Question: I am a 41-year-old man, I weigh 185 pounds and my total cholesterol is very high. I am on statins, which I have been taking morning and night for 2 years, but my numbers are still high. What foods can I eat to help lower this number?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Cholesterol is made in your liver. Your dietary intake of cholesterol will affect your serum cholesterol by only about 20 percent. The right statin, taken once a day at night, is usually necessary to lower cholesterol, in addition to modifying your diet.
Sometimes, we can boost the effectiveness of a statin by adding fish oil supplements (such as prescription Lovaza) at a dose of 1-2 grams a day taken in two divided doses. Adding soluble fiber to your diet can also help reduce your cholesterol (aim for 30-40 grams a day, the more the better). You can try adding a little psyllium to your food to augment your fiber. Most vegetables and fruits with pulp are also good fiber sources.
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