Q. My doctor says that my cholesterol level of 212 is way too high and I am at risk for a heart attack. Simvastatin caused joint and muscle pain and I began having trouble getting out of the bathtub. My muscles became too weak.
He wants to prescribe Lipitor instead, but I would rather try something more natural. My parents lived into their late 80s so I am not as worried as my doctor about cholesterol. I am 74 and in otherwise good health. Can you offer me some options?
A. Very little data suggest someone your age will benefit greatly from taking a statin-type cholesterol-lowering drug unless you already have heart disease. That’s why you might want to consider some of the dietary approaches we include in The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies.
Some people have had success with plant pectin dissolved in grape juice, fish oil, vinegar, cinnamon, avocado or foods high in soluble fiber such as oatmeal and barley. Red yeast rice is a natural way to get statins; many people who don’t do well on statins have less trouble with RYR.
