Are Statin Drugs Making You Fat?

One of our favorite integrate physicians, Frank Shallenberger, MD, wrote in his Real Cures Health Alert newsletter about an unwanted side effect of the cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Dr. Shallenberger reported that statin drugs “change your metabolism in a way that leads to a reduced lifespan and an increase in every disease associated with aging.”

Dr. Shallenberger expounded on a study from the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the University at Buffalo in New York where researchers compared fat metabolism in statin users to a similar group of people not on statin drugs. Both groups had similar diets and exercise habits. The results were astonishing! Dr. Shallenberger explains, “In every case, the statin drugs users were significantly depressing fat metabolism. The participants’ bodies were producing more free fatty acids to burn as they exercised. But due to the fat-suppressive effects of the statins, their cells were less able to burn the fats.” Simply put, the statin drug users were getting fat and unable to lose the weight despite exercising. 

On the contrary, certain “superfoods” have been shown to both lower cholesterol and help you lose weight. Which begs the question: Doesn’t it make more sense to simply eat a healthy superfood each day than to pop a pill that will make you gain weight?

5 Cholesterol-Fighting Foods

According to a recent article published in The Huffington Post, the top cholesterol-reducing foods include:

• Oatmeal
• Fish (omega-3 fatty acids)
• Pinto beans
• Garlic
• Macadamia nuts

Superfoods for Your Heart

In addition to the 5 superfoods mentioned above, on August 8, 2013, Fox News reported that eating the following foods can help prevent cardiovascular disease:

• Tomatoes
• Dark chocolate
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Pomegranate

NHAI Expounds on Research Regarding the Cholesterol-Lowering Abilities of Certain Foods

Here at Natural Health Advisory, we’ve also uncovered research studies which prove the unique ability of certain foods to lower cholesterol numbers. These include:

• Avocadoes
• Strawberries
• Coconut oil
• Green tea
• Turmeric
• Citrus fruits
• Onions
• Oregano oil

How to Use Foods to Lower Your LDL Cholesterol:

Now, you know the top superfoods for improving your cholesterol levels. But, what exactly do you do with this information?

1. Look back over the 3 lists (above) of the top cholesterol-lowering foods. Pick three or four items that you truly enjoy.
2. Each day, eat one of the foods on your list. The following day, eat the next food item. For example, let’s say you choose the following four foods: strawberries, pomegranate, broccoli and salmon:
   1. On Sunday, make sure to eat a cup of strawberries at some point during the day.
   2. On Monday, drink a glass of pomegranate juice.
   3. On Tuesday, include broccoli as a side dish at lunch or dinner.
   4. On Wednesday, eat salmon as an entree at one of your meals. (Or, you can double up on your daily dose of superfoods by topping your salmon with sliced avocado or onions.)
   5. On Thursday, start all over and be sure to eat your cup of strawberries.

By eating a variety of foods each day, you can improve your cholesterol numbers without getting bored with “the same old diet.” Plus, you won’t gain the extra body fat that can come with a statin pill!  Doesn’t this sound easy and do-able?