Supplements for high Cholesterol anyone?

I’ve just started taking statins, I’m very active, don’t drink or smoke and eat healthy. Think it’s just in my genes.
The reality is Statins help with the risk of heart attacks and strokes, also vascular dementia!

Strange thing to say, my aunt found out she had high cholesterol at age 40.

When I asked what my cholesterol was I was told I need a separate test for it.but the nurse said I wouldn't worry about that at your age
I'm sure I should .opinions please

Our GP has advised that only statins will lower cholesterol, diet has little impact. This seems strange doesn't it? I have slightly raised cholesterol and my partners is a bit higher..not as high as yours though. GP said if he didn't take statins, he's at high risk of heart attack. At hearing this, he decided he would take them. I don't though.

For poppyred, the scare stories re statins are largely that, as you've heard, millions take them and the work fine! For a couple of the scaremongers, those symptoms could be due to other reasons.

If you want to go the dietary route, fine, lot of i'net advice about foods to be wary of. There is quite a lot of evidence that oats help to shift cholesterol, so perhaps find some recipes for say, oat muffins, and try an oaty b'fast cereal??

You could also take a garlic tab each day, I'd say the odourless would be best (may help with colds and flu as well?)

Never had any side effects from statins

Ladyripple

I have high cholesterol,nothing to do with my diet,it is genetic. I have taken statins for 21 years,I am under the care of a Professor at the hospital,he has changed the dose and type several times over the years.He told me when I first started seeing him that any product such as Benecol will not help lower cholesterol whatsoever..

There are many different statins if one doesn’t suit you.

I prefer to take a statin then worry about having a stroke or heart attack.I have no understanding of why anyone would not take medication that is going to help them live longer,baffles me.

It's not just about living longer, but strokes and heart attacks can have a huge impact on a person's quality of life.

PS. I agree with you.

My mother had high cholesterol and used to nag me to have mine checked…that was years ago and I never did.

I have high cholesterol,nothing to do with my diet,it is genetic. I have taken statins for 21 years,I am under the care of a Professor at the hospital,he has changed the dose and type several times over the years.He told me when I first started seeing him that any product such as Benecol will not help lower cholesterol whatsoever..

There are many different statins if one doesn’t suit you.

I prefer to take a statin then worry about having a stroke or heart attack.I have no understanding of why anyone would not take medication that is going to help them live longer,baffles me.

Husband takes Natures Best plant sterols - they've worked for him and no bad effects.

Definitely take statins, watch your diet and exercise.

Also, bear in mind that some so-called 'side effects' could be linked to other things like natural ageing twinges etc and would have happened anyway.

There are several different statins to try. I've never noticed any problems with Atorvastatin after 10+ years on it.

Benecol
Got mine down from 8.
Exercise and restricting dietary indulgence(!) help too
However, some people need medication to reduce high cholesterol

I've always had horrible side effects with all 5 brands of statins that I've tried so eventually my consultant prescribed high dose fish oils. My GP surgery refused to prescribe them (cost purposes) after a few years, so now I buy my own.. no side effects with them.. they don't particularly lower the blood count it is 7.. but I feel better..

For heavens sake, take the tablets.
They won’t do you any harm and ultimately may save your life.

I’ve been on them for many years and no side effects whatsoever.

Ezetimibe is a drug I take for high cholesterol and it has worked for me. It is not a statin and has to be prescribed by your Doctor. I do not suffer any side effects.

My cholesterol has always been low but I take a low dose preventative statin from which I have no side effects. I have congenital aortic stenosis (narrowing of the arteries) and a family history in both sides of stroke and heart disease. My father suffered from vascular dementia and his decline was heartbreaking to watch. My mother had several strokes and ended up immobile. I don’t wish to follow them; I am divorced and care would devolve upon my children unless I had to go into a care home. I don’t want either! I regard the statin as a small insurance to help prevent this, together with a healthy lifestyle. Even so Fate still throws a curve ball to us! I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and so would still be on medication anyway!

The British Heart Foundation say if you have Familial high cholesterol you cannot bring it into normal range without medication - in addition to exercise and keeping an eye on weight.
That is the type I have known I have since I was 38, and that is why I take Statins.
Do you know if you have this type Poppyred?

Ps. It seems calcium goes into arteries if balance wrong. look up magnesium ! Also D3
It's bit D with K2

Diet important. I'd give diet exercise a good go first if you see results carry on........ I take Blickbuster if want to look into that. I know, it sounds like a drain cleaner haha. It's enzymes for heart circulation gut etc. Says to clean up arteries. I buy from Good Health Naturally but others sell them. Worth a google anyway.
Good fats like avocado nuts, a little butter not marg, Coconut oil and olive oil to cook with all beneficial. Rainbow foods on your plate It's great in summer to do rainbow with all salad varieties. I feel better very quickly if been off track. Good luck

So have I, without any side effects.

I've taken statins for over 10 years with no side effects whatever.

Statins are evil things, I do not need them but wouldn’t take them anyway. Spirulina can help reduce cholesterol, but many doctors are looking at cholesterol differently now, opinions are changing and it is not always regarded as a problem. Watch Dr Ken Berry and others on YouTube. Most health problems are caused through high sugar and carbohydrate foods and highly processed foods, our bodies are not meant to have these and cannot process them causing huge damage. The Magic Pill is also thought provoking. I will now wait to be shot down in flames again!

Last September my Cholesterol level was 7.81. I found an App called Nutricheck and changed my diet. I cut down on Saturated fat and did more exercise. I lost 1.5 stone and feel so much better. My last cholesterol result was 6.82. My good HDL is 1.82 and my bad LDL has gone down to 4.27. On the GP website my results are shown as no further action needed yet I get a call from the GP pharmacy team recommending Statins. Im another who does not want to take them. I have read and re-read and researched and I still feel unhappy about them. I do appreciate that they will reduce my levels but am still reluctant at the moment. As both of my parents are deceased I do not know if they had high cholesterol. So I am plodding on with the healthy eating, exercise, Cholesterol lowering drinks and will have a re-test hopefully.

Totally agree. Ive never had any problems

My cholesterol is 4.7 brought down from 5.2. I cannot eat fats as upsets my stomach following an operation some years ago. Fibre also can do the same so have to be careful with that. I walk, do Pilates and line dancing. I am overweight, not grossly and am trying to lose some but already the majority of what I eat is low fat. My GP wants me to start statins but I am trying to get my cholesterol down further by lifestyle '. My weight comes from comfort eating which I am trying to control but there are times when I just feel , what the heck, why am I bothering at my age. My blood pressure fine and although I am just prediabetic, diabetes runs in the family so I watch that