Increasing physical activity has numerous benefits including better management of stress. "When people replace fats in their diet with excess refined carbs and sugars, they get into more trouble with increased risk of weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and elevated triglycerides," says Michos. Just skip the high-sugar margaritas and colorful fruity drinks, especially if you have high triglyceride levels. "They can lead to higher levels of statin drugs in the bloodstream and potentially cause toxicity," warns Michos. Statins work by blocking the liver’s production of cholesterol, therefore, lowering LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. They also have the beneficial effect of raising HDL cholesterol. No need to skip that glass of wine with dinner. Even when they are vigilant about taking their medication (and most are not ), … This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. If ya don’t want cancer, don’t give it fuel to thrive. In fact, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found those on a low-carb diet that included saturated fats lost nearly twice as much weight as those on a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet, while maintaining good cholesterol numbers. Is It Finally Time To Stop Worrying About Cholesterol? Danish researchers had people eat 5 ounces of cheese daily for 6 weeks. Check out the following foods to eat (and avoid) for lower cholesterol numbers and a cleaner bill of health. These decreases in risk come in the form of improving blood pressure, systemic inflammation, vascular function and lipid measures; benefits that statin drugs cannot do alone. Because her own health is the foundation of her expertise, you can trust that Lisa will make it truly possible for you to see dramatic changes in your health, without unrealistic fads or impossibly difficult techniques. Chocolate lovers rejoice: Dark chocolate can be a part of a heart-healthy diet. Adding or subtracting a single food from your diet won't make much of a dent in your cholesterol, but adopting an overall healthy eating plan might, says Michos, who usually recommends a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, beans, and fish. © 2020 Remedy Health Media, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, https://www.healthcentral.com/article/can-you-eat-whatever-you-want-while-taking-statins-for-cholesterol, standard for trustworthy health information. If you're taking statins, it's fine to use plant stanol or sterol products. Because sodium causes the body to retain water, it can counteract the effect of diuretics that rid your body of fluid build-up. One study revealed long-term statin users consumed larger amounts of calories and fat overtime and had higher BMIs than non-statin users. If you don’t want to eat statin drugs, stop eating sugar, high frutose corn syrup, and carbohydrates!! If you take one, you can expect your LDL cholesterol to drop by anywhere from 35% to 50% or more, depending on the type of statin you take and your dose, Nissen says. "However, one still has to watch their total calorie count to keep under control, which can add up fast even with good fats," adds Michos. Some types of statin drugs will also reabsorb cholesterol that has built up in the arteries forming plaque or blockages. Diet changes are also a large part of maintaining a healthy heart. An intentional weight loss of just 5 percent has been proven to decrease cardiovascular risk. Statin drugs are one of the most frequently prescribed medications and one of the pillars of preventing and treating heart disease. 7. Ditch the trans fats, but don't cut all dietary fats. 7 Things That Happen When You Stop Eating Sugar, 13 Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally, exact number of nuts you should eat day to prevent heart disease, Dark chocolate can be a part of a heart-healthy diet. Pop Quiz! "Alcohol in moderation can raise levels of HDL [good] cholesterol, but excess alcohol can be harmful for the heart and liver," says Michos. In rare cases, people who take statins can see an increase in liver enzymes. To maximize the benefits of statin drugs, lifestyle interventions should be strongly encouraged in … Another study discovered that statin users were less likely to engage in physical activity and participated in more sedentary activities than non-users. When San Diego State University researchers gave participants either 2 ounces of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or white chocolate (0% cocoa) daily, the dark chocolate eaters lowered their bad cholesterol by 20% and raised their good cholesterol by 20%. The common misconception that a healthy lifestyle is not needed when taking statins is leading to less than optimal protection from heart attacks and strokes. Lisa Nelson RD, a registered dietitian since 1999, provides step-by-step guidance to lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure, so you can live life and enjoy your family for years to come. These improved cholesterol ratios plus those that are yielded from statin use can minimize the likelihood of cardiovascular disease in the future. Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day for your heart. To maximize the benefits the drug can offer, be sure to continue to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. Cancer needs sugar to survive. How to take statins safely If you're taking statins, be sure to let your doctor know about any other medications or over-the-counter supplements you're using. The proportion of fat types in this diet is where most of the heart-healthy magic lies. One study revealed long-term statin users consumed larger amounts of calories and fat overtime and had higher BMIs than non-statin users. MORE: 7 Things That Happen When You Stop Eating Sugar. MORE: 16 Signs Your Thyroid Is Out Of Whack. Emory University researchers found that consuming too much added sugar can triple your risk of having low levels of "good" cholesterol, while those who ate the least sugar had the highest HDL (good) cholesterol and lowest triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood linked to heart disease. Statins can help prevent and treat heart disease by lowering cholesterol, but they are much more effective when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Prevention participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 5 Lifestyle Changes to Make After a Heart Attack, 6 Signs You’re Having a “Silent” Heart Attack, 34 Little Health Skills Every Woman Should Know, 20 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure Naturally, 6 Things That Increase Your Heart Attack Risk, How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally With Food, Tweet About Heart Attack Symptoms Goes Viral, 9 Reasons Why You Feel Lightheaded and Dizzy. But this doesn’t mean that taking statins gives you license to eat anything you want. The risk may be higher if you take other cholesterol-lowering medications along with statins. Have a glass of wine or two, but not the bottle. It could be because dark chocolate is full of flavonoids, antioxidants linked to heart health—just stick to bars with 70% cocoa or higher.