What can you take instead of statins?

7 cholesterol-lowering alternatives to statins
  • Fibrates. Mostly used for lowering triglyceride levels in patients whose levels are very high and could cause pancreatitis. ...
  • Plant stanols and sterols. ...
  • Cholestyramine and other bile acid-binding resins. ...
  • Niacin. ...
  • Policosanol. ...
  • Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) ...
  • Natural products.
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What is the alternative to taking statins?

There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.
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Is there a natural substitute for statins?

Natural alternatives to statins include soy products like tofu and edamame. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 35 million Americans have high LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. This greatly increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.
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How can I lower my cholesterol without statins?

9 Ways To Lower Your Cholesterol Without Medication
  1. Limit unhealthy fats. Your body already makes all the saturated fat it needs and eating too much more can raise your cholesterol. ...
  2. Get your omega-3s. ...
  3. Eat more fiber. ...
  4. Cut back on added sugar. ...
  5. Limit alcohol. ...
  6. Quit smoking. ...
  7. Exercise on most days. ...
  8. Develop healthy sleep habits.
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What is the best natural alternative to statins?

Keep reading to learn more about 6 statin alternatives, including natural remedies and other cholesterol-lowering medications.
  1. Fibric acid. Share on Pinterest Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images. ...
  2. Bile acid sequestrants. ...
  3. Ezetimibe. ...
  4. Omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  5. Niacin. ...
  6. Red yeast rice extract.
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Statin Alternatives | Straight Talk MD with Dr. Brandy Patterson



What is the fastest way to lower cholesterol naturally?

10 Natural Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
  1. Basics.
  2. Eat monounsaturated fats.
  3. Use polyunsaturated fats.
  4. Avoid trans fats.
  5. Eat soluble fiber.
  6. Exercise.
  7. Keep a healthy weight.
  8. Don't smoke.
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Can I lower my cholesterol without medication?

Diet and exercise can lower your cholesterol by about 20 to 30 percent . If home remedies, diet, and exercise aren't enough to get your LDL cholesterol to a safe level, medication is the next step in keeping your heart healthy. Medication can bring your cholesterol down even further, if needed.
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Why do doctors push statins?

Statins are the go-to treatment option for lowering cholesterol levels and risk of cardiovascular complications, like heart attack and stroke. Statins work by slowing down cholesterol production and enabling the liver to remove low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or “bad cholesterol,” from the bloodstream.
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What is the best supplement for lowering cholesterol?

Niacin. Niacin is a B vitamin. Doctors sometimes suggest it for patients with high cholesterol or heart concerns. It increases the level of good cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, another fat that can clog arteries.
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What is a natural statin?

Natural statins are dietary supplements that are considered helpful in lowering your cholesterol. There's some evidence that the following are effective when it comes to reducing cholesterol levels.
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Can you get off statins Once you start?

It's possible for some people to stop taking statins safely, but it can be especially risky for others. For instance, if you have a history of heart attack or stroke, it's not recommended that you stop taking these drugs. This is because you're more likely to have another such problem when you discontinue statins.
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What is the new cholesterol drug that is not a statin?

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and bempedoic acid (BDA) are some of the newer non-statin medications available within the United States (US) for the management of cholesterol.
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Why statins are not good for you?

Very rarely, statins can cause life-threatening muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis (rab-doe-my-OL-ih-sis). Rhabdomyolysis can cause severe muscle pain, liver damage, kidney failure and death. The risk of very serious side effects is extremely low, and calculated in a few cases per million people taking statins.
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What cholesterol medication has the least side effects?

In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.
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What is the best home remedy for cholesterol?

Here are 10 tips to lower cholesterol with your diet and help reduce your risk of heart disease.
  • Enjoy Lots of Fruits and Vegetables. ...
  • Cook with Herbs and Spices. ...
  • Eat a Variety of Unsaturated Fats. ...
  • Avoid Artificial Trans Fats. ...
  • Eat Fewer Added Sugars. ...
  • Enjoy a Mediterranean-Style Diet. ...
  • Eat More Soy. ...
  • Drink Green Tea.
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Can Turmeric lower cholesterol?

A review of controlled trials found that turmeric or its active component curcumin can lower total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL (Nutrition Journal, Oct. 11, 2017).
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What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?

What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
  • Nausea.
  • Numbness.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Extreme fatigue.
  • Chest pain or angina.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Numbness or coldness in extremities.
  • High blood pressure.
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Do I really need a statin?

If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). If your risk is very high — for example, you've had a heart attack in the past — a statin may be helpful even if you don't have high cholesterol.
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Do statins cause weight gain?

As with many medications, statins may cause side effects, including digestive problems, muscle pain and weakness, and cognitive dysfunction. Another side effect that's been linked to statins is weight gain.
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How high should cholesterol be before taking statins?

Providers prescribe statins for people who: Have high cholesterol (LDL above 190 mg/dL) that exercise and diet changes couldn't reduce. Had a stroke, heart attack or peripheral artery disease. Have diabetes and an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and are 40 to 75 years old.
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What reduces cholesterol quickly?

How To Reduce Cholesterol Quickly
  • Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. ...
  • Be mindful of fat intake. ...
  • Eat more plant sources of protein. ...
  • Eat fewer refined grains, such as white flour. ...
  • Get moving.
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What is the quickest way to lower cholesterol?

Fill Up on Fiber

Foods like oatmeal, apples, prunes, and beans are high in soluble fiber, which keeps your body from absorbing cholesterol. Research shows that people who ate 5 to 10 more grams of it each day saw a drop in their LDL. Eating more fiber also makes you feel full, so you won't crave snacks as much.
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Can Walking reduce cholesterol?

1. Walking raises your “good” cholesterol and lowers your “bad” cholesterol. A brisk 30-minute walk three times per week is enough to raise your “good” cholesterol (HDL) and lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) a few points. This amount of exercise, even without weight loss, is shown to improve your cholesterol levels.
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Is apple cider vinegar good for high cholesterol?

Apple cider vinegar is made from acetic acid, which may contribute to weight loss and health benefits such as lower blood sugar and healthier cholesterol levels.
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How much oatmeal should you eat a day to lower cholesterol?

Eating just one and one-half cups of cooked oatmeal a day can lower your cholesterol by 5 to 8%. Oatmeal contains soluble and insoluble fiber – two types that your body needs. Insoluble fiber, which is also found in the skins of many fruits, helps keep us regular.
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