So…you’ve had some blood taken from your arm, and the results are in. Your cholesterol’s high. Your doctor presents you with his or her recommended treatment to bring your cholesterol level down: statins.
Then these thoughts start racing through your mind: I don’t want to take drugs. Yes, I’m a bit overweight. I know I need to change my eating habits. I don’t want to take drugs. Drugs will bring my levels down. What are the side effects? My doctor knows what’s best for me. What if I change my eating habits? Which is better for me? How did I get here? I’m not doing anything different from last year. Why are my numbers higher now?
AND ON. AND ON. AND ON.
What’s a person to do?
Disclaimer. Before reading any further, please note: I’m not
credentialed in the medical field. This blog is for informational
purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical
advice or treatment.
Are we clear? Good – now let’s continue.
Questions, people, ask questions. Stay curious.
What options are available to you?
Can diet changes (adding more plant foods to your plate and cutting back on animal products) and lifestyle changes (increase exercise, reduce stress, etc.), with positive side effects, be as effective as pharmaceuticals?
What are the upsides and downsides of pharmaceuticals?
Do you have high cholesterol because you have a lack of pharmaceuticals in your blood?
Do you have high cholesterol because you have a lack of plant food in your blood?
What are the consequences if you?
Do nothing?
Take drugs as prescribed and check cholesterol levels in 90 days?
Make changes to diet and lifestyle and check cholesterol levels in 90 days?
Combine both options in some fashion?
Yes, our bodies create cholesterol; and we need some cholesterol in our bodies. If we’ve got too much cholesterol in our blood system, though, doesn’t it seem to make sense to stop bringing in outside sources of cholesterol? That would mean eliminating or cutting back on animal products: all of those goodies including meat, dairy, eggs, fish – you get the picture. Bump up the plant foods and take a look.
This seems obvious and logical to me. Yet when friends and family members see their doctors and learn they have high cholesterol, the focus seems to be on adding a dose of drugs to the equation without including diet or lifestyle changes in the mix.
Am I missing something?
