It’s rare that I’m thankful for Dr. Oz. It’s not that I dislike him; I just don’t always agree with him. But he completely got it right this time!
He recently aired an episode highlighting the research published in the book The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease-and the Statin-Free Plan That Will.
In the show segment, he compacted the message I’ve been writing in blog post after blog post for the past few years into one succinct, visually-stimulating, and easy to understand explanation.
Watch the video below, then share it with all your friends and family! It will ROCK THEIR WORLD.
Thank you Dr. Oz, for getting the truth out there in the mainstream!
I’m honestly floored. In this little segment, they covered:
- How total cholesterol levels don’t matter!
- How statins are dangerous — particularly for women.
- How what really matters is the size of your cholesterol, not the kind.
- How high blood sugar levels can lead to arterial inflammation.
If you want to read more about the science behind all these conclusions, go check out The Great Cholesterol Myth by Johnny Bowden, PhD and Stephen Sinatra, MD. I read a review copy a few months ago, and I loved it!
Thanks go to Augie, of the Journal of Natural Food and Health for sharing this!
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So fascinating! I love dr. Oz.
Thanks for sharing this. Johnny Bowden has written a really great book called “The 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth” that I highly recommend for identifying and incorporating food that can make a big difference in your health. It’s very easy and enjoyable reading. I’ve done quite a lot of reading about this cholesterol controversy as well. My birth father passed away at 46 years of age after a heart transplant, which was necessary because he had heart disease. So I’ve always been concerned about heart problems, though in my case, testing has always shown my heart is in very good shape. Instead I ended up dealing with thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. Identifying inflammation as a source for many diseases, as they point out in this video, is great information too. I have to say the discrepancy between what researchers know and what doctors know (who may be too busy to read everything) is troubling. But it is a good reminder to spend some time educating yourself from reliable sources, and to always ask questions and continually advocate for yourself. Don’t be afraid to push back, as Dr. Oz says. Find a doctor who has an excellent reputation, who is willing to answer your questions, and whom you trust. It takes some effort and may take time to find the right person, as I had to do, but I assure you it is worth the effort, and can make the difference between accurate or inaccurate treatment as a patient.
“good reminder to spend some time educating yourself from reliable sources, and to always ask questions and continually advocate for yourself.”
Completely agree. Only through education can we begin to turn the tide against these aging paradigms. So glad to see Dr. Oz start to recognize this!
Dr Oz’s demonstration was bad actually. He implied that the large lipoprotein particles were harmful when in fact it is the small particle LDL (high density type B of LDL) that is harmful. The larger (type A) LDL particles are less harmful. Still I think he got it straight at the end when he described his understanding to Drs Bowden and Sinatra. He even asked, “do I have it correct?” and they agreed.
Good topic, just a bad demonstration.
Great article and news story. I couldn’t agree more about inflammation and sugar. Saturated fats are good for you! I know several people that are on statin drugs and worry that it is not necessary, and that a small change in diet could help. That is, if that is necessary based on the balance of HDL/LDL and the particle test.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you !!!
This was a great video! I don’t dislike him, but I dislike that he isn’t a true advocate for eating REAL and WHOLE foods. He still recommends eating at fast food restaurants, but choose the “healthier” options. Um, is that possible? He also shares how to use boxed cake mixes (with GMOs) and a can of soda to make a low fat cake. I can make a low fat cake with real ingredients and leave the Betty Crocker Chemical-fest on the grocery store shelf…but I digress.
I agree with you in that this time, he got it right. I only wish my grandparents would believe this.
And I wish other doctors would stop letting drug reps educate them and start digging and researching this stuff for the sake of their patients.
Thank you for sharing this! Your blog plays a vital role in educating me as well as others!
Thank you so much!!! Finally something ‘mainstream’ to convince my mum to stop her statin meds!!! Thank you : ) x
Thank you sooooooo very much for this great video!!!! I can hardly wait to tell my husband about it!!! He is on statin drug and diabetic! I want him to get tested!!! Thank you!!!!! Sherra
Great article and 100% what my chiropractor/nutritionist has been telling me for years!
Thanks for sharing the link.
Thank you so much for getting this information out there Food Renegade and Dr.Oz and these 2 wonderful doctors who wrote the book.
I want to share a video that I watched last year on statin drugs and cholesterol. It is a radio show featuring Dr. Blaylock, a retired neurosurgeon. There are loads of research documents printed in Europe and the US about cholesterol having nothing to do with heart disease. It’s incredible!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZk4lEsU140&feature=plcp&list=PL0F053976DF923A7D
So why does eating meat, dairy & fat constipate us, & take so long to be digested??? Why does feces from meat stink so badly??? Why is it greasy & nasty??? Why do we have teeth that are not fanged, like cats & dogs & other carnivores??? Why are our small & large intestines so long, while the intestines of meat eating animals are so short??? Because we were made to eat fruits, grains, & veggies, which are digested & eliminated from our bodies quickly, unlike animal products, including fats, which in addition to staying in our guts for days & constipating us, are the main cause of digestive & colon cancers. Why are diabetics told NOT to eat eggs??? Why is protein so hard on human kidneys, & a main cause of kidney failure??? Why are you ignoring the biology of humans vs. animals??? You will delete my comment here, like you deleted my comments from your FB page. You can’t change the way we are made, or the fact that a plant-based diet is natural & best for humans.
Kathleen,
What do any of your questions have to do with Dr. Oz’s point about how cholesterol works within the body? He is not talking about protein, eating meat, or any of that. He’s talking about exactly what cholesterol is and how our bodies use it.
Please *do* try to stay on-topic in your responses. You are correct in assuming that you will be banned from commenting if this sort of behavior continues.
I am all for dissenting views and lively discussion! I just ask that readers stay on topic and stay polite.
For the last time, I am directing you to my comment policy. If you fail to abide by it, you will no longer be allowed to comment here.
Thank you.
How eye opening this is. Thanks so much for the info! Once again, sugar is cited as the problem. It always seems to get back to that, doesn’t it?
I have been a massage therapist for 12 years & have seen what the statin drugs do to my clients. I am so glad this is finely getting to mainstream media & more people are learning about it. Big Pharma is in it for the money, not our health & well being. Kristen thank you so much for being such a renegade & getting the message out to the masses!!!
For years my doctor was pushing statins which I tried twice and stopped within weeks each time as a result of the side effects – mostly the joint pain. I took this book to heart and dropped my cholesterol by 83 points in 35 days – without any medicine. I know to most it may be obvious, but I remain in awe at the effect nutrition alone plays on our health.