If you have been put on any one of the medications commonly referred to as Statins, don’t worry dooms day has not set in. Statin medications have well the documented beneficial effect of lowering LDL cholesterol. Let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of statins.
Statins are a class of drugs that work by blocking the production of cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-Co A reductase. This same enzyme is also used in the biosynthesis of Coenzyme Q (CoQ10). Our bodies need CoQ10 to produce Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency in our bodies. This is why supplementation with CoQ10 while taking a statin is important.
Statins also carry with them an increased risk for developing type II diabetes. (1) For this reason supplementing with Chromium Picolinate can be beneficial as it has shown to reduce fasting blood glucose levels and lower your HbA1c. (2)
Don’t rely on the statins alone to reduce your risk of a cardiovascular event. Take charge of your health and consider making these four lifestyle changes:
- Half of every meal should consist of fruits and vegetables.
- Only 10% of your daily calorie intake should come from added sugar. (3)
- Get a minimum of 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, that is only 11 minutes per day. If you are just starting out, set a smaller goal and work your way up!
- Consistently take supplements to offset the drawbacks of statins
