Folks, the bottom line is that statin drugs are not the answer if your cholesterol is elevated. Statins are potentially dangerous to your health. So much so, that attempts to change any of them to over-the-counter status have failed. This is because statin drugs are linked to a number of serious and potentially life threatening side effects including, but not limited to:

• Weakness
• Muscle aches
• An increase in cancer risk
• Immune system suppression
• Serious degenerative muscle tissue condition (rhabdomyolysis)
• Potential increase in liver enzymes so patients must be monitored for normal liver function

Fortunately, information can make a difference, and one of my goals is to send out the message that statin drugs are clearly not the answer for high cholesterol. With that said, I also cannot recommend soy protein or cereal (both components of the "portfolio" diet), as they can be harmful to your overall health.

Safely Normalizing Cholesterol Levels

It is important to understand that statins do effectively lower cholesterol levels. There is no argument that these drugs work but they in no way shape or form treat the cause of the problem. They are nothing more than a potentially toxic band-aid. When you chose not to address the cause of the problem, the underlying condition that is causing the risk factor (high cholesterol) will crop up and eventually cause other diseases.

So just what is the problem with statins? Well they are non-specific inhibitors of a number of very important liver enzymes. The enzyme they are used for is called HMG Coenzyme A reductase. This is the enzyme that causes your liver to make choleseterol when it is stimulated by high insulin levels.

So you can shut down the enzyme that makes cholesterol or chose to reduce your insulin levels by eliminating sugar and most grains and not cause this important enzyme to be blocked in the first place. Please understand that statins not only block HMG coenzyme A reductase but they also block Coenzyme Q 10.

CoQ10 is a vital enzyme that your body needs for energy and cardiovascular health. It is widely recommended to repair heart damage, boost the function of the heart and act as a protectant against heart attacks and valve damage. Additionally, CoQ10 has been shown to be beneficial in heart and lung cancer, as well as maintain cognitive function.

Thus, when you take statins your production of this enzyme is dramatically depleted and you do not reap the health benefits associated with it.

It is my understanding that most clinicians in Europe that prescribe statins also hand the patients a prescription for CoQ10. This will help prevent heart failure, muscle pains and the potentially fatal rhabdomyolysis. From my view it is reprehensible malpractice to prescribe statins without advising patients to take CoQ10.

So What Can You Do to Normalize Your Cholesterol?

There are two primary strategies that work well over 99 percent of the time if properly implemented. They are:

• Daily cardiovascular exercise
• Low grain diet

A healthy food plan with little to no grains and sugars will effectively lower insulin levels as elevated insulin levels are one of the primary drivers for raising cholesterol.

Exercising regularly. The key to exercising effectively is to keep in mind three important variables: length of time, frequency and intensity. By doing so, you will ensure all your hard efforts are not wasted and are having a positive effect on your body.

I encourage my patients to gradually increase the amount of time they are exercising to 60 to 90 minutes a day. Initially the frequency is daily. This is a treatment dose until they normalize their weight or insulin levels. Once normalized, they will only need to exercise three to four times a week.

Also, you should exercise hard enough so that it is difficult to talk to someone next to you. When you are exercising that hard your cardiovascular system is under such a significant amount of stress that the mere act of talking makes you unable to provide your body with enough oxygen. However, if you cannot carry on a conversation AT ALL, then you have gone too far and need to decrease the intensity.

Anyone interested in regulating their cholesterol without drugs can find these methods completely explained in my book Total Health Program. Most anyone who follows it will find that their cholesterol levels will reach a healthy level, and numerous other health complaints will disappear as well.

While fish oil and cod liver oil will not lower your cholesterol in most cases it will, without question, reduce your risk of heart disease. Isn't that why most people take statins? They could care less what their cholesterol level is, all they want to do is avoid having a cardiovascular event.

Please remember that the highly conservative American Heart Association actually has approved and blessed fish oils as a proven item to reduce heart disease. Most of the items you read on this site are not accepted by conventional medicine (yet). However, fish oil is one that no one is arguing about. There is universal agreement that is something to take.

So please be sure to take a high-quality fish or cod liver oil that is chock full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to find a fish oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to the highest purity guidelines. This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins.

Those of you who read the newsletter regularly know I'm a fan of the Carlson's brand of fish oil and cod liver oil, as I have seen clear and often substantial improvements in my patients who use it. Plus, Carlson's fish and cod liver oil is one of the few brands that put the extra vitamin E in it for you straight from the get-go, so you don't have to take extra vitamin E if you don't want to.

You can find the Carlson's fish oil or cod liver oil at your local health food store, or, for your convenience, on my Recommended Products section.

Warning

Be prepared for the side effects for choosing to eliminate sugar and grains will inevitably cause you to:

• Normalize your weight
• Increase your energy
• Lower your blood pressure
• Lower triglycerides
• Feel better than you have felt in years

If you are willing to accept the side effects above then you might want to consider following the program. Please remember that we warned you about the side effects, most conventional physicians don't.

Related Articles:

Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?

More Insane Uses For Statin Drugs

The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven't Been Told About Cholesterol-Lowering Medication

Lunatic Recommendations For Statin Drug Use

'Experts' Recommend Higher Doses of Cholesterol Drugs

Cholesterol Guidelines Fraught With Massive Conflict of Interest