Genetics May Load the Gun, But Your Environment Pulls the Trigger
If 1 out of every 5 people in the United States and Canada had a genetically increased risk of a heart attack or stroke, would you want to know if you were one of them?
That’s exactly what we’re talking about.
1 out of every 5 people has elevated levels of something called Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), often referred to as “Lp little a.” [2]
It is mostly controlled by your genes.
And it is linked to heart disease and stroke.
In fact, Lp(a) is one of the most powerful genetic risk factors for plaque buildup, heart disease, and stroke. [2][3]
But here is the part most people don’t understand:
Genetics may load the gun, but your body’s environment pulls the trigger.
To understand why this matters, we first need to understand what Lp(a) actually is.
What Is Lp(a)?
Lp(a) is a particle in your blood.
It is part of the same family as cholesterol-carrying particles like LDL, often called “bad cholesterol,” but it behaves differently.
It looks similar to LDL, but it has an extra piece attached to it called apolipoprotein(a).
That extra piece is what makes it different and more dangerous.
Because of this structure, Lp(a) can:
-
- Stick to the walls of your arteries
- Help form plaque buildup
- Carry substances that increase inflammation
Over time, this can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis, where your arteries become narrow and stiff. [2][4]
And here’s what makes it even more important…
You can have normal cholesterol levels and still have high Lp(a). [3]
Which means everything can look “fine” on a standard blood test…
And risk can still be there.
How Common Is It and Why Haven’t You Heard About It?
Lp(a) is not rare.
In fact, as I mentioned earlier, about 1 in 5 people have elevated levels. [2]
That means millions of people are walking around with this risk and don’t even know it.
So why haven’t you heard about it?
Because most standard blood tests do not include Lp(a). [5]
That means you can:
-
- Have normal cholesterol
- Be told everything looks fine
- And still have an increased risk
Without knowing it
Because Lp(a) is largely genetic and stable over time, everyone, both children and adults, should be tested at least once. [2][5]
You do not need to test it over and over again.
But you do need to know your number.
Why Knowing Your Number Changes Everything
Once you know your Lp(a), you stop guessing.
You move from:
“I think I’m okay.”
to
“I know where I stand.”
And that changes how you approach your health.
Because now the question becomes:
“What kind of environment is my body creating?”
The Missing Piece: Your Internal Environment
Most people stop at genetics.
They think:
“If it runs in my family, there’s nothing I can do.”
But that is not how the body works.
Your body has an internal environment.
And that environment is changing every single day.
What Is Your Internal Environment?
Your internal environment includes things like:
-
- Inflammation
- Your omega-6 to omega-3 balance
- Your Arachidonic Acid (AA) to Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) ratio
- Oxidative stress
- How your body responds to food and insulin
These are not just numbers.
They are signals.
They tell us what kind of environment your body is creating on the inside. [3][4]
Why This Changes Everything
Two people can have the same high Lp(a):
-
- One develops heart disease
- The other does not
Why?
Because Lp(a) does not act alone.
It responds to the environment it lives in.
If the environment is:
-
- High inflammation
- Poor fat balance
- High oxidative stress
Then Lp(a) becomes more harmful.
It sticks more.
It builds more plaque.
It increases risk. [3][4]
But if the environment is:
-
- Balanced
- Less inflamed
- Better supported at the cellular level
Then the damage can be reduced.
And risk can go down.
The Truth Most People Never Hear
You may not be able to change your genes.
But you can change the environment those genes live in.
A Simple Way to Understand It
Think of Lp(a) like a match.
Your internal environment determines whether that match causes a fire.
If your body is full of:
-
- Dry grass (inflammation)
- Fuel (poor fat balance)
- Wind (oxidative stress)
The fire spreads quickly.
But if those things are not there:
The match does nothing.
Your New Question
Instead of asking:
“Is this genetic?”
Start asking:
“What kind of environment is my body creating?”
Because that is where control begins.
What Can You Do?
Even though you cannot easily change your Lp(a) level, you can:
-
- Lower inflammation
- Improve your fat balance
- Support your cells
- Improve your body’s response to food
This changes the environment inside your body.
And that changes your risk.
Why Testing Matters
Most people are guessing when it comes to their health.
Testing gives you answers.
You want to know:
-
- Your Lp(a)
- Your omega-6 to omega-3 balance
- Your AA to EPA ratio
These markers help you understand:
The environment inside your body.
Conclusion
Lp(a) is real.
It matters.
And it can increase your risk.
But it does not decide your future.
Genetics may load the gun, but your body’s environment pulls the trigger.
When you improve your environment:
-
- You reduce risk
- You support your heart
- You support your brain
- You take control of your health
Take the Next Step
If you want to understand your numbers and what they mean for your health:
Email robert@dietfreelife.com or contact the person who shared this article with you.
I will show you:
-
- What to test
- How to understand your results
- What steps to take next
References
-
- Berg, K. (1963). A new serum type system in man, the Lp system. Acta Pathologica et Microbiologica Scandinavica, 59, 369–382.
- Nordestgaard, B. G., Chapman, M. J., Ray, K., et al. (2010). Lipoprotein(a) as a cardiovascular risk factor. European Heart Journal, 31(23), 2844–2853.
- Tsimikas, S. (2017). A test in context, Lipoprotein(a). Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 69(6), 692–711.
- Boffa, M. B., & Koschinsky, M. L. (2019). Lipoprotein(a), a direct proatherogenic particle. Journal of Lipid Research, 60(6), 1091–1097.
- National Institutes of Health. (2023). Lipoprotein(a) and cardiovascular disease.
__________
Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coach™, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.
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