Preliminary research has shown that statins may provide a false sense of security as individuals believe they are immune to cardiovascular events and in good heart health once beginning their statin regimen. (Find out the exact number of nuts you should eat day to prevent heart disease.). 5. Is It Finally Time To Stop Worrying About Cholesterol? It could be because dark chocolate is full of flavonoids, antioxidants linked to heart health—just stick to bars with 70% cocoa or higher. "Even when taking a statin, lifestyle changes toward a healthier diet and increased physical activity are needed to maximize the drug's benefit." Physical activity and stress management are the last of the interventions that should be made in conjunction while taking statins. Diuretic: Avoid sodium. Cautions and interactions. These decreases in risk come in the form of improving blood pressure, systemic inflammation, vascular function and lipid measures; benefits that statin drugs cannot do alone. Emory University researchers found that consuming too much added sugar can triple your risk of having low levels of "good" cholesterol, while those who ate the least sugar had the highest HDL (good) cholesterol and lowest triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood linked to heart disease. One study revealed long-term statin users consumed larger amounts of calories and fat overtime and had higher BMIs than non-statin users. Are You Smarter Than A Heart Attack? Skipping the morning meal can raise cholesterol, and a Harvard School of Public Health study found that men who regularly bypassed breakfast had a 27% higher rate of heart attack or death from heart disease. MORE: 7 Things That Happen When You Stop Eating Sugar. MORE: 13 Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally. To maximize the benefits the drug can offer, be sure to continue to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. Diet changes are also a large part of maintaining a healthy heart. Therefore, the Supplements you should take, if on statins, ... And of course, as the Mayo Clinic reminds us, supplement programmes like the one above does not give you the excuse to eat whatever you want. When San Diego State University researchers gave participants either 2 ounces of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) or white chocolate (0% cocoa) daily, the dark chocolate eaters lowered their bad cholesterol by 20% and raised their good cholesterol by 20%. Sugars make things sticky, inside and outside of the body. Statin drugs are one of the most frequently prescribed medications and one of the pillars of preventing and treating heart disease. How to take statins safely If you're taking statins, be sure to let your doctor know about any other medications or over-the-counter supplements you're using. © 2020 Remedy Health Media, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, https://www.healthcentral.com/article/can-you-eat-whatever-you-want-while-taking-statins-for-cholesterol, standard for trustworthy health information. According to researchers, today’s typical statin user is not as focused on reducing caloric intake and losing excess weight and continues to eat whatever he or she wants. "Alcohol in moderation can raise levels of HDL [good] cholesterol, but excess alcohol can be harmful for the heart and liver," says Michos. 7. Eat all the organic meat and veggies you want… But don't start mainlining bacon and sausage. Statins can help prevent and treat heart disease by lowering cholesterol, but they are much more effective when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle. 7 Things That Happen When You Stop Eating Sugar, 13 Ways To Lower Blood Pressure Naturally, exact number of nuts you should eat day to prevent heart disease, Dark chocolate can be a part of a heart-healthy diet. Keep the processed meats to a minimum, but an egg a day is A-OK; Finnish researchers found that eating an egg a day is not associated with an elevated risk of heart disease. "They can lead to higher levels of statin drugs in the bloodstream and potentially cause toxicity," warns Michos. In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, people who ate a grapefruit a day for a month saw their LDL cholesterol fall as much as 15.5%, with red grapefruit doing better than white at lowering triglycerides. When your cholesterol levels reach the danger zone, doctors routinely prescribe lipid-lowering statin drugs—in fact, 28% of adults over age 40 are on them. Prevention participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Yes, skip the muffins and pastries—and maybe the yogurt, too. In rare cases, people who take statins can see an increase in liver enzymes. The common misconception that a healthy lifestyle is not needed when taking statins is leading to less than optimal protection from heart attacks and strokes. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with how your body metabolizes these medications. Health professionals prescribe statins when cholesterol levels are out of balance and/or a person is deemed to be at risk for a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. Cancer needs sugar to survive. Through limiting saturated fat via red meat, butter, margarine, and processed foods while increasing unsaturated fats via vegetable oils, fishes, and nuts, the Mediterranean diet shows promise of a balanced cholesterol panel. MORE: 16 Signs Your Thyroid Is Out Of Whack. Just take your next dose as usual the following day. The culprit: furanocoumarins, compounds found in grapefruits, that affects how your body processes certain statins (tangelos and Seville oranges are off-limits, too). You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 5 Lifestyle Changes to Make After a Heart Attack, 6 Signs You’re Having a “Silent” Heart Attack, 34 Little Health Skills Every Woman Should Know, 20 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure Naturally, 6 Things That Increase Your Heart Attack Risk, How to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally With Food, Tweet About Heart Attack Symptoms Goes Viral, 9 Reasons Why You Feel Lightheaded and Dizzy. An intentional weight loss of just 5 percent has been proven to decrease cardiovascular risk. (Lose up to 15 pounds WITHOUT dieting with Eat Clean to Get Lean, our 21-day clean-eating meal plan.). Another study discovered that statin users were less likely to engage in physical activity and participated in more sedentary activities than non-users. The risk may be higher if you take other cholesterol-lowering medications along with statins. These improved cholesterol ratios plus those that are yielded from statin use can minimize the likelihood of cardiovascular disease in the future.