I'm Gene Millen, your host on this website with my Bernie.
In 1990, at the young age of 59 I was surprised by the necessity of a six way heart bypass operation. This got my attention and propelled me on a journey to find out what caused this near heart attack.
I wanted to determine which heart supplements I could take that would reduce risks of a heart attack. One heart nutrient that I discovered that is extremely beneficial in lowering the "bad" ldl cholesterol and improving the good hdl cholesterol is policosanol.
Has your doctor told you that your cholesterol is too high and that he/she wants you to use a statin drug to lower it? If so there is good news! There is a better all natural alternative..all natural policosanol.
You need to be wary before starting any statin drug prescription such as Lipitor Crestor or one of their generic cousins as they are often associated with dangerous side effects.
Policosanol is not only virtually side effect free it also has a number of health benefits, but the most powerful is its ability to increase your good HDL cholesterol, which is more important than lowering your so called "bad" cholesterol.
Studies show that those with the highest hdl cholesterol actually live longer!
Most cholesterol lowering statin drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor and their generic counterparts do NOT improve the good HDL cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol levels typically increase by 15 to 25% after only two months of policosanol use.
Dr. Michael Murray, author of Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, one of the most renowned doctors of natural medicine provides us with a second opinion about policosanol.
" "In a 1997 head-to-head study policosanol was compared with statin drugs lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) Policosanol and ZOCOR were found to be equally effective in lowering cholesterol during an eight week study...but policosanol also significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels and Zocor did not.""
Plant sterols are currently being lauded as a natural, cholesterol-busting wonder ingredient, and can be found in several premium-price margarines, milk products and yogurts. Plant sterols can be found naturally in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, beans, and other plant foods containing fats and oils.
The cholesterol-lowering properties of plant sterols/stanols have been known since the 1950s. In recent years, the medical community has endorsed consumption of plant sterols/stanols as a safe and effective means of promoting good cardiovascular health.
Because their recognized health benefits and the convenience and ease of use plant sterols have become popular as an extract included in natural supplements.
They function as cholesterol-lowering agents in blood by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from food during digestion and also by blocking the re-absorption of cholesterol manufactured in the liver.
Clinical trials have shown that plant sterols such as beta sitosterol also lower blood concentrations of valuable antioxidants, such as beta-carotene by about 25%, alpha carotene by 10%, and vitamin E by 8%. People who are taking plant sterols should consume more fruit and vegetables or antioxidant vitamins to compensate for these losses.
"When the results of my lipid panel came back in the spring of 2001, my triglycerides were sky high (1723) and my HDL so low (8) that I was frightened enough to try any solution the doctor suggested.
"A combination of a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, exercise and the use of high doses of niacin, brought the triglycerides down to a reasonable level; however, nothing seemed to budge the low HDL level to much above 18.
"When we moved out of state, my new doctor insisted that I try a combination of niacin and simvastatin to address what he thought were "unacceptable" numbers. In 2024 I finally caved and agreed to the statin combo drug. Within a year I was unable to walk up and down stairs and couldn't lift myself from a sitting position without holding on to something.
"I immediately stopped the statin/niacin (against the doctor's advice), and I began in earnest scouring the internet for alternative solutions to what for me had been harmful pharmaceutical drugs.
"How fortunate for me that I found the Millen's Vital Heart Health for Life site. I ordered policosanol and within six months my HDL began improving.
My last test, three months ago showed my HDL at 36, not ideal I realize, but for me the best it has ever been. Triglycerides and LDL were also within normal range, and my total cholesterol was 180!
Janelle Carey, Savoy, Illinois
Red yeast rice is truly the ultimate natural solution for cardio support! The bark derived from this tree grown in India has been shown in clinical studies to lower cholestero by 30% and triglycerides by 34%.
Red Yeast Rice is a nutritional supplement that is manufactured by fermenting rice with the Monascus purpureus yeast. It is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopeia as a medicinal food because of its ability to support healthy cholesterol levels and blood circulation.
Red yeast rice has been used in China as far back as the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D. It was used to treat all sorts of ailments, including problems with blood flow, spleen, stomach ailments and pain relief.
It has been a staple in Asian diets for centuries and contains several compounds known to inhibit cholesterol. The most popular one is known "monacolin K" and this compound reduces cholesterol by blocking the action of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme in your liver.
This means blood levels of cholesterol are correspondingly reduced. The FDA has approved the medications called statin drugs to which act in the same manner.
Because Monacolins can sometimes deplete CoQ10 levels in the body, Red Yeast Rice Gold contains Kaneka CoQ10, a clinically-proven, natural source of CoQ10 from fermented yeast to offset any depletion that may occur from long-term use of Red Yeast Rice Gold.
Although red yeast rice is weaker statin than its pharmaceutical cousins, Mayo Clinic researchers found that the combination of omega 3 fish oils and red yeast rice lowered cholesterol as much as Zocor over a 12 week period.
After 12 weeks, the fish oil/red yeast rice group's triglycerides decreased by 29 percent whereas the statins did not lower triglycerides significantly. This a key benefit as triglycerides are a key risk of artery clogging.
Another study led cardiologists, Dr. David Becker, MD and Ram Gordon, MD came up with some more good news about red yeast rice.
The randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was published in the June 2024 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine and included 62 patients with high cholesterol.
Half the group took 600 mg red yeast rice twice daily for six months. The other half received placebo. After six months, LDL cholesterol (the so called bad cholesterol) levels decreased an average of 35 mg.
The placebo group did not see these benefits.
Side effects common to statins such as muscle pain, cramps or liver enzyme elevations did not occur in the red yeast rice group. Click here to learn more about red yeast rice and the clinical studies.
Thanks joining us on the journey toLipitor Side Effects
Vital Heart Health for Life!
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