’s it controls demonized LDL. They told us it was the “bad cholesterol”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
But LDL can turn bad, by undergoing a change from a process called oxidation. Think of oxidation like the rusting of an old car. And it is the oxidation that leads to damage from LDL.
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis, a process leading to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, stroke, and coronary artery disease. LDL particles are crucial components of the body’s lipid transport system, but when they undergo oxidation, they can become harmful.
LDL particles are composed of a core of lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides, surrounded by a shell of proteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol. The oxidation of LDL involves the modification of its lipid and protein components through oxidative stress, a process that occurs when there’s an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and the body’s ability to detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants.
Ox LDL, Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attacks
Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It is thought to contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques by promoting the accumulation and oxidation of LDL in the arterial wall. These oxLDL particles are recognized by scavenger receptors on macrophages, leading to the formation of foam cells, a hallmark of early atherosclerotic lesions.
Several studies have highlighted the role of oxidized LDL in cardiovascular diseases. For instance, elevated levels of oxLDL have been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks. This association is due to the inflammatory and endothelial-damaging effects of oxLDL, contributing to plaque instability and rupture, leading to myocardial infarction.
Coronary artery calcification, another critical aspect of cardiovascular disease, has also been linked to oxidized LDL. The calcification process is influenced by oxLDL through its ability to stimulate vascular smooth muscle cells and contribute to the formation of calcified plaques, which are a significant predictor of future cardiovascular events.
Ox LDL and High Blood Pressure
It appears that the oxidative stress process affects blood vessels. When they undergo these changes, arterial stiffness is the end result. In fact, a study from several years ago was the first to show oxidative stress is linked to arterial stiffness. Stiff arteries lead to high blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure.
Ox LDL and Stroke
Moreover, oxidized LDL has been connected with the progression of stroke. It exacerbates the process of atherosclerosis in cerebral arteries, increasing the risk of cerebral ischemia. If you have high oxLDL and have already suffered a stroke, your risk of dying is higher than someone without ox LDL, according to this study. (Test your oxidative stress here).
Ox LDL and AFIB
Lastly, there is emerging evidence suggesting a link between oxidized LDL and atrial fibrillation, a common cardiac arrhythmia. OxLDL may contribute to atrial structural remodeling and fibrosis, thereby increasing the susceptibility to atrial fibrillation, as found in this 2016 study.
Test, Don’t Guess
We have the perfect test for you to see if you have oxLDL particles. It is called lipid peroxides, a urine test done in the comfort of your home.
Just click this link to purchase your test and we will ship it right out to you. Then, when the results are back after a couple weeks, you get a free review call with an NHD health coach.
But don’t worry. If you have ox LDL, we are ready to help you reverse this condition.
