What is ApoB, and why do some clinicians prefer it over LDL?

ApoB is a protein found on atherogenic lipoprotein particles, and it can reflect how many of these particles are circulating. In some people, ApoB may track cardiovascular risk more closely than LDL cholesterol alone, so clinicians may use it for deeper risk assessment.

What is Lp(a), and why is it considered different from standard cholesterol?

Lp(a) is a lipoprotein particle that is largely genetically determined and is not usually included on standard lipid panels. It can raise cardiovascular risk even when LDL and total cholesterol look normal, so some people benefit from a one time test to clarify risk.

Are peptides the same thing as steroids?

No. Peptides are chains of amino acids that often act as signaling molecules, while anabolic steroids are hormones that broadly affect androgen pathways. Some peptides are used medically, but products sold outside regulated channels can vary in purity and identity.

Why does Dylan Gemelli emphasize potassium and sodium for heart health?

He links electrolyte balance to heart rhythm and notes many people consume too much sodium and too little potassium. He cites general targets of 3,500 to 4,700 mg potassium per day and no more than 2,300 mg sodium, but individual needs vary, especially with kidney or blood pressure conditions.

What does “GLP-1 microdosing” mean in this video?

It refers to using very low doses of GLP-1 medications with the aim of supporting insulin sensitivity and lowering inflammation, rather than maximizing appetite suppression. Any GLP-1 use should be clinician supervised due to side effects and contraindications.

Reversing “Irreversible” Heart Markers, Gemelli’s Way

A heart-health wake-up call that started in bodybuilding forums

Dylan Gemelli does not introduce himself like a typical “heart health” educator.

His story begins with a hard reset in 2011, after what he describes as years of poor choices and a lifestyle that looked glamorous from the outside, modeling and traveling, but was chaotic underneath. He remembers being 30 years old, back in his parents’ basement in Hawaii with “nothing but some clothes, a bed,” and the decision that he was going to rebuild around health.

That rebuilding phase matters because it shaped how he thinks today: relentless self-education, skepticism of hype, and a bias toward tools that improve the body’s underlying biology instead of just chasing a look.

He started where many fitness minded people start, bodybuilding forums, supplement research, testosterone boosters, and the steroid conversation. Then he stumbled into peptides and SARMs when almost nobody was talking about them publicly. He describes staying up until 2 or 3 a.m. reading, learning, and trying to understand what was real versus what was marketing.

But the most important pivot in this video is not about muscle at all.

It is that he later found a heart related issue in himself, and that discovery pushed him into “so much time into cardiology studies,” especially deeper markers like ApoB and Lp(a) (he calls it “LP little A”). He describes Lp(a) as the condition he personally has and the reason he has poured “the majority” of his recent effort into this area.

That personal stake gives the conversation its unique tone. This is not a generic “eat less, move more” lecture. It is a performance world veteran saying, I had to relearn what matters, and it starts with what predicts cardiovascular risk, not what looks impressive in the gym.

Did you know? Many people with elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) have normal looking standard cholesterol results, because Lp(a) is not routinely included in basic lipid panels. A one time Lp(a) test is often recommended by major heart organizations for risk clarification in appropriate patients, because it is largely genetically determined. See the American Heart Association’s Lp(a) overviewTrusted Source.

The “hierarchy of health” that frames everything else

A core theme in the video is order of operations.

Gemelli’s view is that peptides and other advanced tools belong in a hierarchy, not at the top. The argument is simple: if the foundation is weak, you can spend a lot of money on “next level” interventions and still feel stuck.

He puts the basics first, consistently.

The foundation, in his order

This is the stack he keeps returning to, with slightly different wording throughout the discussion:

Nutrition that hits macro and micro needs, especially adequate protein. He emphasizes getting “macro and micronutrients correct,” and he aligns with the idea that food should do most of the work, supplements are truly supplemental.

Sleep and recovery. He later names specific peptide options for sleep, but the point is that sleep is not optional if you are trying to improve metabolic and cardiovascular markers.

Training and movement. His background is training and bodybuilding, but the emphasis here is less about aesthetics and more about maintaining lean mass and metabolic flexibility.

Correcting deficiencies with targeted supplements. He highlights creatine as a near universal, magnesium and electrolytes as foundational for rhythm and function, and CoQ10 as a heart focused staple.

Then peptides, used for specific problems. Healing, sleep, body composition support, mitochondrial and cellular support, and in his more recent focus, metabolic health and heart markers.

That ordering is the “why” behind his recommendations.

If you take one thing from his hierarchy, it is this: advanced tools are not meant to replace the boring habits. They are meant to make progress possible when the basics are already in place, or when biology is so dysregulated that basics alone feel like pushing a boulder uphill.

Pro Tip: If you are considering any advanced intervention, start by writing down your “non negotiables” for 30 days, protein target, bedtime, resistance training frequency, daily steps, and alcohol intake. If you cannot keep those consistent, it is hard to judge whether a peptide or supplement is actually helping.

Peptides, SARMs, and nootropics, translated into plain language

The video opens with “peptides, SARMs, and nootropics,” and the host jokes it sounds like “lions and tigers and bears.” That is accurate. The language is unfamiliar, and unfamiliar language makes people either overly fearful or overly trusting.

Here is the plain language translation, using the same framing Gemelli uses.

Peptides

In the simplest terms, peptides are chains of amino acids.

Gemelli describes them as “just amino acids” composed into “single chains of amino acids,” and he tries to demystify them: they sound complex, but conceptually they are building blocks used as signaling molecules in the body.

A key part of his perspective is that many peptides are related to substances the body already produces. He gives the example of BPC 157, described as something “produced naturally in your gut,” and he frames that as part of why many people consider peptides to be “more safe and optimal” than black market performance drugs.

That said, “natural” does not automatically mean risk free. Route of administration, dose, purity, and your individual medical context still matter.

SARMs

A SARM is a selective androgen receptor modulator.

His simplified explanation is that SARMs are “selective to the androgen receptor,” meaning they are designed to target certain tissues more selectively than traditional anabolic steroids. He contrasts this with steroids, which can have broader effects and side effects.

He specifically mentions prostate concerns as an example of why selectivity is appealing, while also acknowledging the real world problem: the market is messy, and mislabeling has been common.

Nootropics

Nootropics are compounds people use to support cognition, focus, and mental performance.

The transcript does not dive deeply into specific nootropics, but it places them in a different category than peptides for healing or metabolic repair. In his hierarchy, nootropics are not “health basics,” they are more about cognitive sharpness and performance.

Important: SARMs are not FDA approved for bodybuilding or general wellness, and many products sold online have been found to contain undeclared ingredients. If you are considering anything in this category, involve a qualified clinician and prioritize third party testing and transparent sourcing.

The sourcing problem: why “what you think you bought” matters

One of the most useful parts of this conversation is not a list of compounds.

It is the warning about the supply chain.

Gemelli describes an inflection point around the 2014 crackdown on so called prohormones, which he bluntly calls “designer steroids.” When these were banned, companies were left with large inventories of raw materials that became legally dangerous to sell.

So, they pivoted.

His claim is that many sellers moved into SARMs and peptides, sometimes marketing them illegally as supplements, and in some cases, putting prohormone powders into SARM products. The result was predictable: people thought they were taking one thing, experienced side effects from something else, and then “all of these articles everywhere” blamed SARMs, when the product was not what it claimed.

This is the unique perspective you rarely see in mainstream heart health content: the health risk is not only the molecule, it is the marketplace.

For a reader trying to make safe decisions, this has practical implications:

If a product is not regulated, purity and identity are not guaranteed.

Side effects do not always tell you what you took.

Lab testing, reputable compounding pathways, and clinician oversight become more important, not less.

»MORE: If you are building a “safe supplement and peptide” checklist, include: certificate of analysis availability, independent third party testing, cold chain handling where relevant, and clear prescribing and follow up policies.

Peptides as “next-level basics”: how he thinks about where to start

Gemelli is enthusiastic about peptides, but he is also realistic about the overwhelm.

“There’s hundreds and thousands of peptides to choose from,” he says, and the challenge is “sifting through where to buy them safely,” plus knowing which ones actually match your goals.

His practical approach is to anchor peptide choices to common age and health inflection points.

A simple “starting map” based on his examples

He names a range of peptides, but the way he groups them is the real takeaway. Here is a simplified map based on the specific examples he uses:

For age related growth hormone decline (often noticed after 30): He mentions ipamorelin and CJC 1295 as growth hormone releasing peptides. The emphasis is that these stimulate your own growth hormone release rather than taking exogenous HGH.

For body composition support: He mentions tesamorelin, describing it as more geared toward fat loss while still supporting lean mass, but also “very expensive.”

For healing and tissue repair: He highlights BPC 157 and TB 500 as the most discussed “healing compounds” right now, describing them as “on a different level of rapid healing.”

For sleep: He mentions epitalon as “amazing” for sleep.

For cellular and mitochondrial support: He mentions MOTS c for “cellular and mitochondrial repair and function.”

For anti aging and skin related goals: He names GHK Cu (copper peptide).

For sexual function: He mentions PT 141 for erectile dysfunction or libido issues.

He also makes an important distinction about practicality: some peptides are injections, some are oral, and adherence matters. The host gives a real world example of choosing oral BPC 157 because injecting multiple times per day is not realistic for her.

That is not a small point.

A theoretically “best” protocol that you will not follow is not actually the best protocol.

Expert Q&A

Q: If peptides are so promising, why not just start with the most popular ones?

A: Popularity does not equal fit. A peptide that is great for one person’s injury recovery might be irrelevant for another person’s main goal, which could be sleep, metabolic health, or cardiovascular risk reduction. The safer approach is to start with your basics, then match any advanced tool to a clearly defined target and a plan for monitoring.

Dylan Gemelli, trainer and cellular health educator (as presented in the video)

GLP-1 microdosing: metabolic repair, not appetite demolition

This is where the video becomes especially distinctive.

GLP 1 medications are commonly discussed as weight loss drugs, but Gemelli frames low dose use as a metabolic health tool, and he repeatedly emphasizes avoiding misuse.

He credits clinicians and educators who influenced his thinking, including Dr. William Seeds and Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, and he says he later heard the host confirm the same approach at a conference.

The concept is microdosing.

In his telling, the goal is not to “shut your appetite off.” The goal is to use a “super low dose” to support insulin sensitivity and reduce systemic inflammation, especially in people whose metabolic health has been derailed for years.

He describes practical outcomes he has observed with low dose approaches in clients who wanted to use GLP 1s:

Less risk of the “sunken face” look associated with rapid weight loss.

Less sacrifice of muscle.

Less complete loss of appetite.

“Amazing improvements” on blood work, including ApoB coming down when “nothing else would help.”

The underlying “why” is compassionate and physiological: telling an insulin resistant person to just eat less and exercise more can be “mean,” because their biology makes it harder to access stored fuel and harder to train without fatigue and inflammation.

A GLP 1, used carefully and medically supervised, can function like a life raft while the person rebuilds habits.

Important: GLP 1 medications can have side effects and are not appropriate for everyone. They should be used only under the guidance of a licensed clinician who can review your medical history, family history, and current medications, and who can monitor weight change, nutrition adequacy, and labs over time.

What the research shows: GLP 1 receptor agonists have been shown to improve glycemic control and support weight loss in many patients, and some have demonstrated cardiovascular risk reduction in specific high risk populations. For an overview of GLP 1 medicines, benefits, and risks, see the FDA information on GLP 1 receptor agonistsTrusted Source and the American Diabetes Association Standards of CareTrusted Source.

Why Dylan moved from “cholesterol numbers” to ApoB and Lp(a)

The conversation shifts into a critique of how most people think about cholesterol.

The host describes the cultural evolution: first total cholesterol, then LDL versus HDL, then particle size and fractions, then Lp(a), ApoB, and plaque imaging. Gemelli agrees and says the basic panel is “fine,” but it “doesn’t tell me anywhere near what I need to know.”

He wants a comprehensive panel, sometimes called a “cardio IQ” style panel.

Then he names his priority.

ApoB is the main marker his doctor focuses on for cardiac risk.

He also says he has personally taken a deeper dive into Lp(a) because that is the condition he found in himself, and because “there’s not nearly as much data on it as there is on other aspects.”

ApoB, explained the way this video frames it

He tries to keep it understandable: ApoB is a component of lipoproteins, the particles that carry fats like cholesterol and triglycerides through the bloodstream. In his explanation, ApoB is central to how these particles interact with receptors on cells.

In practical terms, many clinicians use ApoB as a proxy for the number of atherogenic particles circulating, which can be more informative than LDL cholesterol alone in certain situations.

For a research grounded explainer, the European Atherosclerosis Society and other major groups have discussed ApoB as a useful marker of atherogenic lipoprotein burden. A patient friendly overview of cholesterol testing and risk factors can be found through the American Heart Association cholesterol resourcesTrusted Source.

Lp(a), explained in plain language

Lp(a) is a lipoprotein particle that includes an LDL like component plus an additional protein called apolipoprotein(a).

What makes it frustrating is that it is often genetically driven, it is not routinely tested, and lifestyle changes may not move it much for some people. That aligns with Gemelli’s frustration about limited data and limited solutions.

If you want a reputable starting point, the American Heart Association’s Lp(a) pageTrusted Source explains why it matters and who may consider testing.

A useful mental model from this video is that cholesterol is like body weight.

A single number does not tell the story. You need composition and context.

Electrolytes, rhythm, and the sodium to potassium reality check

This section is one of the most actionable heart health moments in the transcript.

Gemelli connects electrolytes to heart rhythm directly, if you “throw those off, your heart rhythm can go off,” and then “there’s a slew of other problems.”

Then he goes into a specific ratio conversation that many people never hear.

He describes a “sodium potassium ratio” problem: people complain about water retention, but often the deeper issue is too much sodium and not enough potassium.

He cites targets:

Potassium: 3,500 to 4,700 mg per day

Sodium: no more than 2,300 mg per day

He also calls out a common myth: people think bananas are the potassium solution, but “there’s a million other options,” and bananas are “not even close to the best choice.”

This is consistent with public health guidance that many people consume too much sodium and not enough potassium, and that potassium rich foods include beans, leafy greens, potatoes, squash, yogurt, and more. For reference ranges and practical advice, see the CDC’s sodium guidanceTrusted Source and the NIH potassium fact sheetTrusted Source.

A key nuance here is safety.

Increasing potassium is not appropriate for everyone, especially people with kidney disease or those taking certain blood pressure medications. This is a good example of where “heart healthy” advice should still be personalized with a clinician.

Quick Tip: If you are tracking electrolytes for heart and performance, do not just look at sodium. Track potassium intake from food for a week, many people are surprised how low it is.

Creatine, CoQ10, magnesium: his short list with heart in mind

Gemelli is not trying to sell a 30 item supplement stack in this discussion.

He keeps circling back to a few basics that he believes cover major gaps, especially for aging adults.

Creatine, not just for “bros”

Creatine is his number one supplement recommendation.

He argues it is broadly useful, including for women, older adults, and even teenagers, with dosing adjusted as needed. He mentions he has his mom in her 70s on creatine.

The host adds an orthomolecular logic: the body makes creatine, you can get some from diet, but many people, including kids, do not eat enough creatine rich foods like meat and fish. So a small amount in a smoothie can make sense for some families.

Research on creatine supports benefits for strength and high intensity performance, and there is growing interest in cognitive and aging related outcomes. For a balanced overview of uses and safety considerations, see the International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand on creatineTrusted Source.

CoQ10, a heart focused staple

He says he is “big on heart health,” and that is why CoQ10 is on his list.

CoQ10 plays a role in mitochondrial energy production, and it is commonly discussed in cardiovascular contexts, including for people taking statins (since statins can lower CoQ10 levels in some individuals). If you want a reputable primer, the NIH CoQ10 fact sheetTrusted Source covers mechanisms, evidence, and safety.

Magnesium and electrolytes

He emphasizes magnesium as “very important,” and ties electrolytes to rhythm and function.

The transcript does not give a specific magnesium dose, so it would be inappropriate to invent one here. What you can take from his emphasis is the clinical logic: magnesium status can influence muscle function, nerve signaling, sleep quality, and in some cases heart rhythm stability.

If you are considering magnesium, it is wise to discuss form and dose with a clinician, especially if you have kidney issues or take medications that affect electrolyte balance. For evidence based background, see the NIH magnesium fact sheetTrusted Source.

How to talk to your clinician about advanced cardiac labs

Gemelli’s frustration is not that people get tested.

It is that they get the wrong level of testing, then make big decisions based on incomplete information.

He says he wants the basic lipid panel data, but he does not stop there. He asks for a comprehensive panel and focuses on ApoB, with special attention to Lp(a).

If you want to apply this in real life, here is a practical conversation guide.

How to build a “cardio clarity” plan (without self diagnosing)

Bring your current labs and family history. Ask what your current LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and non HDL cholesterol suggest, and whether there are reasons to go deeper.

Ask whether ApoB would change management. ApoB can be especially useful when triglycerides are elevated, when metabolic syndrome is present, or when LDL and overall risk seem mismatched.

Ask about a one time Lp(a) test. Many organizations consider Lp(a) a reasonable one time measurement for risk assessment, particularly if you have premature family history of heart disease or unexplained risk.

Discuss imaging and inflammation markers when appropriate. Depending on your risk profile, your clinician may discuss coronary artery calcium scoring, hs CRP, or other assessments.

Make a monitoring plan before you start any advanced tool. If you are considering GLP 1s, peptides, or major supplement changes, decide ahead of time what you will track: weight trend, waist, strength, symptoms, and labs.

A subtle but important point in this video is that Gemelli does not frame this as “beat your doctor.” He frames it as “get the right data,” then make thoughtful decisions.

Expert Q&A

Q: If my LDL is normal, do I still need ApoB or Lp(a)?

A: Not everyone needs advanced testing, but normal LDL does not always equal low risk. If you have a strong family history, metabolic issues, or a mismatch between your lifestyle and your lab results, your clinician may consider ApoB and possibly a one time Lp(a) to clarify risk.

Dylan Gemelli, trainer and cellular health educator (as presented in the video)

Key Takeaways

Start with the hierarchy. Nutrition, sleep, training, and micronutrient sufficiency are the base, supplements and peptides come after.

Do not let a basic cholesterol panel be the whole story. This perspective prioritizes ApoB, and treats Lp(a) as a special, often overlooked risk marker.

Advanced tools are only as safe as the sourcing and supervision. Mislabeling and unregulated markets are a real risk, especially in SARMs and underground peptides.

GLP 1 microdosing is framed as metabolic repair. The goal is improved insulin sensitivity and inflammation control without extreme appetite suppression and muscle loss.