The Truth about Cholesterol and Statin Drugs

The Truth about Cholesterol and Statin Drugs
By A. True Ott, PhD

Despite decades of funding and “public service” messages, Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) remains the number one killer in America.  According to the American Heart Association (you know the AHA – with their symbol of the red heart with the eternal flame in its center), over 2,150 Americans die each and every day from CVD.  Over the last decade, the percentage of CVD mortalities of individuals under 65 years of age has also steadily increased.  The AHA reports: “The total number of inpatient cardiovascular operations and procedures increased 28%, from 5,939,000 in 2000 to 7,588,000 in 2010 (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute computation based on National Center for Health Statistics annual data). 

The total direct and indirect cost of CVD and stroke in the United States for 2009 is estimated to be $312.6 billion. This figure includes health expenditures (direct costs, which include the cost of physicians and other professionals, hospital services, prescribed medications, home health care, and other medical durables) and lost productivity that results from morbidity and premature mortality (indirect costs).

By comparison, in 2008, the estimated cost of all cancer and benign neoplasms was $228 billion ($93 billion in direct costs, $19 billion in morbidity indirect costs, and $116 billion in mortality indirect costs). CVD costs more than any other diagnostic group.

 Source:  http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/127/1/e6.full

This report also declares: “The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing dramatically over time, in parallel with the increases in prevalence of overweight and obesity.”   Let’s be clear on this.  Despite spending over 2.3 TRILLION DOLLARS each year on “health care” – statistics show that Americans are sicker than ever.  Increasing numbers of Americans are diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitis – and over 78% of Americans are classified as either obese or overweight.   Is it safe to say with complete honesty, that the current “system” is not working and is need of a complete overhaul?   Is it also safe to say that our health-care “system” is insane – given that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over, and over, and over again – and expecting a different result?  Each and every year health-insurance premiums keep rising far faster than the “rate of inflation” – and yet – nothing seems to change.  Insanity?  Yes, indeed!

Now for some even more stunning numbers.   Did you know that roughly 57 million Americans are currently taking so-called STATIN drugs prescribed to lower LDL cholesterol levels – even though these wonder-drugs have not reduced the CVD statistics at all?  Remember, the AHA report shown above declares that CVD operations and procedures has actually INCREASED 28% despite the massive increased and widespread use of the use of statin drugs!  Moreover, these drugs are not cheap, averaging $90 per month per person.   Do the math, folks.  That adds up to over 5 BILLION DOLLARS IN SALES each and every month.  No wonder this is why you see all the advertisements on TV for Lipitor, Crestor, Zicor and so forth.   Billions of dollars each and every month are at stake.   Talk about a “Ponzi Scheme”!!   Listen up now to some hard-core truths!

Truth #1: Statin Drugs are Harmful, not Helpful.  After watching that warm and fuzzy commercial for Crestor or Lipitor, do you ever listen to the list of harmful effects many people experienced in their FDA trials?   The fact is that the patented STATIN drug chemicals target the human LIVER – which is the chemical factory of the body.   You cannot hope to disrupt the liver in an attempt to have it lower its LDL Cholesterol  production without also negatively affecting its myriad of other ESSENTIAL enzyme production.When enzymes are chemically disrupted, a wide range of other problems quickly surface including production of hormones in the endocrine system.   One such hormone negatively disrupted is INSULIN in the pancreas. 

Truth #2:  A long-term study of over 153,000 post-menopausal women aged 50-79 years conducted by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showed that the use of STATIN drugs increased the risk of developing diabetes by a whopping 80%.   (Overall, the increased risk of developing diabetes after consuming STATIN drugs for a year was a stunning 48 percent in all age groups.)

Truth #3:  A 2010 study in the Journal of American College of Cardiology likewise showed that statin drugs significantly increased blood insulin levels.  Increased blood insulin levels is also called “pre-diabetes”.   Now you know why the AHA report showed not only greater levels of CVD – but also large spikes in diabetes.  

Truth #4:  The liver may be the single most important organ in the body for supporting overall physical health. It is the largest organ in the body and has an enormous amount of blood flowing through it every moment. It cleanses the bloodstream, with its Kuppfer cells acting as the filter, and is of vital importance to immunity and energy production - storing glucose in the form of glycogen which is converted back to glucose when it is needed. Metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins and fats, making food available to the body for energy, tissue building, activating enzymes...the list of the liver’s functions is long and reinforces the point that we shouldn’t take STATIN Drugs that damage it.  

Truth #5:  High LDL (low density lipids) cholesterol is directly associated with Low HDL (high density lipids) cholesterol.  To lower LDL, one must simply increase HDL cholesterol levels by consuming natural supplements, not chemical toxins. “HDL cholesterol moves LDL cholesterol back to the liver where it can be turned into bile and used for digestion”, writes the Spine Universe in the article, "Cholesterol and Arterial Corruption" by nutritionist Nancy Bennett, M.S., R.D. Minerals that may effectively lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol with consistent use are Boron, Zinc, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium.  Also omega-3 fatty acids from Hemp Seed Hearts, and CoQ10 are also very helpful.  Mother Earth Minerals’ AquaVivos Enzymatic Water Enhancer is a powerful liver enzyme precursor when taken as directed.  Also – consuming mineral clay capsules helps the liver detox and repair in a major, yet very gentle way – thus also raising HDL levels.