STATIN SCANDAL EXPOSED: The $1 Trillion Lie About Cholesterol You MUST Know! ~ By 'The Visser Podcast' (6.18.25)

"Hey everyone, Dr. Richard Visser here!"
"I'm pulling back the curtain on something huge today: the "statin scandal." For years, we've been told high LDL is the enemy and statins are the answer. But what if that's built on outdated science, corporate influence, and some serious half-truths? I'm diving deep into why I think cholesterol isn't the real villain and why we're spending billions treating a marker instead of the actual cause of heart disease.

Key Times:

0:00 - The $1 Trillion Lie: I'm kicking things off by exposing how a flawed 1950s study might have shaped everything we think we know about cholesterol and the rise of statins.

1:47 - Statins: Tiny Benefits, Big Side Effects: We'll talk about how statins do lower LDL, that's true. But for most people (primary prevention), the benefit is tiny – less than 1% absolute risk reduction. Plus, let's not forget the side effects like muscle pain, fatigue, and even insulin resistance!

3:23 - My Secret Weapon: Weight Loss: Seriously, dropping excess weight can improve almost every metabolic marker more than statins ever could! I'll even mention that "Twinkies diet" doctor who proved it just by losing weight. (Yes, you can look up Mark Haub for that one!)

5:30 - Beyond LDL: The Tests That Really Matter: Forget just LDL. I'm telling you about the tests you should actually be asking your doctor for, like ApoB, Lp(a), and your CAC score.

6:28 - Follow the Money Trail: Why are we still pushing statins so hard? Because $30 billion a year doesn't just disappear! It's about insurance, guidelines, and frankly, fear.

7:00 - Better Options Out There: For that small group with genetically high Lp(a), there are cutting-edge alternatives like PCSK9 inhibitors and bempedoic acid that are super effective.

8:57 - My Real Prevention Protocol: I'll walk you through my recommended protocol for true heart strength – from proper testing and resistance training to sleep and stress reduction. Heart disease builds silently for decades, so let's get ahead of it!"

SOURCE: https://youtu.be/of01sMXwynU