cholesterol myth

Nutty researchers want YOU on statins NOW!

Think you're healthy? Well, Oxford researchers have news for you: You're NOT healthy, and you need to start taking meds pronto.

That's right. There's no such thing as drug-free aging anymore because these researchers claim everyone needs to take statins once they hit 50.

And this means YOU.

Not at risk for heart problems? Take 'em anyway!

Worried about the side effects, like diabetes and crippling muscle pain? Stop being such a sissy!

Don't even have high cholesterol? Shut up and take your meds!

Oxford researchers claim their new study shows that statins can save thousands of lives if everyone will just put up with the side effects -- which, along with muscle pain and diabetes, can include everything from memory loss and depression to vision problems and sexual dysfunction.

But before you rush out to fill that prescription, take a closer look at what's being billed as a "huge new study."

Turns out it's neither huge nor new nor even a real study -- because it's a meta-analysis, aka the best way to "prove" a point by pre-selecting data that'll help you reach your pre-determined conclusion.

In this case, they chose 27 of the most industry-friendly studies on statins they could have possibly found.

Need proof? Take a look at this interesting statement from the analysis:

"The authors reported that most of the trials in this report were supported by research grants from the pharmaceutical industry."

Why would they do such a thing? Hmmm... d'ya think this next sentence might've had something to do with it?

"Some members of the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration writing committee have received reimbursement of costs to participate in scientific meetings from the pharmaceutical industry. Two CTT writing committee members also received honoraria from Solvay for lectures related to these studies."

So the drug industry funded the studies and paid off the researchers -- and they just so happened to find that everyone should be taking these meds.

Gee, what a coincidence!

Fact is, you don't need statins for "high" cholesterol and you certainly don't need them for "normal" or "low" cholesterol, either. Keep reading for more on the Great Cholesterol Myth.

Bad research on good cholesterol

One little flawed study comes along and finds that maybe HDL doesn't prevent heart problems, and suddenly everyone is down on the so-called "good" cholesterol.

But once you see the details on this one, you'll wonder why anyone is even giving it the time of day -- because the study was botched from start to finish.

The researchers didn't choose two groups of people with similar heart risk and then raise levels of HDL cholesterol in one of them.

Nope. That's a little too much like work, since it can't be done with drugs and has to be done with diet.

So instead, they just looked at a group of people with genetic factors that cause them to have higher-than-normal-HDL levels naturally. And it turned out these people had the same heart risks as everyone else.

Big whoop -- this proves exactly nothing, because the notion that genetically high HDL levels automatically come with health benefits is flawed from the get-go.

That same argument implies that someone with naturally high HDL levels can eat all the KFC they want -- and drink a quart of soda a day (Why not? You're genetically protected, right?) -- and have the same lower risk of heart problems as someone who earns their high HDL levels through a healthy diet.

Cholesterol is good -- but it ain't THAT good!

And when I say "cholesterol," I mean both HDL and LDL -- because despite what you've heard, there's no such thing as "good" and "bad."

Forget trying to remember which is which and just focus on your TOTAL cholesterol. Keep it between 200 and 300, naturally, and you'll have nothing to worry about since those "high" levels can actually PROTECT your heart.

If that's not enough, cholesterol can also prevent cancer, ward off dementia, boost your sex life and even slash your risk of dying.

Want to learn more about the benefits of high cholesterol? Read this!