--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of those that appeared to play obvious…" description: "\"“Of those that appeared to play obvious roles in heart disease, three in particular stood out even in the early 1950s. Two of these are familiar today:..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/gary-taubes-11659_food_of-those-that-appeared-to-play-obvious-r_3152642.jpg" --- # Of those that appeared to play obvious roles in heart… ![“Of those that appeared to play obvious roles in heart disease, three in particular stood out even in the early 1950s. Two of these are familiar today: the low-density lipoproteins, known as LDL, the bad cholesterol, and the high-density variety, known as HDL, the good cholesterol. (This is an…” quote by Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/gary-taubes-11659_food_of-those-that-appeared-to-play-obvious-r_3152642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/gary-taubes-11659_food_of-those-that-appeared-to-play-obvious-r_3152642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/gary-taubes-11659_food_of-those-that-appeared-to-play-obvious-r_3152642.jpg) > ““Of those that appeared to play obvious roles in heart disease, three in particular stood out even in the early 1950s. Two of these are familiar today: the low-density lipoproteins, known as LDL, the bad cholesterol, and the high-density variety, known as HDL, the good cholesterol. (This is an oversimplification, as I will explain shortly.) The third class is known as VLDL, which stands for “very low-density lipoproteins,” and these play a critical role in heart disease. Most of the triglycerides in the blood are carried in VLDL; much of the cholesterol is found in LDL. That LDL and HDL are the two species of lipoproteins that physicians now measure when we get a checkup is a result of the oversimplification of the science, not the physiological importance of the particles themselves. In”” [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the oversimplified focus on LDL and HDL in heart disease, highlighting VLDL’s overlooked importance. **In simple terms:** Heart disease risk is more complex than LDL/HDL alone. Key Takeaway Consider all lipoproteins in health assessments. Themes cardiology nutrition science misinformation Mood analytical critical Type educational scientific When to use this quote - doctor visits - diet planning - patient education Key Concepts lipoprotein metabolism epidemiology Questions to Reflect On - What other factors are ignored in cholesterol testing? - How can we improve public understanding of lipid biology? A Different Perspective Simplifying science can mislead public health decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cholesterol Oversimplification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cholesterol-oversimplification-5666416/) [Critical Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-role/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Hdl Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hdl-species-5666413/) [Heart disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-disease/) [Known Ldl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-ldl-5666415/) [Lipoproteins Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lipoproteins-known-5666412/) [Vldl Cholesterol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vldl-cholesterol-5666414/) ## Related quotes > [“Epsom Salt - Don't underestimate the powerful healing effects of regular Epsom salt.  Soaking in hot water infused with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) boosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-the-veggie-goddess-matthews/epsom-salt-don-t-underestimate-the-powerful-healing-effects-of/) [Gina 'The Veggie Goddess' Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-the-veggie-goddess-matthews/) > [The Federal Government plays a critical role in innovation in our country and has throughout our history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/the-federal-government-plays-a-critical-role-in-innovation-in-our/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [The family unit plays a critical role in our society and in the training of the generation to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-family-unit-plays-a-critical-role-in-our-society-and-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think we have a very critical role to play, within the spectrum of international law and human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-think-we-have-a-very-critical-role-to-play-within-the-spectrum-of/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [“I definitely believe that genetics and neurobiology can play a critical role in addiction, but I also believe that there are countless people out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-definitely-believe-that-genetics-and-neurobiology-can-play-a/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The Israeli military plays more than a critical role in defending the citizens of the Jewish state. 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And that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noth/most-people-know-that-forests-are-the-lungs-of-our-planet-literally/) [Chris Noth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-noth/) > [As one of the country's largest land-grant universities, Ohio State must play a critical role in moving our country forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-gee/as-one-of-the-country-s-largest-land-grant-universities-ohio-state/) [Gordon Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-gee/) ## More by Gary Taubes > [“Canned breakfast juices had first appeared during Prohibition, motivated by grape growers who could no longer sell their products as wine, and by orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/canned-breakfast-juices-had-first-appeared-during-prohibition/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) > [“The bottom line is something that’s been known (and mostly ignored) for over forty years. 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Two of these are familiar today: the low-density lipoproteins, known as LDL, the bad cholesterol, and the high-density variety, known as HDL, the good cholesterol. (This is an oversimplification, as I will explain shortly.) The third class is known as VLDL, which stands for “very low-density lipoproteins,” and these play a critical role in heart disease. Most of the triglycerides in the blood are carried in VLDL; much of the cholesterol is found in LDL. That LDL and HDL are the two species of lipoproteins that physicians now measure when we get a checkup is a result of the oversimplification of the science, not the physiological importance of the particles themselves. 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