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Community Corner

There are Safe Alternatives to Statins

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recently released new guidelines for physicians prescribing statin medications for lowering cholesterol based on the “CV Risk Calculator.” This includes information about age, race, gender, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. Compared to the previous recommendations, the new guidelines can double the number of people on such drugs to more than 70 million.  Statin medications are prescription drugs that lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by blocking the enzyme your liver needs to produce cholesterol. They have little or no effect on HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels.  Some of the more popular brands are Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Crestor and Mevacor.

The bad news is that the use of statins carries the risk of significant side effects.   In early 2012 the FDA warned that patients taking Lipitor and similar statins have an increased risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, and that safety labels will be revised to include this warning. Patients have also experienced extreme muscle pain and muscle disease (statin induced myopathy), serious liver problems, digestive issues, sexual dysfunction and performance problems, as well as memory loss and confusion, personality changes and irritability,  as a result of taking statin drugs. They also deplete the body's stores of CoQ10, a nutrient used in energy production throughout the body, but essential to heart health.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, cardiovascular surgeon and popular TV personality, is concerned that the new guidelines place too much emphasis on drugs, taking the focus off of more natural strategies that have been proven to reduce cholesterol and heart disease, such as healthy diet and regular exercise.

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The good news is that you can support your healthy diet and exercise program to control cholesterol with a natural supplement that doesn't come with the potentially serious side effects.  Melaleuca Phytomega naturally lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels for a healthy cardiovascular system using a patent-pending blend of natural phytosterols, omega-3's, CoQ10, and alpha lipoic acid.

Phytosterols, also known as plant sterols, are similar in chemical structure to cholesterol, but the way the body metabolizes each of them is different. Phytosterols can block the absorption of cholesterol and help it to be eliminated naturally through the system, thereby reducing the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood stream.

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Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: necessary for health but you have to get them through external sources. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, some plants, and nut oils. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 fatty acids have become popular because they may reduce the risk of heart disease. Several studies have shown that fish and nut oil supplements reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

CoQ10 is a nutrient used for energy production in every cell of the body which is particularly important for energy production in the heart.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant which works by attacking free radicals, which would otherwise damage cells in the body, increasing inflammation and suppressing immune function. Unlike most antioxidants that only work in water or fatty tissues, alpha-lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble, so it can work throughout the body. Antioxidants in the body are used up as they attack free radicals, but evidence suggests alpha-lipoic acid may help regenerate these other antioxidants and make them active again.

Mark and Dr. Beth Krieger carry a line of over 400 non-toxic products for your home and body, including Phytomega.  Neither Mark nor Beth is a medical doctor and is not representing themselves as such.   This information is not offered to replace medical advice.  Learn more about Phytomega and other natural solutions at www.healthysolutionsli.com or call Mark at 917-703-4694.

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