A Statin-Free Life

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.

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!!!

Interesting, informative.

Well written, I downloaded on Kindle to highlight so I could go back over key points. If your MD wants u to jump on the statin train, read this first. I have started this plan. In 5 months will update after lipid panel drawn again. She plans to place me on. statin if not improved. I will follow his plan with some variations, between his and Mediterranean diet. I will also be trying to stay below 1500 calories. I am 5’7” female, weigh 205 and am 66 years old. My HDL ratio (converted to his European) is 2.66. About medium risk . Does not take rocket scientist to figure out I am insulin resistant. I also had a rare cancer dx a year ago. They think I am clear. Hopes this diet does double duty for cancer causing inflammation as well. Only real issue with book is that his recipes look awful, but I am American and not British. Hope this works.

I am a recently retired family doctor of over 40 years from New Zealand. I have read most of the kindle version of this book already and nearly every page provides some gem of medical information backed up by reliable journal information. I can’t stress enough that if the subject matter applies in any way to you - you should “study” this book and if I was still in practice I would loan/give this book to the patients who needed it , like when I loaned the movie “ That Sugar Film” to my patients. If you wonder why your doctor does not get excited about this book you should know that they are under some form of what we have in NZ known as “ BEST PRACTICE” i.e guidelines. But I would challenge any concerned family doctor to dismiss the bulk of the information presented in this book. This is, in my opinion, Dr Malhotras best book so far and a tribute to a man who undoubtedly cares about both his patients and the truth.

I'm not half way through and I am excited by what I've learned so far. This is life changing, lifespan altering information. I am also reading The Great Cholesterol Myth at the same time. "Come with me if you want to live," is a popular line in action movies. Follow the information and research in hese books IF you want to learn and live. Period!

Loved this book . I’m a medical professional , this was a well written book, well researched and I am so grateful for it as it influenced a very big decision in my life ( if I need statins or not )

This is a short easy read. I hope to get a friend to read it and although I knew all the information in this book already because I research such topics extensively...I though this would be a good book for someone I love but I always like to proofread the books first before I recommend them to others. I would highly recommend this book if you want a short read with some hard facts on the politics of where we are at in our state of chronic bad health due to misinformation bought and paid for by drug companies, big food industry and dirty politics. Same old story, what the average person thinks they know about their own know about health has been a lie. There is simply not trillions of dollars to be made off of healthy food and healthy lifestyle. You have been bamboozled into thinking you need drugs and just keep doing sitting on the couch eating (insert favorite junk food or alcoholic beverage of choice). I digress. Evolution is amazing. We were born to self heal.

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.

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.

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.

Easy to read and understand, glad I bought it

prompt delivery, good book