Hearts silent marker
ApoB may be a better cholesterol marker?
Welcome to Heart Health Week 2!
Let's talk about Apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB), a marker that unveils more about heart health than your typical cholesterol indicators.
In the silent realm of heart diseases that sneak in without visible signs, ApoB becomes a crucial guide in steering our health towards better outcomes. But, not many people know about it and GP's don't tend to test it.
Shockingly, about 7.6 million individuals in the UK grapple with heart or circulatory diseases, affecting 4 million men and 3.6 million women.
What is ApoB?
A protein attached to disease-causing cholesterol particles in your bloodstream.
Testing for this protein allows us to quantify the number of potentially risky cholesterol-carrying particles, a key player in heart disease risk.
Tests like LDL-C measure the total cholesterol concentration, ApoB hones in on the size of LDL particles.
Recent insights reveals that the size of the LDL particles closely links with heart disease risk than total cholesterol concentration.
Someone with many small LDL particles faces a higher risk than those with fewer large particles.
Smaller particles can breach artery walls, triggering inflammation and paving the way for atherosclerosis.
ApoB testing outshines other tests offering a more accurate measure of heart disease risk.
This is especially crucial for those with familial hypercholesterolemia or a current heart disease diagnosis.
An ApoB test is your compass, helping evaluate future disease risk, monitor current health, and guide treatment decisions.
Knowledge is your greatest ally on this heart-healthy journey!
Know yourself inside out
I've narrowed down a list of labs for you to consider, find it here.
Make sure to revisit the last blog for the essential biomarkers as a checklist. If you missed it you can find it here.
Cocoa’s cardio protective effects
Cocoa's heart-protective benefits come from its rich polyphenol content, notably flavanols.
Flavanols play a key role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by boosting nitric oxide - the hero molecule discussed last week.
When you enjoy cocoa, it seems to add a touch of flexibility to your arteries, letting them chill out and function more smoothly.
The flavanols in cocoa go the extra mile, offering potential benefits by cleaning up free radicals generated internally through natural processes like metabolism and externally from sources like pollution, leading to a decrease in oxidative stress.
Plus, there's evidence they may give blood pressure a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Keeping it balanced is crucial, and the benefits depend on the quality of the chocolate and its cacao level.
Studies indicate that having a small amount of dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao) every day might be good for your heart.
For a sweet spot, limit yourself to just 2 squares, aiming for 70% or more – I prefer a minimum of 85%.
Passage that resonates deeply
”Postponing change is a trick we play on ourselves.
It allows us to bask in the glow of our good intentions while conveniently avoiding the demands of immediate action. But real commitment demands action. There's magic in the present moment.
Every day holds within it the promise of transformation, of progress, of becoming a better version of ourselves. The perfect time to start isn't tethered to the ticking of the clock or the turning of the calendar pages. It's not some distant date in the future, waiting for us to arrive.
The perfect time to start is right now."
Daniel Abrahams
