A Statin-Free Life: A revolutionary life plan for tackling heart disease – without the use of statins

Why did I buy this book? Because I knew it would be a brilliant investment, and I wasn’t wrong. Your health is, after all, your wealth.In this book you can find all relevant information on heart disease, cholesterol, coronary calcium score (I found this chapter especially interesting) diet, exercise, stress and of course statins, and all in the one place. There’s even some recipes thrown in for good measure.Dr Malhotra is a leading cardiologist which immediately gives me faith in what he has to say about heart health. He has 10 years of research under his belt, and it certainly shows. The book is indeed brilliantly researched and meticulously referenced. It covers so much and includes a 28 day heart disease prevention plan (I know so many who will appreciate this), an in depth but understandable explanation of what causes heart disease, and a solution to reversing it. Giving people in that boat hope, which is what is needed.It has given me a much greater understanding of cholesterol and how it is linked to heart disease. Not so long ago I classed cholesterol as one of the mysteries of life. So much confusing information out there. This book certainly clears up the cholesterol conundrum.Included are many patient case studies which I find very interesting. Real life experiences. I myself was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in December 2017. My diabetic nurse went straight for the prescription pad in that initial appointment! I was prescribed metformin and statins without even asking me about my diet or explaining anything about cholesterol. I declined medication, to find a better way. Thankfully I did, but that is another story. A success story which I can attribute to Dr Malhotra. His advice and the solution to regaining my health was to be found via Google and thankfully was in the palm of my hand. Education is certainly the key.Within a short space of time I had returned to full health and into remission where I remain over 3 years later. All my health markers are optimal including blood sugars, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. And I’ve never felt better. So I can say that, from my own experience, what he advises really does make complete sense..... and works.He explains things in a way I can understand, no jargon, clear and concise. ‘Question everything’ comes across. I have certainly questioned statins. Why? Well, on my journey with type 2 diabetes I have learned so much from listening to other diabetics and their harrowing experiences. One thing that I did learn is that statins can cause a lot of damage and have numerous side effects. Many diabetics explained how the statins actually RAISED their blood sugars! And doctors and diabetic nurses dish them out like smarties. Why do they do this before even asking patients what they eat?Aseem is a great advocate of food being the greatest form of medicine.This is a book that everyone interested in their long term health should read. And certainly everyone in the medical profession!!! They could learn so much.Well done Aseem, another great book that is going to change so many lives for the better.

Everyone on statins needs to read this book by an eminent heart surgeon: it will tell you things you'll wish your own doctor had told you. Drawing on a vast number of modern studies and research, the real causes of coronary heart disease and stroke, the effectiveness (or otherwise) of statins including the problems and side effects of these powerful drugs, and an easy to follow plan for a statin-free life are all explained clearly and with expert authority. The challenge to the old protocols, which are usually followed without question despite a large body of published and peer-reviewed evidence to the contrary, is something you need to know. Only when fully informed can you make the right choice for you. This book will be a real eye-opener and may make you better informed than your doctor.

Having been on statins for some years now and suffering varying side effects, this book has been extremely helpful in informing my decisions. I have been off statins now for four months, which, with the help of this book, I decided to do. The effect has been an eye opener. I'd like to think I am smart enough to continue to enjoy a healthy and pain-free life without statins. The aging process isn't one I am embracing lightly. We all have decisions to make along the way and I heartily (no pun intended) recommend this book to those who are suffering the side effects of statins and wondering what to do next and take some control back.

Very reassuring to read this book. I hate going to the doctors as some like to scare you to death about the smallest thing. I had a high total cholesterol test result but no explanation or a break-down of the other numbers. I don't eat unhealthy food and don't take medication that I don't need so refused the statins. I managed to lower my cholesterol by myself previously following a low carb diet but made some poor lifestyle choices after a few months. I will continue to do so this time around on a permanent basis and exercise more instead of worrying myself sick about not taking pills.

Dr Malhotra makes a complex subject really readable as he explains where the cholesterol hypothesis came from and why it's wrong. Alongside he also shares other measures you may recall from your blood test and what they're saying and which ones matter. He covers statins and their side effects and how the 'to take them or not' discussion should be conducted with patients. (Spoiler alert - in a much more evidence based way than it is now).Next up is what really causes heart disease and a new test that may be of great interest to you. All throughout there are patient case studies to learn from and evidence to reply on.The finale presents lifestyle factors - diet, exercise, stress - and how to make things as good as possible going forward for each person. The book didn't need the recipes in my view, but I know from personal experience that publishers demand them, so whatever.Highly readable and informative.

Made realise how much the regulators are in with the big pharma companies which filters down to the gps. Financial incentives for prescribing these drugs. Personally Ive stopped them because they were affecting my daily living activities.

Clearly written, sound advice but let down by sections of it written on a dark grey background which made it difficult to read. I wonder why the author chose this style? I would have given the book an extra star but for this faux pas !

Brought this as doctor advised I had high chlorestol and refused to take statins. Very good and definitely recommend as author does know exactly what they are talking about.

I have a heart condition: blockage of the interventricular artery. Twice I was offered statins. I am still debating to take statins or not. I read a few books on heart disease and cholesterol. They were fairly dogmatic and strident. They offered you an answer before you could ask the question. In comparison, Dr Malhotra explains how statins work and what benefits heart patients can expect from them. He doesn't say whether it is good or bad for you. He gives you the tools to assess your own situation and to reach an enlightened decision. If I am offered statins again, I will be better prepared to discuss the benefits they can bring me.

My sister recommended I read this book after I had my lipids checked and they were surprisingly high. I’m in the US so my overall number was 306, which is 7.9 in the UK. My doctor immediately prescribed a low 10mg statin and said we’d recheck my numbers after 3 months she also ordered the coronary calcium score test for me.I, like many people, experienced side effects from the statin my doctor prescribed, with severe neck pain being the worst. After 6 weeks, I had the calcium score test and it came back at ZERO! I stopped taking the statin and immediately felt better. I had already adopted a more vegetable based diet when I found out that my cholesterol was high, so when I went for my lipids rechecked after 3 months, the overall number was down to 250/6.4. I had also lost 12lbs.Dr. Malhotra explains the history of statins and presents the findings of many studies that revealed statins are not as effective as we are led to believe in preventing heart attacks and strokes. He discusses what contributes to heart disease and the association of familial hyperlipidemia. I found the information fascinating and liked the fact that time was spent discussing all causes of high cholesterol and what you can do to lower it naturally. This book is written is an easy to understand way, with lots of resources for information you usually don't hear about from your doctor.A Satin Free Life highlights how much our lifestyle effects our health, which we already knew, right? The biggest lightbulb moment for me was learning that reducing refined sugars is more beneficial than reducing saturated fat in lowering cholesterol. Everyone is different though, and each person should talk to their doctor about their own situation. I have chosen to follow Dr. Malhotra’s advice and hope to continue my journey to better health, and a statin free life, through diet and exercise.

Half of the book is blank pages. Never in my life have I received blank pages instead of a book. My dissapointment is indescribable. Amazon does not give me the choice to ask my money back and the communication with it is from very difficult to impossible. Both are unacceptable.

Easy to read and understand, glad I bought it

This book is so easy to read! I have an appointment with my cardiologist next month and now I'm much more confident about telling him I want to drastically lower or come off of statins all together. The fact that industry funded research and studies manipulates data to push doctors to push a drug that has more detrimental side effects that benefits is criminal. I've lowered all my numbers by diet. The author has examples of patients following the same eating plan that I do, which will help my argument. Thank you Aseem Malhotra so much for writing this book!!!