Lower Your Cholesterol Yourself!

Articles, commercials, doctors, radio..everywhere you turn, you are hearing about the dangers of high cholesterol. Statins, a drug used to lower cholesterol, are readily available and often over prescribed. Some doctors put patients on statins after one round of blood work, never giving their patient the opportunity to lower their cholesterol levels on their own. There has actually been a 25% INCREASE of risk for heart attack in patients on these meds. The guidelines for cholesterol levels are becoming lower and seem to be nearly impossible for some people to reach. If you subscribe to the western medicine guidelines for cholesterol, you will find it difficult to maintain the ever changing guidelines. BUT, if this is a concern of yours, please know the dangers of statins.

Side Effects:

Increased liver enzymes

Acute muscle inflammation and damage

Changes in brain chemistry

Changes in mood

Hair loss

Tiredness

Gastrointestinal issues

To some, these may not seem like scary side effects. I have only named a handful. Be warned that statin's chemical changing reaction in the body can be and is often irreversible. Meaning, once you are on this type of drug..your body can no longer regulate itself correctly. There have been studies done on the very serious mood altering side effects of these drugs. They can cause psychosis, depression, suicidal ideation, and severe anxiety. 

So how can you improve your cholesterol with medications? Here is a list of ways!

Supplemental niacin, which is found in B complex supplements. You can also find niacin readily in some foods.

Increasing your dietary fiber

Exercise

Reduce your insulin resistance

Increase Omega intake

Increase Vitamin D3

Get enough sleep-that's right, lack of sleep can actually increase cholesterol levels

Reduce Stress

DIET- high amounts of non-starchy vegetables, high fiber, lean meats-preferably grass fed