Monday, August 16, 2010

Avoid Statins Through Natural Lifestyle Changes

(Article first published as Would You Like a Statin With Those Fries? on Technorati.)
Cholesterol lowering statins have been hailed as miracle drugs and yet medical research has come to the dismal conclusion that they are virtually worthless in preventing heart disease or death from a heart attack, possibly helping 1 out of 100 who take the drug. Those aren’t very good odds when you consider the documented health damaging side effects reported by as many as one-third of statin users.

High Cholesterol Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease
Cholesterol has been an easy target for drug marketers, as it appears logical the waxy substance would be a factor in clogged arteries. Flawed research from decades ago concluded that high cholesterol levels were the cause of coronary artery disease, and even though this has been disproven, it’s still the prominent theory in the minds of most people and too many medical professionals today.

Distribute Statins in Fast Food Restaurants?
The results of a study published in The American Journal of Cardiology suggest that statins should be handed out along with burgers and fries to offset the cholesterol in the food. The study concludes that statins should be considered a supplement and then distributed freely with high cholesterol meals. This is clearly bad medicine, as statins work by blocking the pathway used by the body to synthesize cholesterol, a critical component of all cells, and essential to our good health.

Coenzyme Q10, a necessary catalyst in producing energy within our cells, is created in the body using the same metabolic path as cholesterol. When statins are used to lower total cholesterol, Co Q10 is also diminished leading to the muscle fatigue and weakness experienced by many statin users. Handing out dangerous statins like condiments would precipitate a national health disaster of epic proportions.

Statins Recommended for Children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending cholesterol screening for high risk children over the age of 2, and statin therapy for children over 8 with an LDL cholesterol level above 190. Cholesterol is an important substance which is required for proper cellular function and development in growing children.

It’s inconceivable to entertain placing children on statin therapy, potentially lasting the rest of their lives. While this may bode well for the bottom line of the pharmaceutical giants, it condemns our youth to a life of muscle pain, liver damage, chronic fatigue and lowered mental performance.

Lifestyle Changes Eliminate the Need for Statins
Medical research has shown that Omega-3 fats from fish and fish oil are more effective at reducing the risk of death from a heart attack than taking a statin. Fish oil lowers triglycerides and oxidized LDL cholesterol, two of the real causes of heart disease for which statins are ineffective.

Slow release niacin is an effective and natural way to increase heart protective levels of HDL cholesterol. Adding slow burst, high intensity resistance exercise to your daily routine, and reducing wheat, sugars and refined junk food from your diet will dramatically lower your risk of coronary artery disease.

Large pharmaceutical companies drive the perception that everybody will need to take a statin, regardless of their age, or the lack of documented health benefit from this class of drug. Profits and greed are behind the marketing machine, as billions in sales rest on the line. Take control of your own destiny and naturally eliminate the need for this most dangerous health damaging prescription.

1 comment:

Celine Adams said...

I have unhealthy cholesterol level and quite unhappy with my meds. I'm searching for a better one, I found one good for cholesterol natural, for any other suggestion pls reply to this post. thank you!