How To Avoid Filling A Statin Prescription

In my previous post, I wrote about a possible link between statins and nerve disease. The link hasn't been substantiated, but a warning flag has been raised. Some large, long-term clinical trials will have to be conducted before the FDA will issue a caution on statin use. In the meantime, if you'd like to avoid taking statins to manage your cholesterol, try the following. They work.

Four lifestyle changes you can make today:

1. Don't smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke. (Smoke lowers HDL, the good cholesterol, the one you want to be high.)
   
2. Exercise. At the minimum, take a daily walk.
   
3. Reduce saturated fat. (e.g. full-fat dairy products, marbled red meat. Some amount satured fat is beneficial.)
   
4. Eliminate processed carbohydrates. If it dissolves in your mouth, toss it. If it's made from wheat (flour), choose something else to eat.

Number 4 is difficult. But if you're determined to avoid obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc., and the costs to your health and wallet that accompany them, you'll attempt it, truly and doggedly. Unfortunately, our economy, our society, our culture, even well-meaning health institutions, are wrapped up in processed carbs. So it may be difficult, but it can be done. What do you eat instead? Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, lean meats and seafood, low-fat dairy products, healthful oils, and 6.3 grams of dark chocolate daily.

Here's a list. It's for people who ask, "Like what?", when I recite Number 4.

Severely limit the following, even if it says "Made with whole grain":

Breads
Rolls
Biscuits
Bagels
English muffins
Hot dog buns
Hamburger buns
Pizza
Focaccia
Pita
Tortillas
Waffles
Pancakes
Crepes
Muffins
Cake
Pie
Cookies
Pastries
Donuts
Pretzels
Popcorn
Crackers
Cheese curls
Corn chips
Taco shells
Snack chips
Rice cakes
Breakfast cereals
Pasta
Spaghetti
Noodles
Couscous
Stuffings (bread)

What did I leave off?

Note: For an explanation of how intake of highly processed carbohydrates can lead to increased cholesterol and triglycerides, see my post, "Cholesterol Production Via Carbohydrate Intake".
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