5 Tests That Reveal the Truth About Your Heart Health

👋 Hello Friends,

Let’s set the record straight—cholesterol is one of the most misunderstood topics in medicine. That’s exactly why I created a comprehensive video to help you understand what really matters when it comes to preventing heart disease.

Here’s the truth: cholesterol is not the enemy.
Your body needs cholesterol to function—it’s the backbone of hormones, bile acids, and even vitamin D production. But the type and quality of cholesterol are what truly impact your health.

đź§Ş Standard Cholesterol Tests Miss the Big Picture

The typical blood test just scratches the surface. That’s why I recommend an Advanced Lipid Panel—a far more accurate and insightful tool to assess your cardiovascular risk. These tests are now widely available and often covered by insurance (such as at Quest Diagnostics).

🔍 5 Advanced Markers You Should Know:

✅ Small Dense LDL
These tiny, dense particles are more likely to penetrate vessel walls and contribute to plaque.

✅ Oxidized LDL
Think of this as rancid cholesterol—oxidized particles that trigger inflammation and arterial damage.

✅ Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)
A key marker for the total number of harmful cholesterol particles in your bloodstream.

✅ Lipoprotein(a)
A genetic risk factor that’s often overlooked but strongly linked to heart disease and stroke.

✅ Omega-3 Index
A powerful indicator of your body’s inflammation levels—higher levels are protective for your heart and brain.

❤️ Take Control of Your Heart Health

If your advanced lipid panel shows a higher risk, the next best step is a Coronary Artery Calcium Scan—a quick and easy scan that can directly reveal if there’s plaque building in your arteries.

🌿 So What Can You Do to Support a Healthy Heart—Naturally?

Knowing your risk is just the start—what you do next matters most. In my practice, I focus on science-backed natural strategies to protect heart health: nourishing food, daily movement, stress support, and targeted supplements that help lower inflammation and improve circulation.

🧡 As a small way to support your journey, I’m offering a limited-time promotion on the key heart health supplements I trust and use with my patients.
🙌 And a special thank you to Allexis and Sim, our amazing staff members who have been working extra hard behind the scenes to process all your online supplement orders with care. We’re so grateful for your continued support!

Heart-Healthy Supplements

Want to take proactive steps to protect your heart? These are some of my favorite supplements for heart health:

✅ Omega-3 Fish Oil: Essential Fatty Acids that lowers inflammation (HS-CRP) and triglycerides
✅ CoQ10: A powerful antioxidant for your heart!
✅ Bergamot: A citrus fruit that has cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties
✅ Red Yeast Rice: Significantly lowers LDL and is well tolerated
✅ Essential Magnesium: Relaxes blood vessels and important for healthy blood pressure
✅ Nitric Oxide Support: Natural supplement (L-Citrulline) for blood pressure
✅ Methyl B Complex: Promotes methylation to lower homocysteine, which lowers cardiovascular risk

Strawberry and Date Salad

Strawberry Date Salad

2 big handfuls of your favorite greens
Organic strawberries, chopped (about 5 per salad)
Walnuts (small handful per salad)
Dates, 2 per salad, chopped
Red onions, chopped
Avocado (1/2 small to 1/4 large)

Dress with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1.5 tablespoon/ salad) + Lime Zest + Fresh Lime Juice (1/2 lime/ salad) + Himalayan Salt (1/8 tsp) and pepper (pinch)  

Toss together and enjoy!  

This salad is so refreshing, I’ve been enjoying it for lunch almost everyday!  It’s great “skin” food, full of antioxidants!  It can help alkalinize the body and reduce inflammation!  

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. I truly appreciate your commitment to understanding your health—especially when it comes to something as important (and misunderstood) as cholesterol. If you found this information helpful, please share it with someone you care about. It could be the start of a life-changing conversation.

Wishing you a healthy and peaceful week ahead.

Rajsree Nambudripad, MD