Why You Should Avoid Statin Drugs

As you know I'm not a proponent for western medication, because of all the side effects and how they are usually just cover ups. So here I am reading an article about statin drugs, and some alternatives.

As many may know, a lot of the "super" drugs are heavily marketed by drug reps, and they make a lot of money to do so. Pharmaceutical drug companies can make Billions (yes with a B) with some of their drugs, and that's why they want people to use those drugs over more affordable drugs that may actually be better for you. A good example is Calcium Channel Blockers vs. Diuretics.

Ok so back to statins. A major problem with these (and most drugs) is the benefits are usually overstated and the risks are understated. Sure, many people have a hard time getting their cholesterol reduced just with diet and exercise (most aren't good at following a plan), so they may need extra help. But are statins the answer?

"in 2001, a statin marketed under the name Baycol was pulled from pharmacy shelves after being associated with rhabdomyolysis - a muscle-wasting condition in which toxic by products from muscle fragments enter the bloodstream and clog the kidneys, potentially causing organ failure and eventual death. ........ Some scientists have also questioned whether statin-associated spikes in blood levels of liver enzymes indicate trouble in the organ, and there is ongoing debate about the drugs causing memory loss"

As we know, most western drugs are highly toxic to the kidneys, liver or both. In both Western and Chinese medicine we know the liver has a strong association with the blood. So when the liver starts to get compromised, the blood gets compromised and then your overall health gets compromised. Since the liver produces most of the cholesterol that our body needs, when it isn't working well anymore, then that changes our body's function to deal with cholesterol, and we'll end up with problems. It makes sense that we should take care of our liver.

"While experts warn of understated risks, a growing number suggests that the benefits are equally overstated. A recent article in Business Week cited aggressive drug company marketing that employs tricky statistics (one statin ad boasted a 36 percent reduction in the risk of a heart attack even though the drug was only slightly more effective than a placebo). 'If you've already had a heart attack, taking a statin has a small but very real effect, but you'd need at least 50 people to take it for 5 years for one of them to benefit. Yet all will incur great costs for the drugs and the doctor visits, and will worry and risk side effects' ~ Dr. Jerome Hoffman M.D., professor of clinical medicine at UCLA"

So it would seem that a nice natural, safe and effective alternative is needed. Well, Chinese medicine has worked for over 3,500 years and it's always been natural, safe and effective.

So here are some things you can do to help, besides seeing your Chinese medicine practitioner.

For lowering your LDL, you can enjoy:

• Red Grape Fruit ~ 1 daily reduces levels by 20%
  
• Steel Cut Oat Meal ~ 3/4 cup daily reduces levels by 15%
  
• Pecans ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 13%
  
• Pistachios ~ 3oz daily reduces levels by 12%
  
• Promise Activ Spread ~ 3 servings daily reduces levels by 10%
  
• Macadamia Nuts ~ 1.5oz daily reduces levels by 9%
  
• Pinto Beans ~ 1/2 cup daily reduces levels by 7%
  
• Walnuts and Almonds ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 7%
  
• Peanuts ~ 1oz daily reduces levels by 6%
  

For raising your HDL, you can enjoy:

• Orange juice ~ three 8oz glasses daily boosts levels by 21%
• Hazelnuts ~ 1.5ox daily boosts levels by 13%
• Dark Chocolate ~ 2.5oz daily boosts levels by 11%
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil ~ 2 Tbsp daily boosts levels by 4%

For lowering your triglycerides, you can enjoy:

• Fish Oil ~ 4 grams daily reduces levels up to 45%
• Peanuts ~ 3oz daily reduces levels by up to 24%
• Pistachios ~ 2-3oz daily reduces levels by 10 points

There are also many Chinese medicine herbs that help with lowering your cholesterol, and you can't go wrong with also taking Grape Seed Extract.

So in general here are some things to live by:

• If it's not food, don't eat it ~ eat natural foods as much as possible
• Reduce your meat intake ~ 10% of the meal should be meat, the rest vegetable and rice
• Enjoy 5-6 small meals throughout the day ~ a handful of almonds can be considered one meal for your snack
• Drink your water without ice and at room temperature
• Vegetables should be slightly steamed ~ raw is too hard on your digestive system
• Exercise, Exercise, Exercise ~ just a little goes a long way, Tai Ji (tai chi) is a wonderful form to start as young as possible

Hoping you a long and healthy life ~ White-Eagle