By Carmen Meadows (editing by Eric Richards, DC)
High Cholesterol and the Effects of Statin Use on Hormone Function
Do you have high cholesterol? If so, you are not alone. Here are some interesting facts about cholesterol levels in the United States.
107 million, or 1 in 5 adults age 20 and above, have cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL.
Almost 38 million more have levels above 240 mg/dL.
More women over age 45 have high cholesterol than men.
Almost 30 million prescriptions are written each year for cholesterol lowering drugs, accounting for $20 billion in annual sales for the pharmaceutical industry.
Americans spend $10 billion per year on the statin drug, Lipitor alone
Most drugs prescribed today to lower cholesterol are statin drugs.
Asians on average have an LDL cholesterol level of less than 95 because of their diet. Anything under 100 for LDL cholesterol is considered good. (This statistic changes if the individual consumes a typical American diet.)
Diet and lifestyle changes, without the use of drugs, have been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol in one year’s time by 40 percent on average (from 144 down to 87 mg/dL) (1).
An interesting fact, is that when cholesterol numbers are reported, you will commonly see the good numbers related to a low fat diet, and high (or bad) numbers related to a high fat diet. When in reality, the fat content across the Asian-American spectrum, is about the same. However, there is significant difference in the source of the fat, as well as the amount of sugar or carbohydrate in the diet.
Everyone above the age of 20 is advised to have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). If you have a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors, blood cholesterol should be checked even more often according to this program. However, cholesterol levels have been a ploy of the pharmaceutical companies for years. The Cholesterol Conspiracy, written by Ladd McNamara MD, is an incredible book that explains the lie that has been perpitrated on the American People, about the real significance, or INsiginificance of high cholesterol.
HOWEVER, if you have an awful lifestyle, then your cholesterol is going to be high, but also oxidized, causing it to be a serious health consideration. IF you lead an incredible life, eating healthy non-damaged fats, low sugar, high vegetables, organic whenever possible; then it would mean little if your cholesterol was over 300, other than your body likes to have cholesterol over 300!
You must keep the Power turned on with chiropractic adjustments allowing your body to operate at its maximum capabilities. It is possible to control cholesterol levels with diet and exercise, by maintaining a healthy weight, and by consuming the right mix of vitamins and minerals. It is postulated that ingesting antioxidants and minimizing free radical exposure may reduce LDL’s contribution to atherosclerosis (2). The best source of antioxidants is a well balanced diet consisting of fresh minimally processed foods.
We are most familiar with two types of cholesterol, HDL’s (good) cholesterol and LDL’s (bad) cholesterol. Statins are used to target LDL’s in the blood. Even though LDL’s have been called the “bad” cholesterol, LDL’s are essential for optimum hormone function in the body. LDL’s are actually the building blocks for testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Statin drugs have been shown to cause imbalance in the steroid hormones (3); and statin use is significantly associated with greater prevalence of musculoskeletal pain overall, lower extremity pain, and lower back pain (4).
Come join us for the Total Food Makeover to get yourself on tract to lower your overall body weight, learn what fats are the right fats (this coming Monday), and understand how sugar is the worst culprit in cholesterol! This is a great step in getting those cholesterol levels under control naturally and boosting the function of your hormones.
Don’t fall for the cholesterol trap, get off your statins now! We can lead you like we have hundreds before you!
2. Esterbauer H, et al. “Effect of antioxidants on oxidative modification of LDL”. Annals of Medicine. 1991;23(5):573–81.
3. Reffelmann T, Kloner RA. Sexual function in hypertensive patients receiving treatment. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2006;2(4):447-55.
4. Buettner C, et al. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and statin use. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Aug;23(8):1182-6. Epub 2008 May 1.