Dear Health Conscious Reader,
Leaders in mainstream medicine think they have cause for celebration. The president of the American Heart Association called it “good news,” and the American College of Cardiology’s heart disease prevention expert said he was “thrilled” at this finding.
What are they so thrilled about?
More of our kids are taking drugs.
A new report shows the number of kids taking statin drugs shot up 68% in just 5 years.1
It’s great that younger people are focusing on heart health. And it’s certainly alarming that health problems related to heart disease are showing up at younger ages than ever before. But statin drugs aren’t the answer. As I’ve pointed out before, they pose serious health risks, including:
- Inability to concentrate
- Depression
- Confusion
- Impotence
- Amnesia
- Lowered sex drive
- Disorientation
- Weakened immune system
- Shortness of breath
- Liver damage
- Fatigue
- Kidney failure
- Nerve pain
- Death
- Muscle weakness
- Rhabdomyolysis (painful bursting of muscle cells)
Study after study has demonstrated the potentially debilitating effects of statin drugs. They can produce confused states similar to Alzheimer’s disease. They may increase the risk of cancer death. And putting the blame on LDL cholesterol, they don’t even help solve the underlying problems that cause heart disease.
Cholesterol is the great red herring of mainstream medicine’s take on heart health. Despite twenty years of propaganda from the heart health industry, the fact is that LDL cholesterol levels are still a terribly poor predictor of whether or not you’re going to have a heart attack. It may surprise you to learn that 75% of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels.
And this is old news. The myth of cholesterol’s role in heart disease has been thoroughly debunked. I devoted an entire chapter filled with clinical proof that cholesterol isn’t the problem in The Doctor’s Heart Cure. Somehow, this hasn’t gotten through to mainstream medical establishment or the media.
My advice is to forget about cholesterol and statin drugs and focus instead on the true indicators of heart health. Here’s what you should really be looking out for if you want to know whether you’re at risk:
- Triglycerides
- Insulin
- HDL Cholesterol
- Blood Pressure
- Fasting Blood Glucose
- Waist Size
Triglycerides are the kind of fat in your bloodstream that clogs your arteries. You can lower them safely and naturally by getting more omega-3 and vitamin D. Cod liver oil’s a great source of both. Lean meats, fish, and eggs are also rich in omega-3s. You can also get your vitamin D from supplements – 1,000 IEUs per day will do the trick.
Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. And high blood sugar levels lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. If your insulin levels are high, you may be developing insulin resistance, the cause of diabetes. Cut carbs out of your diet and replace them with protein.
HDL Cholesterol is the heart of the matter when it comes to heart disease. Your total cholesterol doesn’t matter if your HDL levels are high. If your HDL’s above 85, you’re at no greater risk for heart disease if your total cholesterol is 150 or 350. A combination of exercise and dietary changes are all you need to boost your HDL. Eating more lean meats (either red or white) is a great way to raise your HDL naturally.
Blood Pressure is another indicator of heart disease risk. You can easily lower it through exercise, diet, and supplements. CoQ10, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C have all been shown to benefit people with high blood pressure. Garlic and cayenne pepper also contain natural ingredients that reduce hypertension.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
- “Cholesterol drug use rising rapidly in young: Experts cite higher rates of obesity, increased preventive treatments,” Associated Press, October 30, 2007.