You are absolutely kicking it!! The trick is the K2. Also, when taking D3 and K2 together, the D3 will win on the uptake and only about 40% of the K2 is absorbed. Take a good D3 supplement (10,000 IU) in the morning and then a good K2 with MK4 and MK7 with lunch. Both are fat-soluble vitamins and your Kerrygold will do just fine! Here is the study for this D3/K2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_1-13ATOOVDbEFBQXFtZlItSDQ/view

kefnb, did you ever have a CAC score done? I have small and dense rather than large and fluffy. On statin 40mg, my LDL went down to 19, then 27 recently. Once cardiologist got my particle sizes, he "recalculated" my LDL, which is a calculation to begin with, and determined my "real" LDL is 110. I previously begged for PCSK-9, he said no, but now he is putting me on PCSK-9 immediately. He wants to do particle tests every six weeks, Quest Diagnostics, out of pocket $78. Thanks so much for your experience, I am not sure you want to know CAC score. I understand cardiologist saying one step at a time, but moving in direction of vitamin K2 WHILE starting PCSK-9 and also moving to start about 20 supplements I have researched to reduce insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and help other treatments to clear out, at least, the rupturable portions of my plaque. Two people on my block, in their 70's had devastating strokes, and my brother, like I said, had MI with 3 stents. It's like a time bomb, and I want an invasive angiogram to head off a heart or stroke event. Once again, thanks so much.

Interested in your creative approach to self management of cardiac related lipids. My two siblings and I inherited "familial hyperlipoproteinia" - super high lipids unrelated to diet. I'm the only one not taking statins, which has led to rhabdomyolysis in one. (That one died suddenly a year ago of either a stroke or heart arrest - wife found him dead in the morning, No autopsy, as is common.).

The head lipidologist at John's Hopkins told me I MIGHT control my lipids by weight loss, exercise, eliminating refined carbs and minimal alcohol. Did all, and lipids normalized (my triglycerides had been over 800!). Note, this was long before carbs were (rightly) demonized.

25 years ago, to be exact, but since then the levels crept up along with my weight. My present cardiologist gave me an ultimatum about taking statins and within the six months I had, I lost significant weight until I was more slender than at 16. This was through the KETO diet, which as a carboholic was hell for me. Shocking too as I practically lived on fats, perhaps most saturated as cheese was the easiest way to avoid carbs and up the fats (I had scarcely ever consumed cheese in my life!). My doctor said it contradicted everything he'd learned in medical school.

This time I'm returning to all the same guidelines with exercise. being key. I've vastly increased gym aerobic exercise - also weight lifting. This marks a return as I'd slacked off a bit (relying on an easier stair-stepper at home)

To my astonishment this time, getting back to strenuous exercise somehow (this is amazing) corrected a serious arrhythmia that suddenly developed. I had constant tacchycardia. (over 100- 135 day and night, even in sleep and resting).

That scared the hell out of me as it suggested "sick sinus syndrome" for which there's no real cure and it significantly reduces lifespan. (Now my BPM has reverted to my former ~ 55-60 resting while 65-70 going about ordinary activities. Note that my aerobic - I do high interval training - rises to ~160 at highest, without major breathlessness at age 76!)

I'm not familiar with your methods and rationales but I HAVE learned that we have to learn our own bodies, monitoring ourselves based on what we learn are our triggers and what works. I HATE the gym exercises (though I always feel better afterwards) but it helps that I've learned how to set up my Ipad so I can watch videos doing the aerobic workouts. (I can no longer run outdoors - or even walk without support owing to a mobility impairment I developed, so I'm stuck with the gym).

I almost wondered if we had the same cardiologist when read the 'large and fluffy' comment. I went to the doctor who created the calcium score and had a bunch of tests 15 years ago including the Berkeley cardio profile that is, alas no longer on the market.

I have high cholesterol and the genetic marker for heart disease and handful of family members who died of heart/stroke issues.

Yet my calcium score was 0 (has since climbed to 4 over 11 years) and other results showed me with optimal risk profile. Dr. Agosten went over the results with me and pointed to the lipid panel analysis and noted the high percentage of "big, fluffy, non-sticky" molecules that don't clump. And said that it explained the optimal risk profile that would seem to be at odds with high cholesterol and the genetic marker.

I now go to a former colleague of his and she told me that the research now shows that one can increase the percentage of larger molecules with exercise. [It was formerly thought that the molecule size was determined by the liver and pretty much a given, if I understood correctly.]

I've had high cholesterol for years and cannot tolerate statins so am grateful for any other risk reduction.

I also was of the impression, and could be wrong, that the calcium score was thought to be more of a strike risk early warning sign. One other test that I did, in addition to the usual suspects of stress test and echocardiogram, was the endopat. They were very reassuring for someone with the family history I have.