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High cholesterol levels, if left untreated, can lead to heart attack or stroke. Statins like Lipitor and Crestor work by slowing down the production of LDL cholesterol in the liver, where it’s made. Because the liver isn't making so much cholesterol, it then takes cholesterol out of your blood, so your blood cholesterol levels fall.
Millions of Americans are prescribed these medications every year. But many instead turn to supplements marketed to lower cholesterol, like fish oil, flaxseed oil, and turmeric-- citing concerns about side effects from the drugs.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic compared rosuvastatin (brand name Crestor) with supplements including fish oil, cinnamon, and garlic, and a placebo, in a clinical trial. While none of the supplements resulted in a significant drop in LDL cholesterol compared with placebo, they found that rosuvastatin lowered the artery-clogging cholesterol by almost 38%.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the NIH, has also concluded that omega-3 supplements do not reduce the risk of heart disease. But eating fish – which contains omega-3 fatty acids – is linked to a reduced risk.
Cardiologist Michael Honigberg, says he advises patients to take the cash they would have shelled out for supplements and “spend that money on eating heart healthy, high quality food.” And if you are prescribed a statin, he says, the risk of side effects is really quite small.
Plus: How many eggs should you eat in a day?
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I don’t know what it is about puppets. As a kid, I found them so trustworthy and accessible. And even though I knew at some level that Elmo and Zoe were controlled by human hands, I must admit I paid them more heed than I did Gordon and Maria.
Puppeteers at the University of Connecticut’s Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry wanted to help children struggling with social and emotional skills after spending months at home during the pandemic. So they partnered with a school psychologist to create a cast of puppet characters, and a series of videos called “Feel Your Best Self.”
In the videos, the puppet friends teach emotional regulation skills like belly breathing and “shaking out the yuck.” In the pilot program at one elementary school, kids also get kits to make their own puppets. And there’s been a measurable change in student behavior. |
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All the best,
Andrea Muraskin and NPR's health editors |
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