Over this past week, we have been inundated with news stories about how millions more people at future risk of heart attack and stroke could be offered access to cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins under new guidance from the National Health Service (NHS) here in the UK.
These reports are infuriating for two reasons.
- Anyone who understands heart health knows that high cholesterol levels are not the problem. This idea is based on an outdated theory and floored research. Yet, the medical industry keeps pushing this hypothesis to encourage more people to take medications – and in turn, they are continuing to earn the pharmaceutical industry mega profits.
- Many side effects are associated with statin use – many more than the drug manufacturers are willing to admit. These devastating side effects include muscle pain and damage, liver damage and neurological side effects. Research also shows it may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 60 per cent. [1]
If you want to protect your heart health, taking cholesterol-lowering drugs may be effective for some…but it doesn’t address the underlying causes that cause heart and cardiovascular issues in the first place.
Follow a Good Health Plan For Best Heart Health
Our founder Robert Redfern, was an advocate for people learning to take preventative measures when it came to their health – especially when it comes to an area as important as improving your heart and cardiovascular health.
He often wrote newsletters about how people can take their heart health into their own hands by prioritising a healthy diet and lifestyle first to avoid using statins. Robert also gave people advice and laid out health plans in his books about how to improve cardiovascular health in the long-term.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests that doctors continue to persuade people with a lower risk of heart disease to live healthier by losing weight or stopping smoking. However, this should be an essential first step for anyone at any level of heart health.
Cholesterol Is Not The Problem
Despite the media propaganda that high cholesterol is bad, this is, in fact, a myth. Cholesterol is essential for the healthy regeneration of the cells in the body. High cholesterol is also not a disease and does not, in itself, cause any damage. Cholesterol plays an essential role in hormone production and our skin cells also need cholesterol to make Vitamin D from sunlight.
The damage to the body isn’t caused by cholesterol – it’s caused by eating starchy carbs, high-sugar foods and drinks, processed foods and processed oils. It can also be elevated by stress and anxiety and having an infection.
When the inflammation becomes chronic, the damage is caused within the body. Statins can only work by blocking the production of cholesterol in the liver, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause of poor heart health.
Statins also deplete mevalonate and the (MVA) cholesterol pathway, which plays a vital role in the body’s cellular processes. They are also known to deplete Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – which is critical for cell energy.
CoQ10 may help to naturally reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels in people with diabetes – thereby also helping to lower their risk of heart disease.
Therefore, caring for your heart and cardiovascular health means taking the appropriate nutrients. Some of the best heart health nutrients include…
Serrapeptase – Helps with inflammation, clears arterial plaque and cleans the blood, supporting healthy blood flow.
Nattokinase – This has been shown in studies to help dissolve blood clots. This can help to maintain good blood vessel structure, improve blood flow and lower the risk of heart disease. [2]
Krill Oil – This is recommended because, as an ultra-pure source of Omega-3s, it has been clinically proven to lower triglyceride levels in the blood. This can help to reduce the risk of fatal coronary heart disease by 30%. [3]
Ubiquinol – This is the reduced form of CoQ10. Ubiquinol can help to maintain and promote heart health by providing cellular energy to keep it pumping well. [4]
While the choice is yours when it comes to taking cholesterol-lowering medications – by following the above nutrient recommendations and the heart-healthy lifestyle plan outlined in the ‘Helping Heart Health, By The Book’ below – studies show that you can improve your cardiovascular health, where possible.
References:
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939475317300431
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6043915/
[3] https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/News/Promotional-Features/New-study-validates-krill-oil-s-beneficial-effects-for-heart-health
[4] https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(19)31444-1/fulltext
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Recommended Reading
Helping Heart Health By The Book
Discover how to naturally improve your heart health with the nutrient and lifestyle recommendations recommended in this book—written by renowned health coach and author Robert Redfern.
Available as a free download from Naturally Healthy News
