About this episode

Dr. Bret Scher discusses the implications of rising LDL cholesterol levels in individuals on ketogenic therapy with guest Erica Gerard.

What do you do when keto is genuinely changing your life, but your LDL goes up? That's exactly the question Dr. Bret Scher sits down to answer in this conversation with podcast producer Erica Gerard. Erica started ketogenic therapy for two reasons: to support her taper off long-term antidepressants, and to address symptoms of complex PTSD. Six months in, the results were remarkable. A smoother taper, less anxiety, fewer flashbacks, and a greater sense of calm than she'd ever experienced. Then she got her labs back. Her LDL had jumped from 94 to 150. In this episode, Dr. Scher walks through one way to think about a rising LDL in the context of ketogenic therapy, and why the answer is almost never "stop doing what's working." You'll hear: Why total cholesterol is the least useful number to focus on Why LDL is not the disease, vascular disease is What advanced imaging options exist for a more complete picture of heart health Why an initial LDL rise on keto may resolve on its own within a year How to have a productive conversation with your doctor about this This conversation sits at the heart of a bigger question, one that The Cholesterol Code documentary explores in depth…

People in this episode

Host: Bret Scher

Guest: Erica Gerard

Topics covered

• keto
• LDL cholesterol
• heart health
• mental health
• ketogenic therapy

Keywords

• LDL
• keto
• cholesterol
• heart health
• mental health
• ketogenic therapy
• anxiety
• PTSD

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Cholesterol Code

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• High Cholesterol on Keto? Here’s One Psychiatrist’s Approach · April 20, 2026 · 26 min
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• Metabolic Psychiatry in Practice: Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health Care · April 13, 2026 · 28 min

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