Help! I was just told I needed to start taking Vytorin

[Garret]

My tests just came back with a total cholestoral reading of 296. My "bad" cholestoral is 206 and my "good" is 47. I don't even know how serious these readings are, but my doc is insisting that I start on Vytorin. I have had the samples sitting around but am highly resistant to taking them....especially after reading all this.

I have changed my diet now but have been told that this would do very little to help. Are these "natural" alternatives o.k. to take? I have been looking at LipidShield and wondering if these herbal approaches are any less dangerous? I have no idea what to do at this point. Maybe I should start at low doses....I just dont know.

[sos_group_owner]

Hi Garret,

First of all, read this article written by Dr Graveline:
"Vytorin Concerns"
http://www.spacedoc.net/vytorin_concerns.htm

AND... high cholesterol is NOT the problem. It is oxidized LDL.
Elevated homocysteine causes oxidized LDL.
Please also read Dr G's article "Homocysteine and Heart Disease"
http://www.spacedoc.net/homocysteine_heart_disease.htm

Triglycerides are also a concern. When elevated trig's are usually
due to a high (simple) carb diet. Simple carbs are basically the
white foods: sugar, flour, rice, bread, potatoes, pasta.

And the low fat - low cholesterol diet is not good either...
So much for what we've been told for the past 40 years!

Please subscribe to Dr Graveline's newsletter. The January issue
contains several excellent articles. If you don't have a copy let
me know and I can forward it to you.

Fran

[JIMNSC]

Hello Garret - Are you already on another statin or would vytorin be your first medication for chloesterol?

When I was on Lipitor and also Zetia later I tended to let the drugs all the work in lowering my lipids. I did little on my own to help the situation but today, I eat right, I exercise daily, I have lost weight, have discontinued my medications and my numbers are acceptable. Long story short - I'm in charge of my health now - not medicine.

I told you that to make you think. Don't answer this but what are you doing to improve your results? Eating right will improve your numbers. After three weeks on the South Beach diet mine were unbelievably good!

Good luck - Jim