My cholesterol and my blood pressure were a little high. I am not on any medicines….yet ….which is good because I do not have a prescription plan. Both my doctor and I hope I can decrease my cardiac risk by effecting certain changes in my life.

My doctor recommended the usual—increasing my activity level, walking 45 min. every day, eliminating salt, fat and other measures to deal with stress. He also recommended I purchase some red yeast rice tablets to lower my cholesterol. I assume this safe because my doctor recommended it but am interested in hearing whatever else you can share with me about these tablets.
F.O.

Dear F.O.,

Cholestin is a commercially available dietary supplement prepared by growing red yeast on rice. 2.4mg of Cholestin contains approximately 7-8 mg. of lovastatin as well as other compounds. It can significantly reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides but does not lower ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol or raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.

Lowering LDL is done by decreasing dietary fat--Avoid eating animals—they have their revenge on you!--Raising HDL is done by increasing activity and exercise.Side effects of too much statin drugs can be destruction of muscle tissue, so any muscle pain or cramping should be reported immediately.

Tocotrienols can reduce both LDL and total cholesterol but additional vitamin E supplementation would need to be avoided. I recently encountered a woman who was taking 2 different cholesterol lowering drugs, one prescribed by her cardiologist,the other by her primary care physician independent of one another!

GuGulipid has been found to decrease LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total cholesterol:HDL ratios. The overall evidence for garlic’s ability to more than minimally reduce cholesterol concentrations has been studied and results are contradictory.

Soy Protein decreases cholesterol levels when substituted for animal protein. Soybeans contain ISOFLAVONES including genistein and daidzein, which are considered to have weak estrogenic effect.This may be good for males with prostate cancer, but, perhaps, not so good for women with breast cancer.

Omega Fatty Acids in mackerel, tuna. halibut, salmon and cod liver have triglceride lowering and antihyperlipidemic effects.

One should NEVER take this, or ANY dietary supplement without first consulting a physician.