Three months ago, I told you that my cholesterol levels were high. My LDL (bad cholesterol) was approximately 138. My total cholesterol was 214.
My primary care physician immediately wanted to place me on Lipitor. I told him that I was not eager to get on this medication as I heard it had some long-term side effects. I also do not like the idea of becoming dependent on the chemical compound du jour. So I told him that I would try diet and exercise before starting on Lipitor.
My next step was to see my friend, Dr. Mark Morgan. Mark is a chiropractor and naturalist in Edmond, OK. In fact, we office in the same building.
Mark got a pained look on his face when I told him of my doc's recommendations to start on Lipitor. He warned me of the side effects and recommended Red Yeast Rice Extract combined with Co-enzyme Q-10 to lower cholesterol naturally. I asked him why the Co-Q10 was important and he told me that it is CRITICAL to take Co-Q10 with statins, whether natural or synthetic. Statins reduce the amount of Co-Q10 necessary for healthy heart function. Unfortunately, most traditional medical practicioners don't know this and are not telling their patients. That means millions of people taking Lipitor or another statin drug are potentially endangering their health by taking these medications.
It is now three months later. My diet and exercise regimen has not changed. But I have been taking the Red Yeast Rice Extract.
The results? My cholesterol has lowered 45 points! My bad cholesterol is now 109 and my total cholesterol is 169. My tri-glycerides have also lowered from 178 to 124... very acceptable levels.
So there you have it.
My mistrust for the traditional medical community grows larger with each passing day. I am convinced that many doctors don't even care to research these alternative therapies which could greatly benefit their patients. One person left a comment that I should "trust my primary care physician".
I'm sorry. But I no longer consider him my primary care physician. That distinction now belongs to Dr. Morgan. Contact Dr. Morgan here.
Hey Joel,
I just received your post about lowering cholesterol, and, before I read it, I was going to send you a note on Red Yeast Rice!
It's excellant and I've been using it for years. My daughter suggested I get on it about 7 years ago.
I too am suspect about a medical establishment that seemingly has knowledge about only prescription drugs! Is their motivation in line with the advice they get from drug companies?
Warm Regards, Jim
Jim,
Glad you didn't use the statin drug. FYI, one of the statin drug companies has patented a version WITH Co Q-10. They KNOW their drugs aren't good for you.
Steve
Former drug rep
Hi Joel, thanks for the cholesterol advice, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol too, about 5 years ago.
I was put on atorvastatin, but recent tests showed I was borderline on needing the statins, so I asked my doc to stop them for a while.
I have to have tests regularly , so might try some of the alternatives you mentioned in your blog, thanks for the heads up on these drugs.
Hi Joel,
Great news! As a customer of a comapny called Melaleuca, they also have a two natural supplements that have been proven to do the same thing.
One uses Omerga-3 fatty acids and plant-based phytosterols, and the other is a cardio vascular protector that uses grape seed extract that reduces cholesterol oxidation while mainting healty blood platelet activity.
All in all, the natural solutions are always far better than the drugs with all those side effects!.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Joel, That's great results with your cholesterol. The article your Red Yeast Rice Extract link above goes to says the FDA has made it available by prescription only, however an Internet search shows it readily available.
Please post the details of the two supplements you took -- brand, dosage, frequency, form. My last blood test showed total cholesterol of 208. I already take 30 mcg of CoQ10 daily. Until your post, I'd never heard of Red Yeast Rice Extract.
Thanks.
Jon
I have a blog that is for alternative health tips and would like permission to use part of your article on my site as I have written about the dangers of the statins.
Sincerely,
Muryal
Great info Joel. Zocor almost killed my mother nine years ago. I was just diagnosed with a fatty liver and have slightly high cholesterol and fairly high trigs. But diet has helped alot. My lipids are much closer to normal than they were. But I think I may try the red rice yeast myself. Good meeting you in SF by the way.
The brand of red yeast rice extract is "NuMedica". It is 833 mg, which I was told to take three capsules, twice daily. yes, Muryal, you may use a portion of my article as long as you link back to this page. :-)
Joel
Hey Joel:
One way to lower your cholesterol is to change your Buy Joel Dessert program to Buy Joel Supplements! Get rid of those desserts and add reference to Red Yeast Rice Extract and Co-enzyme Q-10.
--Chaplain Paul
My husband, who is a disabled wreck, thanks to 40 years of smoking and trusting the MD's and drug companies for his health, is pushing me to see my doctor about my blood pressure. I feel like you do about going on drugs--do you (or your chiropractor) have any advice?
Dr. Morgan has something to say about almost everything :-) You can get his contact info through the link at the end of my article. I am not a medical practitioner of any kind and am not qualified to give advice.
Hi! Congrats on lowering your cholesterol levels! I am always looking for natural treatments. You might be interested in this as well; Fucoidan. The Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry (Okojama, Japan) collected data showing fucoidan alters the activity of liver enzymes that control the way fatty acids are metabolized, resulting in lower cholestoral levels in the blood. These findings were published in a 1999 issue of Journal of Nutrition.
(I recieved this information from a third party not the Limu company) This ingretient is only found in brown seaweed! My family purchases the liquid food from The Limu Company (Limu means seaweed). It taste like juice and my children love it! There are no side effects because it is a food like the red yeast rice extract. It contains more than 70 vitamins and minerals! Research it! It has helped me to loose weight and have a more energy! I would be happy to speak to anyone who is interested! I hope this will bless you as much as it has blessed my family!
Stephanie McLerran
214-265-1810
life@limupro.com
life.limupro.com
thelimucompany.com
Here's a thought on lowering your cholesterol: how about removing the "BuyJoelDessert.com" ads on your website?
I agree with you, Joel
sometimes some doctors disregard some naturist potentials and see the only solution somewhere else.
To remember you, The total Cholesterol must be below 200 and your bad LDL must be below 100. The higher HDL is, the better, but not lower than 40
Wow. I have been leaning away from the medical field for some years. I work with two Welness Degreed individuals in Edmond. In fact, they are the directors of where Dr. Morgan sends his step-son. They have shown me a lot of truth about how our exercise and eating habits drives what our bodies do. I applaud you on your decision to go to Mark first. I am taking my son there today. He is struggling with back issues and also talks about being a surgeon. I want him to be impacted on how God made our bodies to be able to do healing naturally...if we would only take care of it. I hope to read more on peoples testimonies like this. We don't get much encouragement elsewhere.
Never EVER let a "Doctor" tell you you need these destructive statins.
Stay AWAY from them.
Its the main reason I only go to urgent care places and NEVER go to see a doctor for checkups.
Checkups these days are nothing more than a doctor and a pharma company greedily rubbing their hands together to see what new drugs you "need" all the while lowering the levels of what is considered sick.
Read up on these levels going lower and lower
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/health/suddenlysick/
I am not in any way related to the article.. just found it and its very important info
Well done Joel a bit of plain speaking is always welcome. I agree with you doctors are often very inward looking and resistant to new ideas particularly if they are not mainstream "science". You can do a lot to reduce and maintain your own cholesterol levels see http://www.checkmybody.co.uk/cholesterol.htm as well as manage many other aspects of your own wellbeing.
Hi Joel,
I am interested in what you have to say about getting off cholesterol medicine as I have been diagnosed with high cholesterol at a level of 217. I would like to trythe red yeast extract along withthe co enzyme but I am not sure if it is right for me. Is it necessary for me to take both?
Chicago