Interview: What actually causes high cholesterol? | Hei Man Chan

TED Health

TED

Health & Fitness, Fitness, Shoshana Ungerleider, Medicine, How To Be Healthier, Ted Shoshana, Ted Talks Health

4.2 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1968, the American Heart Association made an announcement that would influence people’s diets for decades: they recommended that people avoid eating more than three eggs a week. Their reasoning was that the cholesterol packed into egg yolks could increase cardiovascular disease risk. So, what exactly is cholesterol? And is it actually bad for you? Hei Man Chan digs into this complex molecule. [Directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute on AI, genomics, and the digital tools that are revolutionizing the way we prevent, detect, and treat illness—including heart disease.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is TED Health, a podcast from TED, and I'm your host, Dr. Shoshana Ungerleiter.
0:06.8	Heart disease might sound like something to worry about later in life, but here's a surprising fact.
0:12.6	The buildup of bad cholesterol and arteries can begin as early as your teens and 20s.
0:17.9	In fact, studies show signs of early heart disease in young adults with poor diet and low
0:21.6	physical activity, even if they feel perfectly healthy. That's why understanding how cholesterol
0:27.3	actually works in the body and what you can do about it now matters more than you might think.
0:33.2	This TED-Ed lesson cuts through decades of confusion around eggs, fat, and cholesterol to explain
0:38.8	what really impacts your heart.
0:41.3	So if you're looking for clear, actionable ways to protect your cardiovascular health for
0:44.7	the long haul, start here.
0:47.2	Then stick around after the lesson for an interview with Dr. Eric Topol, one of the most
0:51.2	influential voices in medicine today.
0:53.6	A world-renowned cardiologist, scientist, and best-selling author, Dr. Topol, one of the most influential voices in medicine today. A world-renowned cardiologist, scientist,
0:56.1	and best-selling author, Dr. Topal has spent his career pushing the boundaries of how we understand
1:01.7	the human heart, our DNA, and the powerful potential of artificial intelligence in health care.
1:08.4	From leading groundbreaking clinical trials to reimagining the future of personalized medicine,
1:13.3	his insights may change the way you think about your own health and what's possible in
1:18.0	medicine tomorrow.
1:19.9	But before we dive in, a quick break to hear from our sponsors.
1:32.1	The dreaded CV scrolling, the never-ending interviewing.
1:39.8	If recruiting is a bit of a nightmare, try building a dream team that works in perfect harmony.
1:48.0	Post your vacancy on Guardian jobs, it'll be seen by millions of like-minded people looking for top roles in education,
	...

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