Most people think “normal” cholesterol means they’re safe. It doesn’t.

In this episode, Joe and Angie break down why standard labs miss silent cardiovascular risk, how gut health and chronic stress damage your arteries long before symptoms show up, and which tests actually give you a real picture of what’s driving heart disease.

• What “normal” cholesterol can hide — and the labs that reveal the real risk

• How gut permeability and immune activation drive artery inflammation

• The key tests your doctor likely isn’t ordering (ApoB, LP(a), hs-CRP, fasting insulin & more)

• Why stress, sleep, processed food, and metabolic dysfunction rewire your risk

• Simple daily moves that protect your heart: walking, strength, breathwork, sleep, and nature

Chapters:

00:19 — Why "normal" cholesterol can mislead you
00:49 — The firefighter analogy: What cholesterol actually does
01:19 — Angie’s 25 years in cardiac rehab
02:05 — What cholesterol is really for in the body
02:55 — Why standard cholesterol targets keep dropping
03:27 — The “everyone should take a statin” mindset
04:10 — The cardiovascular merry-go-round
05:20 — Genetics: What role does it actually play?
06:31 — Stress, processed food, and the real epidemic
07:40 — Heart attacks in 30s–40s: Why it’s happening
08:44 — Why lifestyle messaging is broken on purpose
09:38 — The four pillars driving heart risk
11:12 — What a new client experience looks like
12:38 — Why stents aren’t a cure
13:25 — What labs actually reveal root causes
14:41 — Why doctors rarely address stress & inflammation
16:11 — What “food deserts” mean for heart health
17:18 — Symptoms that signal metabolic dysfunction
18:40 — Leaky gut explained (simple + actionable)
20:58 — The gut–immune–artery chain that drives plaque
22:21 — How food sensitivities trigger inflammation
24:32 — The leaky gut → inflammation → artery damage loop
25:52 — Why you can’t out-exercise a bad diet
27:41 — Muscle, longevity, and why nutrition comes first
28:13 — Best exercise for heart health (walk after you eat)
30:20 — The role of sleep + circadian rhythm
32:24 — Which wearables and trackers actually matter
34:49 — HRV: Why it beats steps for heart risk
35:19 — How Angie builds personalized plans
36:45 — The nervous system–heart connection
38:10 — Why lifestyle is the ultimate “multi-system” fix
39:40 — How to connect with Angie & work with her

This is practical, science-backed prevention for anyone who doesn’t want their first “diagnosis” to be an event.

Connect with Angie

https://heartwellnesscoaching.com

Connect with Joe

https://linktr.ee/joesteele⁠

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