Health Alert 113
A new study proves that a cholesterol-lowering diet is just as good at lowering cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels (high levels indicate heart disease) as statin drugs.
The new study proves that drugs aren’t necessary to reduce cholesterol. The right diet can lower cholesterol just as well. Today, I’ll tell you about that new study. And how you can lower your cholesterol with a few delicious additions to your diet.
* The Victor Is Clear *
You know how I feel about statin drugs. They are some of the most dangerous drugs doctors prescribe. And doctors are prescribing them in loads, regardless of the deadly side effects. In a past Health Alert, I told you that Americans bought over $12 billion last year. Hopefully, that’s all about to change.
The July issue of JAMA reported a refreshing study. Participants either ate a control diet very low in saturated fat, took the statin drug Lovastatin, or ate a diet high in plant sterols, fiber, and almonds.
The low fat participants had a decrease in cholesterol by only 8%, and a decrease in c-reactive protein (toxin that is a good indicator of heart disease- the lower, the better) levels by 10%.
The statin users had a 30% decrease in cholesterol, and a 33% decrease in c-reactive protein levels. Sounds like a winner, but wait. The participants who ate a diet high in plant sterols had a decrease in cholesterol by 29% and a decrease in C-reactive protein by 28%. 1
Even though the statins and sterols produced comparable results, the plant sterol diet is the winner. The diet gives similar result without all of the harmful side effects of drugs.
And, the plant sterol diet clearly beat that joke of a low fat diet. This is more proof that the low-fat diet is not a good choice for lowering cholesterol.
* Lower Your Cholesterol *
You don’t need drugs to lower your cholesterol. In my experience, many of my patients have lowered their risk of heart disease by simply tweaking their diet.
Plant sterols are a great addition to any diet. They are important nutrients for your whole body, and especially your heart. Plants with nutritious sterols also have the fats that are good for the heart.
I’ve made a list of the foods that both the recent study and I have found could help to lower your cholesterol. Add these foods to your diet.
• Olive oil
• Olives
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Flaxseed
• Eggplant
• Okra
• Eggs
• Fresh fruit
Al Sears, MD
1 Jenkins D. et al., Effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods vs Lovastatin on serum lipids and c-reactive protein. JAMA 2003; 290: 502-510