Most of us assume that high cholesterol is caused by eating a diet with a lot of saturated fat. However, health expert Suzy Cohen writes that the real culprit is sugar, and thatstatin drugs can actually make things worse.
Cohen describes that statin medications are used to block the body’s own creation of cholesterol. Many people think that this is in response to eating fatty foods, which is false. Your body doesn’t turn fat into cholesterol, rather it creates the cholesterol from eating foods high in sugar (glucose). These include candy, sweets, breads, pastas, crackers, cookies, etc.
When you take a statin, the medication tells the liver to push the sugar back into the bloodstream and into the body. Instead of being processed by the liver, these sugars then get sent back into the bloodstream. Increased levels of sugar in your blood means having a higher chance of developing diabetes.
Instead of relying on statin medications to lower cholesterol, Cohen recommends adjusting your diet to reduce cholesterol naturally. Cutting out sugars is part of this, but also includes eating foods rich in essential fatty acids (EFA’s), also known as Omega-3. These fatty acids are known for helping to reduce the risk of heart disease in the human body.
Some foods that are rich in EFA’s include:
Fish such as salmon.
Vegetables like kale, spinach, and Brussels sprouts.
Oils such as flaxseed oil, fish oil, and chia seed oil.
Before making major diet changes though, it is important to check with your doctor. Your doctor can check to make sure you don’t have diabetes (which presents other health concerns) and can recommend a diet tailored to your individual needs.
Interested in learning more about the connection between statins and diabetes?
Read the full article here: How Statins Cause Diabetes.
