Plant sterols for reducing cholesterol

Primrose

I suspect my cholesterol level is a little too high to be healthy and wonder if anybody has successfully used plant sterols as a natural means of reducing it rather than resorting to statins.

teddysmum

Primrose wrote: »

I suspect my cholesterol level is a little too high to be healthy and wonder if anybody has successfully used plant sterols as a natural means of reducing it rather than resorting to statins.

Why not see your GP or a practice nurse, rather than suspect ?


Foods claiming to help health conditions need to be used in huge amounts to have any effect.


I've been on statins for 8 years with no negative effects and my cholesterol , levels are well within target.

donnac2558

I was on statins for a number of years no problems... Then, they changed me to different brand one which made my liver go haywire. GPs etc are so disappointed it wasn't because of alcohol! Yes their faces fall.
Anyway I cannot take statins in any form now, did ask to go back to the original one again but liver shot up again. Three years later its still not normal but improving so they inform me when I have to get bloods done to check.

I asked about the foods marketed at lowering cholesterol, my GP was unimpressed by them and the claims.

A friend total me recently that his consultant said two teaspoons of Cider Vinegar a day (it needs to be put into juice as it tastes awful), can really help.

teddysmum

donnac2558 wrote: »

I was on statins for a number of years no problems... Then, they changed me to different brand one which made my liver go haywire. GPs etc are so disappointed it wasn't because of alcohol! Yes their faces fall.
Anyway I cannot take statins in any form now, did ask to go back to the original one again but liver shot up again. Three years later its still not normal but improving so they inform me when I have to get bloods done to check.

I asked about the foods marketed at lowering cholesterol, my GP was unimpressed by them and the claims.

Did you go from Simvastatin to Atorvastatin because NICE decided that the 'milder' latter could now be prescribed as the price dropped ?


I just find them harder to swallow, being quite a bit larger.

Februarycat

I lowered my cholesterol by making small changing to my diet, I buy the low fat versions of yoghurts, spreads, crisps, and still eat chocolate but have a snack size bar instead of full size. It worked for me and I lost a stone quite easily doing this and I was not even overweight.

sheramber

Foods marketed for reducing cholesterol advise they are only to be taken by people with high cholesterol.
Diet is a better way of controlling it.

You may be get a check done at Boots chemist but your GP surgery would also do a check.

donnac2558

teddysmum wrote: »

Did you go from Simvastatin to Atorvastatin because NICE decided that the 'milder' latter could now be prescribed as the price dropped ?


I just find them harder to swallow, being quite a bit larger.

Yes. But here is the thing I was on 40mg of Simvastatin and on a 100mg of Atorvastatin! I swear they gave me too high a dose but no one will admit it. After looking up the details, I think I should have been on the 50mg not 100mg!!! I developed an itch that was all, and next thing my liver is 800 something. In fact it was a friend who insisted I contact the out of hours doctor, I kept saying its an itch! Strangely the after hours doctor told me to get to my GP next morning for blood work ASAP. I walked into the reception and expect to have to wait weeks for a blood test but was grabbed in and taken straight away.

fred246

I take a daily yoghurt drink of plant sterols & stanols. It reduces your cholesterol a small amount. Statins really hit the level hard and have a much greater effect. I wanted statins but my GP and cardiologist weren't in agreement. My family do seem to have bad reactions to statins so I decided a daily yoghurt drink was a good compromise.

teddysmum

donnac2558 wrote: »

Yes. But here is the thing I was on 40mg of Simvastatin and on a 100mg of Atorvastatin! I swear they gave me too high a dose but no one will admit it. After looking up the details, I think I should have been on the 50mg not 100mg!!! I developed an itch that was all, and next thing my liver is 800 something. In fact it was a friend who insisted I contact the out of hours doctor, I kept saying its an itch! Strangely the after hours doctor told me to get to my GP next morning for blood work ASAP. I walked into the reception and expect to have to wait weeks for a blood test but was grabbed in and taken straight away.

Mmm.


I was on 40mg of Simvastatin and went to the same with Liptor.


After one test,the GPs' in house pharmacist got a nurse to phone me saying he wanted to double to 80mg, but I said I'd had good levels for ages so was reluctant to change after one test,especially as I take so much other medication.


A GP agreed to a test in 3 months and my levels were fine; just a glitch or faulty test, so I'm still on 40mg. All tests for diabetes thyroid,kidneys etc are fine too.