What do you use to lower cholesterol without statins?

On a Stage II thread, we have been talking about aspirin and it's role in recurrence risk. Even though it doesn't have anything to do with cholestroel, I think it is important enough to share it here too. Of course, if you aren't already taking a daily low dose aspirin, you should check with your doctor before starting to do so. The following is a July 17, 2013 article from Healthline. Pretty exciting!

"A 2,000-year-old drug that costs just pennies could be the latest weapon against cancer. New studies link aspirin use to lower risk for at least eight types of cancer: those of the breast, colon, esophagus, stomach, prostate, bladder, ovary and skin.

Harvard researchers reported that women who took low-dose aspirin (100 mg) every other day had a 20 percent drop in colon cancer risk, compared to women who took a placebo, according to new data from the Women’s Health Study. The findings were published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

“Evidence that aspirin may have cancer-protective properties is both pervasive across medical literature and increasingly robust,” says Marc Penn, MD, PhD, FACC, co-founder and chief medical officer of Cleveland HeartLab.

Earlier studies have reported that 75 mg a day of aspirin may cut colon cancer risk by 17 to 28 percent, and also lower the risk of death after a colon cancer diagnosis by 30 to 40 percent.

The study adds to many other new findings suggesting that this ancient remedy may be a remarkably affordable wonder drug that could help prevent cancer or stop the disease in its tracks. Here are a few particularly noteworthy new studies:

• Breast cancer: In a Scottish study involving 116,181 women, those who took aspirin regularly for 3 to 5 years had a 30 percent drop in breast cancer risk, while a 40 percent risk reduction was seen after more than 5 years of aspirin use.

• Skin cancer: Women who take aspirin regularly have a 21 percent decrease in risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, compared to non-users, according to a 12-year study of nearly 60,000 women, ages 50 to 79, published in the journal Cancer. After 5 or more years of regular use, risk for melanoma fell by 30 percent.

• Prostate cancer. Taking aspirin may help men with prostate cancer live longer, by inhibiting the cancer’s growth and spread, according to a 2012 study of nearly 6,000 men published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. The ten-year death rate from the disease was 3 percent among the aspirin users versus 8 percent in non-users.

• Other common cancers. Daily aspirin use for prevention of heart attacks seems to have an extra benefit: lower 20-year risk of developing or dying from several common cancers, including a 42 percent reduction in colon cancer and reduced risk for esophageal, gastric, biliary, and breast cancer, according to an analysis of more than 41 trials published in Lancet.

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Why Does Aspirin Reduce Cancer Risk?

Also known as acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin has two effects that may explain why people who take it regularly for heart attack prevention are less likely to get cancer, says Dr. Penn, who is also director of cardiovascular research at Summa Cardiovascular Institute in Akron, Ohio.

“Aspirin decreases inflammation, which has been shown to play a role in cancer development, and also blocks platelet function,” reports Dr. Penn. “Platelets carry significant amounts of growth factors that may contribute to tumor growth in areas of tissue injury.”

Slowing Down DNA Damage in Patients at High Risk for Cancer

Another new study offers surprising insight into how aspirin may combat cancer. The researchers discovered that the headache-and-heart-attack prevention pill may slow down DNA mutations in abnormal cells in people with a pre-cancerous disorder called Barrett’s esophagus. People with this disorder are at increased risk for esophageal cancer.

In a new study published in PLOS Genetics, the researchers analyzed biopsies from 13 patients with this disorder and tracked their health for 6 to 19 years. The scientists found that on average, in years when the patients took aspirin daily, they accumulated new DNA damage ten times more slowly than they did in years when they weren’t taking the drug.

The team plans additional research to explore the theory that aspirin’s anti-inflammatory powers are why it reduces DNA mutations that could lead to cancer."

Mountains, interesting. I have "inverse" cholesterol, i.e. high HDL, low LDL and low triglycerides.

Great news!!!! With your suggestions and my diligence, I was able to lower my cholesterol 40 points in the last three months!!!! Total was 285, now 245. LDL was 185, now 162. WIll keep this going, even more strictly now that I know it's going in the right direction!!! Need to get HDL up.

Here's what I did:

Supplements: One omega 3 tablet, one plant sterol tablet (will check mg if anyone is interested,) 3000 Vitamin D, one probiotic. 

Exercise: No change, 1 hour a day of either walking or swimming.

Diet: More nuts, beans, lentils, seeds, veggies. At least a handful of nuts each day. Two fruits, no more. Very low carbs, and if so, only whole carbs. Almost no sugar, dairy, (only dairy is lowfat, organic goats milk yoghurt, occasionally) very little to no meat. Poultry once a week, if. Fish at least 2x a week, mostly salmon. Olive and grapeseed oil, apple cider vinegar, but mostly lots of fresh lemon juice. Most food from scratch. Took lots of time, but this was a three month experiment. WOrth it! Thanks!

Awesome!

And if what I just told you hasn't pissed any of you off, let me tell you about my best friend 's husband. He landed in Mass General's    cardiac wing after being rescued from a cruise ship. He suffered a massive heart attack and thankfully is alive a year later.  He has the same profile as the DH except he is an Indian, while the DH is an Ashkenazi Jew.  Did I mention my Indian friend is a Vegan too?  Bottom line, the chief of cardiology at Mass General told my friend and her husband that up until 24 hours before his massive heart attack, no one could have ever known or predicted that he would have the heart attack.  Sobering....

VR,  I'm so sorry about your DH.  I don't think stress is good for his condition, nor yours  There has been quite a bit in the news lately about cholesterol #'s and statins.  The role of inflammation seems to be a new target for heart disease.  Who knows?  Please take care of you both.  Hugs...

wen... I firmly believe that inflammation plays a role.  However, he has been on anti-inflammatory meds and anti- platelets for years....

wen... I'm not stressed. I'm angry that research is sooo slow.  My DH has always been in very competent hands and we've been extremely lucky that we live close to world class hospitals AND have the means to travel and meet with world class researchers.  I'm more upset over what happened to my dearest friend's husband.  Despite what has happened to the DH, he has a healthy heart. My friend's very dear husband has half a ticker and she is having a difficult time dealing with their misfortune.  She's also a Ph. D. in pharmacology and can't believe that they "missed" something before the heart attack.  

VR,  PS. I am sorry about the husband of your friend. How sad and frustrating...

Yes, looking at the total patient is so important and, I fear, sometimes lost in the world of specialists. And, of course, sometimes there is no good reason for why things happen, no matter how good of medical care one has had.

Voracious, wishing the best for your DH and for your friends, and sending out a virtual hug to you.

Absolutely! Sending more hugs & good wishes, VR.

VR, sending (((Hugs))) and thoughts for you and your DH.

Ladybird,  the #'s you are referring to are not cholesterol #'s.  I think you might be confusing them with something else 

Thanks VR-had no idea, and I have high cholesterol   Sorry Ladybird!!

My total cholesterol was up to 5.3 with Femara and now 4.9 on Tamoxifen.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140225101256.htm

500g of strawberries daily lowered LDL and triglycerides according to this study.