On a near-daily basis, people from across the country send me health-related Instagram reels, Podcasts, and articles asking for my opinion.  And although I am continually humbled and honored to be a trusted resource on these matters, I admittedly sometimes get tired of dismantling false dichotomies and filleting logical fallacies.  However, I’m always careful to acknowledge the POSITIVE and TRUE things stated by itinerant influencers as well, since I’m not a jerk.  I personally don’t care about making a trillion dollars or gaining a million followers, but I take my responsibility to disseminate accurate information very seriously.

But as I was listening to THIS PODCAST, featuring Dr. Philip Ovadia, sent to me by some friends, it quickly became apparent that EVERY TOPIC on the episode was discussed in The Home Security System and the Lipid Neighborhood, and there is even an AUDIOBOOK as well!  So if you read or listen to it, this will save me the time of systematically creating a list of the things that are right, the things that are wrong, and the things that are somewhere in the “It Depends” category.

But rather than undermine Dr. Ovadia or the host Mike Rowe (since that’s the Dirty Job of people intent on “Building their Brand” rather than fun guys who rap about Lipids), I will simply make a short list of some of the things I like about this episode:

• I like Dr. Ovadia’s voice…I could get used to him reading me bedtime stories or reading the Bible on tape…or maybe he could be a guest narrator for another edition of my book!  If a “Famous Cardiologist” read it, then maybe someone would actually listen!
• I like the shape of Dr. Ovadia’s head…it’s nice and symmetrical.  As someone with a lumpy, weird-shaped head that MUST be covered by a hearty swath of hair at all times, I’m almost a little jealous.
• I like Dr. Ovadia’s emphasis on COMBATING INSULIN RESISTANCE.  Pillar 1 of my “Metabolic Home Security System” is “Control Your Insulin, Control Your Life.”  Most things tend to work out if you’re not insulin resistant, and if I had to pick just one thing NOT to be in regards to health, it would be insulin resistant. 
• I like Dr. Ovadia’s endorsement of Coronary Artery Calcium scoring (CAC) as a Cardiovascular Risk Stratification tool.  One of my catchphrases is, “Got Plaque? Get a CAC!” and you can read more about the amazing “Colonoscopy of the Heart Without the Nasty Pregame Show” HERE.
• I like that Dr. Ovadia has become much healthier than when he was 100 pounds overweight.  I’m sure he is a better physician, father, and friend because of his improved health.
• I like heartwarming anecdotes, and I also like not overgeneralizing one person’s positive experiences on a broad scale when it comes to dietary patterns.  There are multiple dietary patterns that can optimize metabolic health…the Standard American Diet (the acronym is SAD for a reason) just isn’t one of them.  And if you’re an Absolute Unit, THIS ARTICLE suggests the time you invest pontificating about dietary preferences may be better spent exercising).

So anyway, I hope to have a chance to meet Dr. Ovadia at some point, and I heard that he has a nationwide Telehealth practice.  Maybe we could even work together…I think I could help people Stay off His Operating Table while simultaneously purveying accurate information about Cholesterol Homeostasis…sounds fun!