Alternatives to Cholesterol Lowering Statins
Statin Drugs or cholesterol lowering drugs are prescribed frequently, in fact these statin drugs are among the best selling drugs in the world and make pharmaceutical companies millions each year.
Originally they were approved by the FDA for lowering cholesterol of patients who have had a history of heart problems. However, today statins are used for “off label” or uses they were not originally intended for.
The American Academy of Physicians is even suggesting that most people who are diabetics should take statins. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested that children with higher levels of cholesterol need statins…some doctors are even studying statins as a prevention of preeclampsia, a rare condition that occurs in pregnant woman.
How Statins Works
Statin drugs work by suppressing an vitally important chemical manufacturing process, the HMG CoA Reductase system, that includes cholesterol as an end product. By inhibiting this process, blood cholesterol levels are reduced, but levels of several other compounds needed by the body are also lowered. The reason? The HMGA CoA Reductase system also produces essential fats, steroid hormone, vitamin precursors and the critical vitamin-like substance CoQ-10.
Statins have also been associated with memory loss and a higher incidence of diabetes.
Why is CoQ10 so Important?
CoQ10 is NOT a Vitamin– it actually belongs to a family called ubiquinones, and it is found in most tissues in the body , and is in high concentration in the heart muscle. It is essential for the manufacture of the an important molecule that makes energy, called ATP (adenosine triphophate) that provides cellular energy.
Studies in both animals and humans have associated significantly decreased levels of CoQ10 with a wide variety of diseases. Since this enzyme is found in high concentration in heart muscle cells, deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular problems
- including angina,
- arrhythmia,
- heart failure
- high blood pressure.
- Problems with blood sugar regulation
- gingival (gum) health,
- Digestive Distress stomach ulcers have also been associated with CoQ10 deficiency.
Those who are taking statins to lower cholesterol are at particular risk for deficiency of CoQ10, because not only do statins reduce cholesterol levels, but they also block CoQ10 synthesis in the body. Low CoQ10 levels in patients on statins can contribute to the common side effects of statin therapy such as fatigue and aching joints and muscles
As always, the appropriate response to a breakdown in the biochemistry of the body, whether it involves pain, inflammation or elevated cholesterol, is to pay attention to symptoms of the breakdown and begin the appropriate medical detective work to understand what the body needs to repair itself.
For example elevations in cholesterol are almost always at least partially the result of poor blood sugar control. If one has elevated cholesterol the one should greatly reduce refined flour and sugary foods. This will be easier if they supplement their diet with protein sources such as brazil , whey or non gmo soy etc. (Shaklee makes a couple of Non GMO soy products and whey product that would be helpful. Click here for more information on those products.) Check out the Whey here
For those that find it difficult at first to cut out these food that require you to metabolize sugar products-that includes foods mentioned above: breads, grains, white potatoes etc. then one must make sure they are getting the entire B-Complex ( a good B Complex is make by Shaklee)
The entire B-complex is especially important, as are the minerals Zinc, Magnesium, Chromium and Vanadium. There is a product called Glucose Regulation Complex that
- Promotes efficient glucose utilization*
- Aids normal glucose transport into cells and normal responsiveness of cells to insulin*
- Keeps blood-sugar levels steady, which may help control cravings*
Unlike pharmaceutical intervention, which is replete with toxic side effects, proper nutrition allows you to accomplish better results and provides multiple side benefits to overall improvement in health and wellness.
Natural Alternatives to Drugs to Maintain Healthy Cholesterol
For people who want to use a natural means to lower cholesterol the FDA has approved plant products that take the place of cholesterol in the blood vessel called plant Stanols and Sterols such as Cholesterol Regulation Complex. To find out detail of how the work watch this video
The term“Safe drugs” is an oxymoron, because there is always toxicity inherent in the way drugs work. The actions of suppression and inhibition of natural processes in the body make additional side effects inevitable. No matter what we are trying to treat, nutritional, non-toxic and healthful options should always be explored and pharmaceutical, toxic intervention only used as a last resort.
