How to skinny down those cholesterol numbers!

So you have high cholesterol, now what?! Well let’s talk meds!

Statins! We all know about these, they are the most commonly prescribed drugs for cholesterol on the market. Crestor, Lipitor, lovastain, pravastain, and livalo, work by stoping your body from creating an enzyme that helps to make cholesterol. It also helps the liver absorb cholesterol back and get rid of it. They will reduce your LDL (the bad guys), reduce your triglycerides, and slightly increase your HDL (good guys). A staggering 28% of Americans age 40-59 are on statins! 😳 Statins do have side effects such as muscle and joint pain and elevated liver enzymes among others. However, good statins are they cannot undo your continued terrible diet and lack of exercise!

Injectables! In 2015 the FDA approved two new medications repatha and praulent. These two injectables provide incredible LDL lowering capability at a high cost. They are usually given once or twice monthly. I have personally seen them drop LDL levels into the 30’s. While these drugs are great they have a high cost, around $3000i a year. They are most often reserved for the highest risk patients who cannot tolerate statins.

Fibrates, Niacin, Omega 3’s, garlic, and red yeast rice are other that have potential positive effects on cholesterol and should be discussed with your PCP.

DIET! Olive oil can reduce the inflammatory effect (bad effect) that LDL has on your body. It is a very healthy option! Whole gains such as bran, cereals, and wild rice contain fiber that has shown to reduce LDL. Beans and Legumes are also a healthy source of fiber and protein and provide that lowering effect on your LDL. High fiber fruits have a lot of fiber such as prunes, apples, and pears. They make good smoothies too. Also, eating fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, trout, are good options to get those healthy omega 3’s! And finally nuts, chia seeds (the worlds most nutritious food), flax and avocado are all good choices as well.

EXERCISE!! Get that 150 mins!!! Lose weight. ANY weight loss can help with cholesterol levels. Break out those shoes!!!

AVOID excessive alcohol and saturated fat (think fried chicken, fried fish, vegetables). Grease!

And finally, sometimes you cannot escape you gene pool. No matter what you do raising your good cholesterol and lowering your bad you cannot escape this. So eventually even with the right mix of weight, diet and exercise you may have to resort to medication options. But remember know you are cholesterol WISE!

sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol-medications/art-20050958 https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cholesterol/how-do-statins-work https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/myths_facts.htm https://www.health.harvard.edu/medications/tips-to-help-you-stay-on-your-cholesterol-drug