What do you use to lower cholesterol without statins?

Momine

Thanks everyone for the various info. Right now I am holding just below 200 total cholesterol, but both docs seem to be watching it quite intently (as if they fully expect it to become a problem). Thing is that my LDL and the triglycerides are both 60 or less. The only high number is the HDL, which is above 100. I do eat a lot of fibre, fatty fish, nuts etc. 

ruthbru

Momine, with those numbers you are doing fine!

Momine

Ruth, thanks, but my doc is already talking about "when" I have to start cholesterol meds. That is why I am sort of confused.

cp418

Momine - your labs look fabulous and many people walking around would wish they had them!  I did some GOOGLE on high HDL and high LDL , normal trig and found that the ratio is important and not just the individual values that many patients and doctors fixate on.  In fact one site says this is what insurance companies use for cardio risk.  I'll see it I can find it again. I believe it was total cholesterol divided by HDL where they want below ration 3.  They did not use LDL in their calculation.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/cholesterol-myths-may-surprise-you

Momine

cp418, I am feeling better and better, although interestingly the article also notes a correlation between low LDL and cancer. Weird! I will have to smack my onc next time he tries to scare me about my cholesterol.

ruthbru

Smack him a couple times!!

cp418

I came across an "Alternative Medicine" Oct issue and it has an article about 'Niacin & Cholesterol'.  It recommends the Wax-Matrix Niacin has the best results. It refers to a study comparing it to No-flush and as Ruthbru mentioned the No-flush Niacin doesn't work.  It states the Wax-Matrix Nicain is the same as the prescription Niaspan with identical research results - but doesn't cost $300 per month.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23351578

Also Nicacin is more effective at lowering elevated Lp(a) levels where statins can increase them!  An Atherosclerosis journal found taking one gram niacin twice daily reduced Lp(a) levels by as much as 36%.  This is the molecule within LDL which increases cardio risk factors.

http://www.lonza.com/about-lonza/media-center/news/2013/130206-niamax-study-results.aspx

new_direction

Article about low carb diet and it's effect on blood lipids.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/carbcholesterol.htm

Texas357

Exercise and fiber are two of the best ways to manage cholesterol naturally. Also look into plant sterols. Many products fortified with plant sterols qualify for an FDA health claim that says eating them helps to reduce total cholesterol.

ruthbru

Thank you to the researchers!

jg10

omega 3 in the form of Lovaza, which is prescribed by an MD and by definition usually covered by insurance helped my husband who had high cholesterol for years. The beauty of a prescription omega 3 is that the ingredients are predictable. Statins can help but recent studies are showing they might also raise the risk of breast cancer. See link below. It might be better to try diet/ supplements first.

http://www.fhcrc.org/en/news/spotlight/imports/long-term-use-of-statins-and-postmenopausal-breast-cancer-risk--.html

Momine

Just reporting in that diet and exercise do seem to work. 4 months ago my total cholesterol was 200. I wanted it down a bit, so I skipped the small amount of cheese and eggs I usually allow myself and made sure to get in at least 1 hour of exercise a day (usually 1.5 hours if you add in dog walks etc). This time, the total cholesterol is at 170 and my fasting glucose, which hovered in the high 90s at dx and all through treatment, is down to 83. Those numbers are about the numbers I had when I was 25 (now 50), so I feel good that this much really can be accomplished with diet/exercise.

ruthbru

Excellent!

Anonymous

Ruth, lots and lots of exercise, a vegan diet, little to no alcohol, and almonds/nuts (no peanuts). I know part of cholesterol is genetic, and I don't know if anything can change that, but for years my GP has exclaimed in delighted wonder about my #s. (smiley face).

ruthbru

Genetics you can't do anything about, but I think that most (not all) people can keep things under control through religious exercise, eat a healthy diet, and (in my case and due to genetics) tweaking the ratios with niacin. If someone's numbers are dangerously high (like my sister, who was over 300), then I would (and did) say to TAKE the statin, and THEN start working on the lifestyle changes, with a goal of getting off or at least reducing the dosage.

Momine

Ruth, I agree. In my case, my good numbers are partly due to lucky inheritance. My dad has always had unusually good cholesterol numbers for his age. My diet and exercise help, but it is obviously much easier when your starting point is fairly good anyway. What makes me happy, however, is that my numbers are now what they were when I was in my 20s. I find it interesting that diet/exercise can "turn back time" to that extent.

lala1

My doctor is thinking of starting me on Niacin (actually Enduracin). Do most people get the flushing from this? Is it better to take at night or in the morning? And I heard it helps to take with applesauce. Has that worked for anyone?

Blessings2011

For years, my cholesterol results were "borderline" and the PCP wanted to put me on statins, which I refused. I started taking Chinese Red Yeast Rice tablets, and saw some amazing results. I stopped taking it when my numbers got back down into the normal range.

FOR THE RECORD: Chinese Red Yeast Rice does have some of the same possible side effects as the purely chemical statin meds, so it's important to do your research.

Of course, not long after that, the numbers climbed up again, and I took statins for years.

But when I went through my weight loss program (with mandatory exercise) they dropped to the lowest levels I've ever had in my life, and have - thankfully - stayed there.

DH, however, has very high cholesterol levels due to his kidney disease... go figure. There are so many other conditions that raise lipid levels, we need to be sure to rule out other causes before just throwing statin drugs at high numbers.

Middle son has been dx'd with high cholesterol, and refuses to take the statins. I reminded him that he could try just a short course, and if his numbers came down significantly, then perhaps he could always go off them and try to maintain them with diet and exercise (which he's not doing now.)

I had no issues while on Arimidex, but now that I'm on Femara, I'm watching carefully.

ruthbru

lala, before going to a prescription, try the over the counter (under your doctor's supervision). I take slo-niacin (which I get at Walmart), and I don't flush with it as it is released throughout the day. We tried different doses, and I have been able to get down to and keep great numbers with 1,500 mg a day.

lifelover

Great thread.

I took statins for about 14 years. I stopped because of various things I heard about them.

Now, about 5 years later, my cholesterol is normal. Almost every morning I eat rolled oats or oatmeal with cinnamon and a small apple in it - I use water as I don't drink milk.

I also rarely have dairy like cheese and ice cream. I'll have yoghurt or soy based dairy items. I do eat eggs occasionally.

Worked for me.

cp418

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topic/815169?page=1#post_3799692

 

Cholesterol Metabolite Mimics Estrogen, Spurs Breast Cancer

Now - this makes me concerned to start a statin medication.  Frustrating because I already have high HDL ......

cp418

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/01/jnci.djr291.full

Statin Prescriptions and Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk: A Danish Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study

 

Momine

cp418, thanks for posting that.

corky60

My dr. recommended niacinamide if I didn't want to take statins. I noticed that the niacinamide caused dry skin and eyes. But then I pretty much stopped eating eggs and dairy and the total cholesterol decreased without the need for niacinamide. It's nice to take one less pill.

bluepearl

Fiber...as in Metamucil....and high fiber diet....plus pro biotics daily.

dlb823

I've been following this thread b'cuz I am also dealing with high cholesterol post bc tx, which I never had before, and inspite of eating a mostly plant-based diet.

Here's an excellent article published today by Brian Lewanda, MD, a Harvard trained integrative oncologist I follow:

http://www.integrativeoncology-essentials.com/2013/11/lower-cholesterol-to-reduce-breast-cancer-growth/

Deanna

cp418

Great link Deanna - lots of good information.  Just want to mention my oncologist warned me against using red yeast supplement as he had a patient develop liver failure.  Be careful as I know some people use it and have no issues......  I've just tried adding a Beta Sitosterol supplement but realize it may take a while to see a change in numbers.  WOW - the 25-30 grams of fiber daily is ALOT!!  I guess with oatbran cereal/banana for breakfast and large kale salad for lunch I'm getting 10grams daily.  Wonder if it will affect bathroom routine????  

momoschki

I sadly inherited the propensity for high cholesterol from my mother, despite my very healthy diet. I started out with a total level of 240. Integrative onc, whom I have been seeing for nearly 3 years now, has me on 3 supplements: Choleast (red rice yeast), kyolic (garlic), snd something else called Cholestpure. Got levels down to 190, so pretty effective.

dlb823

Interesting about the liver failure, cp418. I think I'd posted elsewhere that my PCP had told me a similar story about a patient of hers who happened to own a nutrition store and was in end stage liver failure attributed to either too much or tainted (forget which) red yeast rice. That was several years ago, but it's always scared me about that product, and it's interesting that your onc knew of a similar case. Deanna

Blessings2011

I think that's why I took the Chinese Red Yeast Rice tablets for such a short course. I knew they were effective, but I'd also done the research and knew they came with side effects.

bluepearl - Me too! Metamucil and probiotics!