if you take statins you should take co enzyme q10 as statins lower this essential enzyme which is vital for our health

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Thanks for this information. I have wondered about side effects of statins.

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I've never really worked out the difference in "bad" "good" cholesterol! The hype around the various stuff advertised to lower this that and the other would not in the frist place be required if a balanced diet was followed with adequate exercise.Many people seem to be totally unaware for example that the body manufactures cholesterol, infact you can't live without the stuff as the only cells in the body that are not capable of manufacturing the stuff are nerve cells which require it as part of their structure. Not that is the slightest suggestion that cholestral can impinge on intelligence or learning capacity simply that if you believe the rubbish dispensed in advertising and bought all the products material you should live to a thousand with body of a Hollywood starlet etc etc. Somewhat reminiscent of the fifties products for saving petrol (gas) if you bought them all and filled your tank once by the time you reached the end of the block your tank should have been overflowing with the multiplicity of savings. The reality of course the only deficiency was your bank balance to the collective joy of the owners of the various products marketed. Thus proving we are a sad bunch of idiots that will buy anything we allow ourselves to be conned into especially if there is some suggestion that it will make us fitter, live longer or atract more men or women as the case may be. What we are being sold is the dream, the reality is more often than not completely different

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Statins are linked to ALS (Lou Gehrig's's disease), depression, and all sorts of other nasties. High cholesterol is not proven to cause anything by itself.

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thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

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I wish that following Dr. Dean Ornish's Heart-Disease Reversal Program was the only step needed to take to control cholesterol levels. I was a 100% adherent to his diet, and a 90% adherent to the other components of his program for nine years and, still, becasuse of my genetic-driven, extremes in cholesterol levels, I've had to continue with taking 40 mg. of Lipitor, daily,for far too many years. That just to keep my total cholesterol level below 200. Lipitor along with following the Ornish plan has allowed me to reduce my bad cholesterol to 128.

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HAH! These are relatively small side effects to be concerned with when compared to other complications, such as permanent liver damage, memory loss and the lack of ability to absorb vitamin D (which is now touted as a super-mineral that needs to be supplemented partly due to the increased use of sunscreen to prevent skin cancer!) And this is no accident. According to Dr. Jonathan Wright, "Merck & Co. holds the patent on combining the natural substance coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) with statin to prevent a lot of the statin side effects, but none of their patent-medicine statins have Co-Q10. If they release this information, everyone will know, and they may have to admit that their drug was harmful." Interesting, these patents were obtained in the 90's! They've had time to fix this. He goes on to say "...by lowering Co-Q10, the statin drugs can cause predictable elevations of liver enzymes with liver damage...by giving Co-Q10 along with the drugs, this complication can be prevented or treated if it already exists." Bottom line: DO YOUR HOMEWORK! These pharm companies know what they are doing and they want to keep you coming back for more. There are so many natural alternatives to solve virtually ANY health problem. Don't become a mere statistic. Educate yourself before these drugs destroy you or someone you love.

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Fish oil and red yeast rice taken together are apparently as effective as statins at fighting cholesterol.

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Dear Edwin,

Everything is not so simple for everyone. I am disabled. Lupus, spinal stenosis and other back problems, mental health issues, diabetes and I live on a small disability check. My rent eats it up in one gulp. Then I do day care for one child. This pays for utilities. So, buying the right and healthy fresh veggies--or even frozen? and fruit? Not always an option. I also can not afford meat (good thing except B vitamins and iron), so I live on rice and beans and some donated foods. I have food stamps, and I do buy frozen fruit and veggies, but they do not last the month. My doc says I have low blood protein and low iron.

I walk as much as I can. I have enough liver issues with the psych meds, I am leery of pain killers. So, you see, it may not be so simple for everyone. I am trying. I am hopeful.

A "friend" said to me once that getting rid of diabetes 2 was easy. Just eat less and exercise. That is not always true. It can be med related also. Also, although we can eat less, we can not ALWAYS exercise.

People who just flippantly say things--- like how simple it all is---may hurt others who do not find it simple. I am disabled and stigma bothers me more, maybe. I wish everyone would become a little more sensitive and empathetic.

Plus, our body makes cholesterol. If not? i would not have any. I am veggie unless I go to a meal someplace else. That very rarely happens.

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Those with high cholesterol should also focus on taking strong antioxidants because it's the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (not the numeric LDL count) that poses the risk to your arteries.

Studies have long shown that statins lower B-12 (the feel good B), so if you MUST (because you are listening to your doctor) be on statins, insist on taking a bioavailable B-complex.

First, last and always, read the nutritional impact of any medication you take, and make sure you offset that nutritional hit.

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