Basic Guide Concerning Statins, Cholesterol and Antioxidants

By: Justin Flowers

As you are probably aware cholestrol is a waxy, fat-like sterol essential to all the cells in our bodies. The liver makes some of it and we also acquire it from certain foods. A build up of cholesterol in the blood can be a health hazard and is a significant source of strokes, arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.

Statins have been highly publicized, and they are reported as having added substantially to the profits of the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture them. Different statins have been produced, and are being applied successfully to reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), that is frequently referred to as bad cholesterol, as distinct from high-density lipoprotein (HDL), better known as good cholesterol.

Although statins are being widely approved there are many people, including some trained nutritionists, who believe that there are natural health ways of reducing high cholesterol levels. They believe that a healthy diet, with plenty of antioxidants and vitamin rich fruit and vegetables, as part of a healthy routine, can achieve the necessary changes. Nobody would deny that it would be an inadequate medical advisor who did not propose lifestyle adjustments, as required, as well as prescribing statins, but they wouldn't always include antioxidants.

It seems that the body of opinion, not in favor of the wholesale use of statins, arises because they consider that the treatment is being introduced before more natural treatment, including antioxidants, have been tried. Surely, some of those opposed to the manner in which statins are applied, wouldn't be as concerned about their use if they were given after an individual had already experienced a cardiovascular disease. Their concern seems to be using them to reduce LDL levels in healthy individuals, as they consider that drug free alternatives should be tried first.

Your doctor could advise statins, after a blood test has revealed that your bad cholesterol level is a health risk, and could sooner or later result in a cardiovascular disease. Doctors are health professionals and most of them are more than willing to chat about their grounds for suggesting treatment. It can be frightening for a person to become aware that they are liable to suffer from cardiovascular illness, but it is very rarely likely to happen without time to take remedial action. The fact is he is giving you an indication of what might become a problem within the next ten years.

Doctors are highly skilled experts, who as a rule will be ready to discuss their proposals. It would be strange, if you weren't at least as interested in your own health, as your doctor. So the thing to do is to listen to advice and think about the implications. If you are already experienced in natural health matters, you may have some idea of what issues to raise. You should realize that if you require any type of drug for life, it is crucial that you are aware of any possible side effects, as well as the benefits. When statins are being proposed, you may wish to find out whether dietary changes, that might include antioxidants, could be tried instead. Unless your doctor indicates that something needs to be done urgently, take a little while to make your decision, even if it involves making a further appointment.

There is little doubt that people who assume a healthy lifestyle, with attention to a diet that contains an abundance of antioxidant loaded fruit and vegetables, are less likely to get cardiovascular disease than those relying on junk food. Unhappily, as far as the latter are involved there are big business interests to feed the demand. Notwithstanding, their remedial effects statins too are big business, and whether you finally take them or not, merits serious deliberation.

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Justin Flowers prepares articles regarding antioxidants, herbal remedies, allergies and vegetarianism. To find out more about antioxidants please click on his web site www.antioxidantsadvice.com that includes advice concerning Dietary Antioxidant, and other matters.

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