CarnivoreKiwi on Nostr: The Truth About Statins đź’Š Statins are among the most prescribed drugs globally, ...
The Truth About Statins đź’Š
Statins are among the most prescribed drugs globally, hailed as a fix for high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. But their widespread use raises important questions about their benefits and risks.
The Risks of Statins
Statins come with a long list of side effects that many people don't realise. These include:
- Muscle pain and weakness (myopathy)
- Liver damage
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Cognitive issues like memory loss and confusion
- Fatigue, which severely impacts quality of life
Do Statins Really Help?
For individuals who are metabolically unhealthy—those with insulin resistance, poor diets, and sedentary lifestyles—statins have been shown to add only about 4 extra days to life expectancy. Yes, you read that correctly. Contrast this with the decades of good health you can gain by addressing the root causes of poor metabolic health: a bad diet and lack of exercise.
The Cholesterol Myth
The obsession with reducing cholesterol is deeply flawed. Cholesterol is not the enemy—it's a vital substance produced by your liver and essential for:
- Building cell membranes
- Producing hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Forming bile acids, which help digest fats
- Maintaining brain health, as the brain contains high levels of cholesterol
When you artificially lower cholesterol with statins, the liver works overtime to produce more, as cholesterol is essential for survival. Used by all of the 38 trillion cells in the human body! This raises an important question: If your body fights so hard to produce cholesterol, why would you try to suppress it?
The real issue isn't cholesterol but chronic inflammation, which damages blood vessels and leads to heart disease. Inflammation is driven by poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors.
Big Pharma’s Business
The pharmaceutical industry earns billions of dollars from statin sales alone, with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion globally. Statins are a cornerstone of Big Pharma’s profits, and this financial incentive often overshadows discussions about their necessity and effectiveness.
Usage
Older adults are often placed on statins "just in case," where around 43% are on statins over the age of 60. And this percentage increases with age.
The Bottom Line
Instead of reducing cholesterol, focus on reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health naturally. Your body knows what it needs better than any drug company ever could.
Statins are among the most prescribed drugs globally, hailed as a fix for high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. But their widespread use raises important questions about their benefits and risks.
The Risks of Statins
Statins come with a long list of side effects that many people don't realise. These include:
- Muscle pain and weakness (myopathy)
- Liver damage
- Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- Cognitive issues like memory loss and confusion
- Fatigue, which severely impacts quality of life
Do Statins Really Help?
For individuals who are metabolically unhealthy—those with insulin resistance, poor diets, and sedentary lifestyles—statins have been shown to add only about 4 extra days to life expectancy. Yes, you read that correctly. Contrast this with the decades of good health you can gain by addressing the root causes of poor metabolic health: a bad diet and lack of exercise.
The Cholesterol Myth
The obsession with reducing cholesterol is deeply flawed. Cholesterol is not the enemy—it's a vital substance produced by your liver and essential for:
- Building cell membranes
- Producing hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Forming bile acids, which help digest fats
- Maintaining brain health, as the brain contains high levels of cholesterol
When you artificially lower cholesterol with statins, the liver works overtime to produce more, as cholesterol is essential for survival. Used by all of the 38 trillion cells in the human body! This raises an important question: If your body fights so hard to produce cholesterol, why would you try to suppress it?
The real issue isn't cholesterol but chronic inflammation, which damages blood vessels and leads to heart disease. Inflammation is driven by poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors.
Big Pharma’s Business
The pharmaceutical industry earns billions of dollars from statin sales alone, with annual revenues exceeding $20 billion globally. Statins are a cornerstone of Big Pharma’s profits, and this financial incentive often overshadows discussions about their necessity and effectiveness.
Usage
Older adults are often placed on statins "just in case," where around 43% are on statins over the age of 60. And this percentage increases with age.
The Bottom Line
Instead of reducing cholesterol, focus on reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health naturally. Your body knows what it needs better than any drug company ever could.