Since people have a renewed sense of desire to improve their health at the beginning of the year, I wanted to educate you a little about heart health and cholesterol drugs.

Statin drugs are the drugs of choice for cholesterol. The problem with these drugs is they pose serious health problems. Some of these include:

* Inability to concentrate
* Confusion
* Amnesia
* Depression
* Impotence
* Lowered sex drive
* Weakened immune system
* Shortness of breath
* Fatigue
* Nerve pain
* Muscle weakness
* Liver damage
* Kidney damage

Study after study has demonstrated the potentially debilitating effects of statin drugs.

Also, if you put the blame on LDL cholesterol, you don’t solve the underlying problems that cause heart disease.

Cholesterol is the big bright beacon when it comes to mainstream medicine’s take on heart health. The problem is, despite 20 years of propaganda from the heart health industry, the fact still remains that LDL cholesterol levels are still a terribly poor predictor of whether or not you’re going to have a heart attack.

In fact, it may surprise you to learn that 75% of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol levels!

My advice is to forget about cholesterol and statin drugs and focus instead on the true indicators of heart health. Here’s what you should really be looking out for if you want to know whether you’re at risk:

* Triglycerides
* Insulin
* HDL Cholesterol
* Blood Pressure
* Fasting Blood Glucose
* Waist Size

Triglycerides are the kind of fat in your bloodstream that clogs your arteries. You can lower them safely and naturally by getting more omega-3 and vitamin D. Cod liver oil’s a great source of both. Lean meats, fish, and eggs are also rich in omega-3s. You can also get your vitamin D from supplements – 1,000 IUs per day will do the trick.

Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. And high blood sugar levels lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. If your insulin levels are high, you may be developing insulin resistance, the cause of diabetes. Cut carbs out of your diet and replace them with protein.

HDL Cholesterol is the heart of the matter when it comes to heart disease. Your total cholesterol doesn’t matter if your HDL levels are high. If your HDL’s above 85, you’re at no greater risk for heart disease if your total cholesterol is 150 or 350. A combination of exercise and dietary changes are all you need to boost your HDL. Eating more lean meats (either red or white) is a great way to raise your HDL naturally.

Blood Pressure is another indicator of heart disease risk. You can easily lower it through exercise, diet, and supplements. CoQ10, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C have all been shown to benefit people with high blood pressure. Garlic and cayenne pepper also contain natural ingredients that reduce hypertension.

My job as your doctor is not just to provide you chiropractic care…it’s also to teach you how you can be healthier, happier, and live longer. I’ve found that the healthiest people are also the most educated.

Have a great day!