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The Clot Thickens: The enduring mystery of heart disease
“Malcolm Kendrick's masterly survey of the enduring mystery of heart disease reads like a detective story. With great verve he marshals the evidence for the two main contending theories, exonerates the presumed suspect and makes a formidable case for thrombogenesis (blood clotting) as the perpetrator. Witty, provocative and entertaining, 'The Clot Thickens' packs a powerful scientific punch. Highly recommended.” Dr James Le Fanu
Doctor, journalist, author of ‘ The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine .’
“Malcolm Kendrick's new book brings to mind the quote from Thomas Huxley when he first learned of Darwin's theory of evolution: ‘how extremely stupid (of me) not to have thought of that’. What Kendrick presents is nothing less than a unifying theory of heart disease, that explains why everything from sickle cell disease to diabetes to a stressful lifestyle increases cardiovascular risk (and he does it with a large dollop of humour). After decades stuck in the blind alley that is the LDL hypothesis, this book is a revelation. It should be read by anyone with even a slight interest in understanding heart disease and what they can do to protect themselves from it.”
Dr Sebastian Rushworth
M.D. Sweden
This is a 150-year detective story with a cast of unrecognised heroes who may, finally, become known for their work on the true causes of heart disease. Exploring the truth about cholesterol - the apparently tried, and convicted, cause of millions of deaths from heart disease - with billions spent each year on lowering cholesterol with diet and drugs.
Is it possible that our villain was simply left holding the gun whilst the true culprits ran and hid? Have they escaped our clutches?
Dr Kendrick also introduces us to a range of other lesser known characters in this tale of selective reporting, data manipulation and intrigue. The true story of heart disease is out there, and the evidence has been brought together here - a scientific mystery for our time that is ready to unfold.
Doctor, journalist, author of ‘ The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine .’
“Malcolm Kendrick's new book brings to mind the quote from Thomas Huxley when he first learned of Darwin's theory of evolution: ‘how extremely stupid (of me) not to have thought of that’. What Kendrick presents is nothing less than a unifying theory of heart disease, that explains why everything from sickle cell disease to diabetes to a stressful lifestyle increases cardiovascular risk (and he does it with a large dollop of humour). After decades stuck in the blind alley that is the LDL hypothesis, this book is a revelation. It should be read by anyone with even a slight interest in understanding heart disease and what they can do to protect themselves from it.”
Dr Sebastian Rushworth
M.D. Sweden
This is a 150-year detective story with a cast of unrecognised heroes who may, finally, become known for their work on the true causes of heart disease. Exploring the truth about cholesterol - the apparently tried, and convicted, cause of millions of deaths from heart disease - with billions spent each year on lowering cholesterol with diet and drugs.
Is it possible that our villain was simply left holding the gun whilst the true culprits ran and hid? Have they escaped our clutches?
Dr Kendrick also introduces us to a range of other lesser known characters in this tale of selective reporting, data manipulation and intrigue. The true story of heart disease is out there, and the evidence has been brought together here - a scientific mystery for our time that is ready to unfold.
332 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2021
256 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 4, 2021
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to reduce their chances of dying or becoming disabled due to a heart attack or ischemic stroke. Its author is Dr. Malcolm Kendrick. He has been revealing for years the fraudulent doctors and scientists. I mean, those who promote expensive patented LDL cholesterol-lowering pills. Not only are these drugs quite expensive. For most patients, they do more harm than good.
Dr. Kendrick has suffered greatly for his heretical remarks and publications. He is even under threat of having his medical license revoked. I agree with all the criticism Dr. Kendrick gives to LDL cholesterol-lowering pills. He incurs extraordinary financial and moral costs for the public good, and such behavior is worthy of our maximal respect.
Dr. Kendrick is far from the first expert to criticize the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering pills. However, he is remarkably active in this field, causing significant disturbance to crooks in organized medicine.
LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs are not very helpful. Also, they have significant side effects. However, until recently, it was not clear how to replace them. And now "The Clot Thickens" book has appeared that gives you a comprehensive answer to this question.
I have followed Dr. Kendrick's work closely for several years now. I have read two of his previous books. I also carefully read all of his new articles as soon as they appear in the blog. Nevertheless, I learned a lot from the new book. Before reading it, I underestimated the role of lipoprotein A and did not understand how it works.
Probably, you have not yet studied the effective methods of preventing heart attack and stroke. For you, most of the material in the book will be a revelation.
Below I list a few of the shortcomings of the book. I hope you'll find this information helpful.
I have not found a single mention of C-reactive protein. Perhaps I haven't read the book carefully enough. Anyway, C-reactive protein is a prime indicator of the risk of cardiovascular events. You should monitor it regularly. Moderately elevated C-reactive protein is usually caused by a chronic infection, most often in the mouth or kidneys. Take the time to fix these problems before they cause irreparable damage to your arteries.
The author pays much attention to diabetes. At the same time, he says very little about insulin resistance with normal non-diabetic blood sugar. Most overweight and insulin-resistant patients die from a heart attack or stroke before they develop type 2 diabetes. Intolerance to dietary carbohydrates often causes insulin resistance. It is manifested by overweight, as well as high blood pressure. Such a condition is all called metabolic syndrome. Type 2 diabetes is a more dangerous disease than a metabolic syndrome, but it is much less common. Therefore, the book should have discussed metabolic syndrome in more detail.
The book does not provide enough detail on the treatment of hypertension. If high blood pressure is combined with obesity, switching to a low-carb diet works miracles unless the patient's kidneys are already severely damaged. Less commonly, there are situations where slender and thin people have elevated blood pressure. As a rule, hypertension drugs in such cases hardly help. The doctor may try to find the cause of the disease and eliminate it. The most common cause is advanced kidney disease or toxic metal poisoning. In tough cases, aldosterone antagonist tablets are sometimes surprisingly helpful. Those tablets are mentioned in the book, but it would be nice to give them a little more attention.
If you are even slightly overweight, the carbohydrate restrictions should be much stricter than the author recommends. Also, you have to do much more physical exercise than is advised in the book. Light walks and lying in the sun are not enough. We are the "born to run" creatures. The older you get, the more seriously you need to take your exercises. In a sense, it is more important than paying taxes. Tax scams can sometimes go unreported. For insufficient physical activity, you will be punished inevitably.
Despite the minor flaws that I have listed, "The Clot Thickens" is a great book! Currently, it is the best title on heart attack and ischemic stroke prevention.
Dr. Kendrick has suffered greatly for his heretical remarks and publications. He is even under threat of having his medical license revoked. I agree with all the criticism Dr. Kendrick gives to LDL cholesterol-lowering pills. He incurs extraordinary financial and moral costs for the public good, and such behavior is worthy of our maximal respect.
Dr. Kendrick is far from the first expert to criticize the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering pills. However, he is remarkably active in this field, causing significant disturbance to crooks in organized medicine.
LDL cholesterol-lowering drugs are not very helpful. Also, they have significant side effects. However, until recently, it was not clear how to replace them. And now "The Clot Thickens" book has appeared that gives you a comprehensive answer to this question.
I have followed Dr. Kendrick's work closely for several years now. I have read two of his previous books. I also carefully read all of his new articles as soon as they appear in the blog. Nevertheless, I learned a lot from the new book. Before reading it, I underestimated the role of lipoprotein A and did not understand how it works.
Probably, you have not yet studied the effective methods of preventing heart attack and stroke. For you, most of the material in the book will be a revelation.
Below I list a few of the shortcomings of the book. I hope you'll find this information helpful.
I have not found a single mention of C-reactive protein. Perhaps I haven't read the book carefully enough. Anyway, C-reactive protein is a prime indicator of the risk of cardiovascular events. You should monitor it regularly. Moderately elevated C-reactive protein is usually caused by a chronic infection, most often in the mouth or kidneys. Take the time to fix these problems before they cause irreparable damage to your arteries.
The author pays much attention to diabetes. At the same time, he says very little about insulin resistance with normal non-diabetic blood sugar. Most overweight and insulin-resistant patients die from a heart attack or stroke before they develop type 2 diabetes. Intolerance to dietary carbohydrates often causes insulin resistance. It is manifested by overweight, as well as high blood pressure. Such a condition is all called metabolic syndrome. Type 2 diabetes is a more dangerous disease than a metabolic syndrome, but it is much less common. Therefore, the book should have discussed metabolic syndrome in more detail.
The book does not provide enough detail on the treatment of hypertension. If high blood pressure is combined with obesity, switching to a low-carb diet works miracles unless the patient's kidneys are already severely damaged. Less commonly, there are situations where slender and thin people have elevated blood pressure. As a rule, hypertension drugs in such cases hardly help. The doctor may try to find the cause of the disease and eliminate it. The most common cause is advanced kidney disease or toxic metal poisoning. In tough cases, aldosterone antagonist tablets are sometimes surprisingly helpful. Those tablets are mentioned in the book, but it would be nice to give them a little more attention.
If you are even slightly overweight, the carbohydrate restrictions should be much stricter than the author recommends. Also, you have to do much more physical exercise than is advised in the book. Light walks and lying in the sun are not enough. We are the "born to run" creatures. The older you get, the more seriously you need to take your exercises. In a sense, it is more important than paying taxes. Tax scams can sometimes go unreported. For insufficient physical activity, you will be punished inevitably.
Despite the minor flaws that I have listed, "The Clot Thickens" is a great book! Currently, it is the best title on heart attack and ischemic stroke prevention.
November 27, 2021
A Convincing Tale
After the disgraceful performance of public health authorities over the last couple years, it really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that much of modern medicine is treating the wrong cause of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and reacts badly when anyone comes out with a study or approach undercutting the standard view. Dr. Kendrick does a masterful job first of demonstrating that cholesterol, and in particular LDL are the wrong targets, and then leading the reader on the long road through the evidence in support of the thrombotic theory, the application of the theory to various issues and treatment approaches. A must read for everyone who has been diagnosed with CVD or diabetes or who has had a stroke or heart attack.
After the disgraceful performance of public health authorities over the last couple years, it really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that much of modern medicine is treating the wrong cause of cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and reacts badly when anyone comes out with a study or approach undercutting the standard view. Dr. Kendrick does a masterful job first of demonstrating that cholesterol, and in particular LDL are the wrong targets, and then leading the reader on the long road through the evidence in support of the thrombotic theory, the application of the theory to various issues and treatment approaches. A must read for everyone who has been diagnosed with CVD or diabetes or who has had a stroke or heart attack.
November 11, 2021
Fantastic read, courageous!
I never leave book reviews. This book was so fascinating and entertaining that I had to give it a review. I’ll admit that part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was confirmation bias. Because of my health journey over the last 10 years I’ve come to distrust our conventional medicine when it comes to nutrition and drugs (statins). But put that aside, Dr. Kendrick’s style of writing is enjoyable and witty. I also love that he has no qualms about taking Big Pharma and the support mechanisms to task. This attitude is so important. Think for yourself and question authority.
I never leave book reviews. This book was so fascinating and entertaining that I had to give it a review. I’ll admit that part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was confirmation bias. Because of my health journey over the last 10 years I’ve come to distrust our conventional medicine when it comes to nutrition and drugs (statins). But put that aside, Dr. Kendrick’s style of writing is enjoyable and witty. I also love that he has no qualms about taking Big Pharma and the support mechanisms to task. This attitude is so important. Think for yourself and question authority.
November 19, 2021
Excellent explanation of CVD and what to do to reduce your odds of dying early from it
Thank you Malcolm for another great book.
It brings together almost everything I have found in the last six years while trying to manage my own CVD. Very reassuring to find my actions align with your suggestions for the most part, and to have the reasons why clearly articulated - some things I have been doing for a while, and I had begun to lose the ability to succinctly articulate why I’d chosen sone actions when being grilled by my cardiologist.
And nice to know I’m up to date on the recent research for things like the glycocalyx.
Though I think your tolerance for Vit C is lamentable - 10g/day, huh, amateur! Given that most mammals synthesise Vit c at a rate of an equivalent rate if 5-15gms per day for a human, I choose to match the higher end of that range - I do have high Lp(a) (down 20% thanks to niacin).
Anyway, thank you.
Btw, would be good to know what intake of potassium to aim for.
Thank you Malcolm for another great book.
It brings together almost everything I have found in the last six years while trying to manage my own CVD. Very reassuring to find my actions align with your suggestions for the most part, and to have the reasons why clearly articulated - some things I have been doing for a while, and I had begun to lose the ability to succinctly articulate why I’d chosen sone actions when being grilled by my cardiologist.
And nice to know I’m up to date on the recent research for things like the glycocalyx.
Though I think your tolerance for Vit C is lamentable - 10g/day, huh, amateur! Given that most mammals synthesise Vit c at a rate of an equivalent rate if 5-15gms per day for a human, I choose to match the higher end of that range - I do have high Lp(a) (down 20% thanks to niacin).
Anyway, thank you.
Btw, would be good to know what intake of potassium to aim for.
July 14, 2024
Highly recommended, extremely technical in places but a great piece of work to spur weight loss, get yourself off the tablet merry-go-round and sort yourself out.
August 16, 2025
Malcolm Kendrick’s The Clot Thickens is a readable, often very funny book that lays out his “clotting” theory of heart disease as an alternative to the usual cholesterol hypothesis. It’s clearly one-sided, drawing mostly on studies that support his view, but he explains complex medical topics with patience and humor, almost like a chemistry teacher walking you through the hard parts.
While I’m no doctor, the health advice feels solid enough—though obviously many other perspectives exist. Personally, I think the clots vs. cholesterol debate isn’t zero-sum; both can play a role, and patients would do well to head off diabetes, inflammation, and high cholesterol alike. That bigger debate might be best left to medical conferences, but for lay readers, Kendrick offers an engaging, detailed, and often laugh-out-loud guide to a subject most of us would never pick up on our own.
While I’m no doctor, the health advice feels solid enough—though obviously many other perspectives exist. Personally, I think the clots vs. cholesterol debate isn’t zero-sum; both can play a role, and patients would do well to head off diabetes, inflammation, and high cholesterol alike. That bigger debate might be best left to medical conferences, but for lay readers, Kendrick offers an engaging, detailed, and often laugh-out-loud guide to a subject most of us would never pick up on our own.
December 29, 2021
A fantastic book, clearly outlining in a humorous (but spot on) way that causes (and more importantly, the non causes) of cardiovascular disease ( CVD) This is not just cutting edge science about the causes but also a nice, easy to follow solution to help improve your health.
Not to give too much away but cut your carbs and get out and enjoy the sunshine.
A must-read for anyone looking to improve their cardiovascular health.
Not to give too much away but cut your carbs and get out and enjoy the sunshine.
A must-read for anyone looking to improve their cardiovascular health.
February 22, 2022
Informative. Provides a well referenced hypothesis as to the means of atherosclerosis. Important and pertinent to this present moment due to potential long term effects of infection upon endothelial function. I have changed my approach to patient management.
February 23, 2022
The title is so so bad, I almost didn't read it, but I'm glad I did. It's innovative and fresh and had so much great information - worth getting past that title.
February 24, 2024
I stumbled on this fascinating journey through the history of how we came to believe that cholesterol causes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease from a blog post by a doctor I respect about Alzheimer's disease. Spoiler alert: "Heart disease has nothing to do with eating saturated fat, nor does it have anything to do with cholesterol in the bloodstream." 150 years ago, there were two competing theories about the cause of heart disease - diet (cholesterol) and the thrombogenic process - and the former "has become so dominant that it now stands alone, unquestioned and unchallenged". For a quick 13 minute primer on the subject matter, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry1Z8...
I enjoyed the content very much, but the writing is horrible - this book is loaded with run-on sentences and fragments. It's written as if Dr. Kendrick were just talking to you, in his delightful Scottish accent, which is great for a YouTube video, but distracting in book form, at least for me.
I enjoyed the content very much, but the writing is horrible - this book is loaded with run-on sentences and fragments. It's written as if Dr. Kendrick were just talking to you, in his delightful Scottish accent, which is great for a YouTube video, but distracting in book form, at least for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2021
I would give this book 6 or 7 stars. For anyone contemplating questioning the cholesterol theory of heart disease, this is a great book to ruffle your feathers. Dr. Kendrick presents some very interesting ideas about the causes and conditions of heart disease. Some have been know for over 30 years and have been buried under the cholesterol theory of CVD.
I really love these somewhat radical, against-the-grain-postulations of which many have great support from studies and trials long lost in the underground storage facilities of modern stone-age medicine, as I like to refer to it.
The author also provides some incites for combating heart diseases and perhaps how to deal with clotting issues. He leaves few stones uprooted and offers a refreshing view that is sure to titillate your suspicions. With a bit of good humor thrown in, I found this book to be entertaining as well as eye-opening.
I really love these somewhat radical, against-the-grain-postulations of which many have great support from studies and trials long lost in the underground storage facilities of modern stone-age medicine, as I like to refer to it.
The author also provides some incites for combating heart diseases and perhaps how to deal with clotting issues. He leaves few stones uprooted and offers a refreshing view that is sure to titillate your suspicions. With a bit of good humor thrown in, I found this book to be entertaining as well as eye-opening.
March 9, 2023
A must read for anyone interested in anything related to cardiovascular disease. Makes a strong and well referenced case for the thrombogenic rather than the "bad cholesterol" theory - which has very wide ramifications particularly regarding the (in)effectiveness of statins. Self deprecating and to my mind humorous style albeit material is at times necessarily dense but always written with aim to inform the reader not demonstrate his own erudition. You can get a good and free precis of the book and his style/approach from his blog site - https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/.
November 16, 2024
This book should come with a warning for incorrect and dangerous information.
Not only is the author not a cardiologist or a scientist, he seems to claim that there is “no evidence” for a wide range of things when in fact, there are. Plenty. Just look at peer reviewed journals. Literally google it. As a cardiac scientist I have never read such drivel.
A Google search on this author will tell you all you need to know…he’s a glorified health woo 🤦♀️
Not only is the author not a cardiologist or a scientist, he seems to claim that there is “no evidence” for a wide range of things when in fact, there are. Plenty. Just look at peer reviewed journals. Literally google it. As a cardiac scientist I have never read such drivel.
A Google search on this author will tell you all you need to know…he’s a glorified health woo 🤦♀️
October 25, 2025
“Heart disease research is being directed and controlled by huge companies, publishing companies, academic institutions, all with vested interests in keeping the cholesterol hypothesis alive.”
Overview: A bracing, clarifying book that forces readers to confront how entrenched assumptions have shaped heart disease research. Kendrick argues that clot formation, endothelial dysfunction, and the vascular environment deserve primacy in our thinking about cardiovascular risk, and he makes that case with curiosity, evidence, and storytelling verve.
---
Why we loved it
- Big-idea clarity: Kendrick dismantles received wisdom with precision and urgency, reopening productive lines of inquiry that many clinicians have sidelined.
- Compelling synthesis: He combines history, epidemiology, physiology, and clinical anecdotes into a coherent alternative narrative that explains many otherwise puzzling observations.
- Voice and readability: The author’s wry, often humorous tone makes dense science readable; levity clarifies rather than diminishes the seriousness of the subject.
- Practical reframe: Re-centering clotting and endothelial health shifts prevention and diagnostic conversations in ways that complement, not replace, standard care.
---
High-level caveats for the people we help
- Don’t over-focus on recommendations: Use Kendrick’s framework to ask better questions and guide clinical conversations rather than treat every specific suggestion as a personal prescription.
- Don’t fixate on what you cannot change: Structural and socioeconomic determinants matter, but obsessing over them is unhelpful for individual action; prioritize proximate, practical steps within your control.
- Balance curiosity with clinical judgment: Some hypotheses in the book are provocative and deserving of research; they are prompts for investigation, not immediate protocols to follow blindly.
---
Pairing note
Read The Big Fat Surprise first, then The Clot Thickens. The Big Fat Surprise reframes dietary and lipid narratives historically and culturally; Kendrick’s book functions as a rigorous follow-up that redirects the clinical conversation from lipids toward clotting mechanisms and vascular health.
---
Clinician guidance
- Use as a conversation starter: Deploy the book to broaden patient discussions about risk beyond LDL alone and to contextualize why alternative mechanisms matter.
- Integrate, don’t replace: Treat Kendrick’s hypotheses as conceptual correctives to enrich risk assessment and differential diagnosis while continuing evidence-based risk stratification.
- Triage recommendations: Translate the conceptual shift into targeted evaluations and interventions supported by local evidence and patient context rather than wholesale adoption of every proposed measure.
---
Final takeaway: The Clot Thickens is a must-read for clinicians and curious patients willing to rethink entrenched assumptions about heart disease; it’s witty, well-argued, and practically useful when paired with clinical prudence.
> “The glycocalyx is another of the reasons why when people tell me that LDL can leak past the endothelium and into the vessel wall behind, I just look at them as I would a young and innocent child who has yet to learn little, and wonder if they have any idea of how ridiculous that sounds.” — Malcolm Kendrick
*Thanks to Microsoft Copilot for helping us craft this review*
Overview: A bracing, clarifying book that forces readers to confront how entrenched assumptions have shaped heart disease research. Kendrick argues that clot formation, endothelial dysfunction, and the vascular environment deserve primacy in our thinking about cardiovascular risk, and he makes that case with curiosity, evidence, and storytelling verve.
---
Why we loved it
- Big-idea clarity: Kendrick dismantles received wisdom with precision and urgency, reopening productive lines of inquiry that many clinicians have sidelined.
- Compelling synthesis: He combines history, epidemiology, physiology, and clinical anecdotes into a coherent alternative narrative that explains many otherwise puzzling observations.
- Voice and readability: The author’s wry, often humorous tone makes dense science readable; levity clarifies rather than diminishes the seriousness of the subject.
- Practical reframe: Re-centering clotting and endothelial health shifts prevention and diagnostic conversations in ways that complement, not replace, standard care.
---
High-level caveats for the people we help
- Don’t over-focus on recommendations: Use Kendrick’s framework to ask better questions and guide clinical conversations rather than treat every specific suggestion as a personal prescription.
- Don’t fixate on what you cannot change: Structural and socioeconomic determinants matter, but obsessing over them is unhelpful for individual action; prioritize proximate, practical steps within your control.
- Balance curiosity with clinical judgment: Some hypotheses in the book are provocative and deserving of research; they are prompts for investigation, not immediate protocols to follow blindly.
---
Pairing note
Read The Big Fat Surprise first, then The Clot Thickens. The Big Fat Surprise reframes dietary and lipid narratives historically and culturally; Kendrick’s book functions as a rigorous follow-up that redirects the clinical conversation from lipids toward clotting mechanisms and vascular health.
---
Clinician guidance
- Use as a conversation starter: Deploy the book to broaden patient discussions about risk beyond LDL alone and to contextualize why alternative mechanisms matter.
- Integrate, don’t replace: Treat Kendrick’s hypotheses as conceptual correctives to enrich risk assessment and differential diagnosis while continuing evidence-based risk stratification.
- Triage recommendations: Translate the conceptual shift into targeted evaluations and interventions supported by local evidence and patient context rather than wholesale adoption of every proposed measure.
---
Final takeaway: The Clot Thickens is a must-read for clinicians and curious patients willing to rethink entrenched assumptions about heart disease; it’s witty, well-argued, and practically useful when paired with clinical prudence.
> “The glycocalyx is another of the reasons why when people tell me that LDL can leak past the endothelium and into the vessel wall behind, I just look at them as I would a young and innocent child who has yet to learn little, and wonder if they have any idea of how ridiculous that sounds.” — Malcolm Kendrick
*Thanks to Microsoft Copilot for helping us craft this review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
I have been researching cholesterol, diabetes and obesity for quite a while now, especially after I saved myself from suicide and endometriosis death after switching from a low-fat whole grain diet with PUFAs, to a high fat diet rich in butter and animal fat. Since then, I have officially been converted into the LCHF tribe. The evidence is overwhelming. I have seen people reverse their angina, mental health issues (including bipolar and schizophrenia), diabetic ulcers, diabetic eye problems, DEMENTIA, etc with a LCHF diet. It seems to work for everything, including cancer. It’s the most compatible diet for the human physiology, and makes complete sense from an evolutionary perspective.
But the question lingers - doesn’t fat and cholesterol clog arteries?
LONG STORY SHORT: No, it doesn’t.
Most people, including doctors have no idea (or forget) that cholesterol is part of EVERY CELL in the body, and has numerous FUNCTIONS. Most cardiologists will not even know how cholesterol levels are measured (PS: LDL-C is indirectly calculated, and is often innacurate in standard tests)
Dr Kendrick, with his sense of humour takes us through all of the science - saturated fats, PUFAs, so on and so forth. He takes us through the entire disease process of how plaques are formed, in thorough detail, step by step with plenty of evidence. I think he deserves a Nobel prize for his work, because he is so knowledgeable, and attacks the question from so many different angles, truly thinking out of the box - like a scientist should.
I am just AMAZED at this book. He links EVERYTHING together, discusses EVERY risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and explains it. He’s got me thinking about colonialism and how that causes heart disease in my people.
I love this guy, as well as Dr Uffe Ravnskov, Dr Unwin, Dr Nadir Ali. True scientists question everything they know and think outside the box. Current practice of medicine is just crony ol’ capitalism.
PS: I work in the stroke unit now, and most patients I see have an average (low) cholesterol of about 2.5 mmol/L. We still give them 80 mg statin. Why? Because pharma wants us to.
PPS: the higher your cholesterol the less likely you are to DIE of cancer, infection, etc.
But the question lingers - doesn’t fat and cholesterol clog arteries?
LONG STORY SHORT: No, it doesn’t.
Most people, including doctors have no idea (or forget) that cholesterol is part of EVERY CELL in the body, and has numerous FUNCTIONS. Most cardiologists will not even know how cholesterol levels are measured (PS: LDL-C is indirectly calculated, and is often innacurate in standard tests)
Dr Kendrick, with his sense of humour takes us through all of the science - saturated fats, PUFAs, so on and so forth. He takes us through the entire disease process of how plaques are formed, in thorough detail, step by step with plenty of evidence. I think he deserves a Nobel prize for his work, because he is so knowledgeable, and attacks the question from so many different angles, truly thinking out of the box - like a scientist should.
I am just AMAZED at this book. He links EVERYTHING together, discusses EVERY risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and explains it. He’s got me thinking about colonialism and how that causes heart disease in my people.
I love this guy, as well as Dr Uffe Ravnskov, Dr Unwin, Dr Nadir Ali. True scientists question everything they know and think outside the box. Current practice of medicine is just crony ol’ capitalism.
PS: I work in the stroke unit now, and most patients I see have an average (low) cholesterol of about 2.5 mmol/L. We still give them 80 mg statin. Why? Because pharma wants us to.
PPS: the higher your cholesterol the less likely you are to DIE of cancer, infection, etc.
August 8, 2022
Read this book to discover more about heart disease and how it occurs.
It will be especially interesting to anyone who has questioned the cholesterol hypothesis and wondered about doctors aggressively pushing statins on people, despite the evidence of life extension being weak.
Malcolm the author (who's quite funny btw), does the detective work for us. Yes, the science gets a bit heavy, but overall it's really interesting.
It kind of reminds me of something Matthew Walker said in "Why We Sleep" - about how scientists were looking for a singular reason for sleep - and in fact it positively affects just about every aspect of our health.
Similarly with heart disease, there have been efforts to make it all about cholesterol.
However in practice, cholesterol and lipids only play a small role, and instead there are many other different factors.
For example, your triglyceride level divided by HDL cholesterol level is somewhat predictive of heart disease risk. However, that's largely because it's indicative of insulin resistance. The latter being quite impactful on heart disease.
But there are other important factors including poor air quality, heavy metal concentrations in the blood, acute and chronic stress, poor nutrition... + more.
Towards the end he lists some practical things we can do to decrease our risk.
Anyhow, for anyone interested in the subject, I can highly recommend.
It will be especially interesting to anyone who has questioned the cholesterol hypothesis and wondered about doctors aggressively pushing statins on people, despite the evidence of life extension being weak.
Malcolm the author (who's quite funny btw), does the detective work for us. Yes, the science gets a bit heavy, but overall it's really interesting.
It kind of reminds me of something Matthew Walker said in "Why We Sleep" - about how scientists were looking for a singular reason for sleep - and in fact it positively affects just about every aspect of our health.
Similarly with heart disease, there have been efforts to make it all about cholesterol.
However in practice, cholesterol and lipids only play a small role, and instead there are many other different factors.
For example, your triglyceride level divided by HDL cholesterol level is somewhat predictive of heart disease risk. However, that's largely because it's indicative of insulin resistance. The latter being quite impactful on heart disease.
But there are other important factors including poor air quality, heavy metal concentrations in the blood, acute and chronic stress, poor nutrition... + more.
Towards the end he lists some practical things we can do to decrease our risk.
Anyhow, for anyone interested in the subject, I can highly recommend.
November 28, 2021
Mucha gente está convencida que el colesterol en la sangre (especialmente del tipo LDL, el "malo" ) es la principal causa de arteriosclerosis y en consecuencia de infartos y, por otro lado, que el nivel de colesterol en la sangre está estrechamente relacionado con la ingesta de grasas saturadas. Explicación, sencilla, clara y con importantes consecuencias para nuestra alimentación: hay que tratar de consumir poca o ninguna grasa animal, sustituir la mantequilla por margarina o aceites vegetales, la leche de vaca por "leche" de almendra y desayunar cereales en lugar de huevos... y si todo esto no funciona, hay que tomar medicinas por el resto de la vida para "bajar el colesterol".
Sin embargo, el autor de este libro explica, de una manera accesible y amena, cómo todas estas teorías tienen muy poco sustento científico y no han sido probadas de manera rigurosa. En cambio, presenta una teoría distinta, basada en el proceso de formación de trombos en la sangre, que parece ser mucho más consistente con los hechos observados en la práctica, así como algunas recomendaciones para poner en práctica. Cabe mencionar que esta teoría se presenta dentro de un esquema de medicina tradicional, no en uno de homeopatía, imanes y sanaciones de medicina alternativa.
Indispensable lectura para cualquiera que tome en serio su salud de manera responsable.
Sin embargo, el autor de este libro explica, de una manera accesible y amena, cómo todas estas teorías tienen muy poco sustento científico y no han sido probadas de manera rigurosa. En cambio, presenta una teoría distinta, basada en el proceso de formación de trombos en la sangre, que parece ser mucho más consistente con los hechos observados en la práctica, así como algunas recomendaciones para poner en práctica. Cabe mencionar que esta teoría se presenta dentro de un esquema de medicina tradicional, no en uno de homeopatía, imanes y sanaciones de medicina alternativa.
Indispensable lectura para cualquiera que tome en serio su salud de manera responsable.
April 8, 2024
I'm subtracting one star because this book is trying too hard to be funny. It certainly is funny. But it is relentlessly so. And is cardiovascular disease really such a laughing matter? On the other hand, reading this--reading how absurd the accepted wisdom on the causes and mechanisms of CVD evidently are--you've got to laugh. Or cry. "Can this be true?" That's what you'll be asking yourself every few pages as you read this exploration of the Thrombogenic Theory of CVD. The gist is that we get heart attacks, strokes, etc. not because we eat too much saturated fat or cholesterol which then "clogs" our arteries (which is poppycock) but because we have blood clots forming as a natural response to inflammation and--because that inflammation is chronic--the blocked healing process, which should follow, cannot dissolve them. Of course, if the theory is correct, then there are risk factors we should be avoiding, which most of us aren't (sugar, guys, sugar), and strategies of healing for which medical authorities have failed to advocate (fasting, for example--exposure to sunlight, for another). You should read and decide for yourself. Your heart is in your hands.
December 23, 2025
Very helpful!
I wasn't expecting to like this book or agree with its findings but reading it proved me wrong. It is extremely well-researched and explains the multi-factor causes of heart disease in layman's language. The conclusions the author come to directly challenge the prevailing medical consensus that high cholesterol is the most important trigger for cardiovascular disease and it is clear that he has suffered professional vilification as a result. However, his presentation of the evidence and facts, which include a wealth of references and studies, suggest that his conclusions are probably correct. His writing style is both serious and wry. He has clearly conducted a huge amount of research and knows his subject inside out, but his presentation of the current status quo is never boring or dry. Rather, he tells a fascinating story with humour and verve, never descending into bitterness in spite of his obvious cynicism for the market driven forces of the pharmaceutical industry. He sounds like a great doctor who treats his patients with genuine care and respect and I found his conclusions both reassuring and convincing.
I wasn't expecting to like this book or agree with its findings but reading it proved me wrong. It is extremely well-researched and explains the multi-factor causes of heart disease in layman's language. The conclusions the author come to directly challenge the prevailing medical consensus that high cholesterol is the most important trigger for cardiovascular disease and it is clear that he has suffered professional vilification as a result. However, his presentation of the evidence and facts, which include a wealth of references and studies, suggest that his conclusions are probably correct. His writing style is both serious and wry. He has clearly conducted a huge amount of research and knows his subject inside out, but his presentation of the current status quo is never boring or dry. Rather, he tells a fascinating story with humour and verve, never descending into bitterness in spite of his obvious cynicism for the market driven forces of the pharmaceutical industry. He sounds like a great doctor who treats his patients with genuine care and respect and I found his conclusions both reassuring and convincing.
January 6, 2022
Excellent book. Very insightful both about the mechanisms of cardio-vascular disease and the pro's/con's of current treatments along with good recommendations. Written in a very accessible style even though it's a detailed scientific topic. Dr. Kendrick's writing style is very humble, funny but you "get it". It feels like you're having a conversation with him.
My only wish was that there was more about statin's. That was what I was looking for but that topic was not covered in significant detail. He definitely beats up the cholesterol / heart disease narrative that has led to overprescribing statins to the tune of trillions of dollars. I just wanted to hear more and learn if there were cases where statins made sense and what he believes their role should be in medicine.
Overall, great read if you want to learn about heart disease, how it happens and how to reverse it. Kudos!
My only wish was that there was more about statin's. That was what I was looking for but that topic was not covered in significant detail. He definitely beats up the cholesterol / heart disease narrative that has led to overprescribing statins to the tune of trillions of dollars. I just wanted to hear more and learn if there were cases where statins made sense and what he believes their role should be in medicine.
Overall, great read if you want to learn about heart disease, how it happens and how to reverse it. Kudos!
October 5, 2024
Phenomenal book on the causes of heart disease and who the real culprits are. Spoiler alert: it’s definitely not cholesterol.
As a scientist I like to see references. There are 19 pages of references.
A little disconcerting that the author has chosen to be irreverent/sarcastic in his presentation, as that is not typical in science. However, I soon warmed up to it, and it certainly meant that the subject matter was neither dry nor boring.
I learned a great deal from Dr. Kendrick’s detailed explanations and it became very clear that the average GP, and my own (young) cardiologist, is oblivious of and woefully out of date with respect to current cardiology research.
10/10 for subject matter and ease of reading.
As a scientist I like to see references. There are 19 pages of references.
A little disconcerting that the author has chosen to be irreverent/sarcastic in his presentation, as that is not typical in science. However, I soon warmed up to it, and it certainly meant that the subject matter was neither dry nor boring.
I learned a great deal from Dr. Kendrick’s detailed explanations and it became very clear that the average GP, and my own (young) cardiologist, is oblivious of and woefully out of date with respect to current cardiology research.
10/10 for subject matter and ease of reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2022
This book is absolutely fantastic. It's rare that a medical book seems completely new to me, or opens a new horizon, particularly since in naturopathic medicine I'm usually not "mainstream" to begin with. This one, though, plows through the studies that have been available for decades, but simply pushed aside in favor of a more profitable narrative: that cholesterol drives heart disease. I've long suspected that there was something amiss about this story, but Kendrick brings it home--and he does so in an amusing, readable way, while sticking to the scientific literature to back his every claim. Highly recommend.
January 31, 2025
I found this book interesting, but a bit strange. The bottom-line premise is: cholesterol doesn’t cause cardiovascular disease, blood clots do. Along the way there is extensive rumination about the how and why fortunes have been made by providing medicines to counter cholesterol. If there is a dietary evil, the author asserts, it is more likely sugar. To this layperson the argument is very plausible, but I am in no position to judge if it is true. The “strange” aspect is the liberal use of a dry, dagger-pointed wit that seems more appropriate for a Noel Coward play than a medical text. I found it disconcerting, but maybe that is just how British physicians write.
May 29, 2025
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick challenges the so-called "diet-heart hypothesis" of heart disease by way of a convincing argument for the thrombotic view of heart disease. Dr. Kendrick covers topics rarely considered in the mainstream and shares lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk of heart disease. The dry humor makes the material enjoyable, but the book would benefit from an editor to improve the flow of the prose. Regardless, this enjoyable book is highly recommended to anyone interested in cardiovascular health.
November 8, 2021
A must read, Statins R.I.P.
As ever, Malcolm Kendrick has shone a light on a very complex and important area of medicine.
He talks truth to power, and challenges his colleagues to no longer cower under Public Health England, which is sustaining the Faustian pact that medicine has with big Pharma.
This very readable book, fully referenced, is an important work that should be shouted from the rooftops.
As ever, Malcolm Kendrick has shone a light on a very complex and important area of medicine.
He talks truth to power, and challenges his colleagues to no longer cower under Public Health England, which is sustaining the Faustian pact that medicine has with big Pharma.
This very readable book, fully referenced, is an important work that should be shouted from the rooftops.
October 16, 2022
Helpful resource for the individual who thinks statins may not be the answer
First part of the book is a bit more difficult to understand than the second half. First half explains how blood clotting leads to sclerotic plaques which contributes to heart disease. Second half nicely explains what can be done to decrease risk of sclerotic plaques, heart attacks and strokes. Interesting how Big Pharma goes against any therapy that might cut down on their profits.
First part of the book is a bit more difficult to understand than the second half. First half explains how blood clotting leads to sclerotic plaques which contributes to heart disease. Second half nicely explains what can be done to decrease risk of sclerotic plaques, heart attacks and strokes. Interesting how Big Pharma goes against any therapy that might cut down on their profits.
August 20, 2023
Audiobook Omg I think I have a new favorite narrator. Matthew Lloyd Davies is awesome. But seriously this book is way more entertaining than the subject matter warrants. The author Malcolm Kendrick could sideline as a comic if he doesn't already. Go read it. Better yet listen to it. Today. Quite possibly the most entertaining non fiction book I've read all year. Available on scribd as of summer 2023.
September 24, 2023
Brilliant and funny, in a British sort of way, if you are interested in cardio vascular disease.
In fact I'm a little shocked by the amount of referenced evidence that is brought up, and yet this is still not considered a "normal" theory of CVD.
It's a bit dragged out to fill an entire book. But the author is entertaining. If you have any CVD in your family, or are worried about your own future, you should definitely read this.
In fact I'm a little shocked by the amount of referenced evidence that is brought up, and yet this is still not considered a "normal" theory of CVD.
It's a bit dragged out to fill an entire book. But the author is entertaining. If you have any CVD in your family, or are worried about your own future, you should definitely read this.
December 4, 2021
Mind blowing!
I've been following Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's blog for the last few years, so I knew some of this. But having it all together in a concise, highly readable and acerbically witty package is fantastic. If you read one scientific non-fiction book, ever, this would be a worthy choice.
I've been following Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's blog for the last few years, so I knew some of this. But having it all together in a concise, highly readable and acerbically witty package is fantastic. If you read one scientific non-fiction book, ever, this would be a worthy choice.
January 23, 2022
Something you can do for youself
I like the review of the science. I like his sense of humor. I like that he was able to point out how over the top folks get about certain topics. I like the fairly short lists of things you can do on your own to make your life better and perhaps longer without a lot of medication.
I like the review of the science. I like his sense of humor. I like that he was able to point out how over the top folks get about certain topics. I like the fairly short lists of things you can do on your own to make your life better and perhaps longer without a lot of medication.
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