A Statin-Free Life

by Aseem Malhotra

Statins are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Yet many report serious side effects and a US survey revealed that 75 per cent of respondents stopped taking them within a year.

So what is the evidence for their benefits? Dr Aseem Malhotra, author of the bestselling  The 21-Day Immunity Plan  and co-author of the bestselling  The Pioppi Diet , examines the claims for statins and their role in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease. He introduces us to his targeted heart-health plan, which, with a diet plan, recipes and advice on reducing stress and increasing movement, can help us to live statin-free and take control of our own health.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Science, Medicine, Diets, Nutrition, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[William C. Sneed · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Get off Your Statin Drugs

I love this book. My doctor put me on statins in 2005 right after I had open- heart surgery. I bought the big lie and stayed on statins for 16 years. Over that period of time, my heart problems went from bad to worse. The take home from this lesson is that Statins do not protect you from heart disease. In 2021, against my doctor's orders I stopped taking Statin drugs. During the past 5 months my health has improved dramatically. I lost over 40 pounds by adopting the Keto meal plan by eating only two meals a day and cut sugar from my diet. AND I FEEL GREAT!

[Eve Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly informative analysis supported by data. Personally I think this a “must read” for anyone with high cholesterol, heart disease or a family history of either. Not only does Dr Malhotra set out the case for the ineffectiveness of statins but he also tells you what you can personally do to decrease your risks of suffering a shortened or limited life.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth the read… very educational regarding heart health. Including lots of researched information for many scenarios (including People with genetically very high levels of LDL cholesterol diagnosed with FH familial hyperlipidaemia)~ definitely recommend

Use of statins is different for people who have experienced a heart attack and this book touches on that as well

end of each chapter is summarized with key notes presented w/bullet points

explains statins, including how they work, historical use & current data

also explains cholesterol, it’s role in our bodies etc.
*”rather than looking at total cholesterol levels, the best predictor of the risk of heart disease is in fact reached by looking at the total cholesterol divided by HDL, in order to produce a ratio”

particularly interesting is the discussion on metabolic syndrome/ insulin resistance

AND… “ LDL cholesterol has an important role in the immune system and likely protects against death from some infections” including cancer and The higher the LDL cholesterol in people over age 60, statistically the less likely they were to die based on a study of over 70,000 people

Note: optimal metabolic health (including Low levels of insulin and a normal waste circumference achieved through diet and lifestyle) means the risk of developing heart disease is markedly reduced

includes a 28 day nutrition plan w/many options and lots of recipes

[c.r.knapper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading

Essential reading .. Big Pharma doesn’t want you to get you healthy and Big Food wants to keep you hungry … heart disease beckons .. all avoidable if you read this book

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if someone is recommending a statin. Get fully informed.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read and be informed before going on statins.

[Jake Kern · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of anti-statin propaganda in this book. The first half of the book goes into great detail the conspiracy to make statins the default for any cholesterol issue. But I've already taken statins and hated the fatigue and ache they caused.

So I skimmed the first half of the book that showed the evidence to argue against statins. When I got to the solution I found it to be 1/2 hour of moderate exercise (walking) and the Mediterranean Diet. That's it. The second half of the book is filled with recipes to create an adequate nutritional plan.

EDIT: Update. My electrolytes had been testing very high, so a cardiovascular specialist prescribed 2-1000mg capsules of Omega 3 twice per day. Yep. 2 grams of Omega 3 twice per day to get the fish oil I would have needed from the Mediterranean Diet. My electrolytes plummeted back to normal which pulled my cholesterol back down to the safe level.

[Dave Seibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

For anyone concerned about their health this is an easy read with some very great clues on how to understand what your doctor is telling you. Makes me happy I said no thanks to the statin my doctor offered me.

[NANCY GWIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking but not surprising

Big Pharma should be in prison. Informed consent should be the bare minimum requirement before a doctor starts you on any type of medication. Do the doctors not know, or is it the path of least resistance? Thank you so much!

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take everything you thought you knew and throw it out the window.

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read, and gave me a lot of material to talk to my doctor about.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of 5 is only because the second half of the book is simply a diet plan and a collection of recipes which would have made more sense to publish separately in an accompanying volume for those who are interested, much like other authors have done with similar nutrition books. Not only that, but the diet plan and recipes are weirdly an exclusive regimen of Indian food: Indian breakfast, Indain lunch, and Indian dinner. I know the author is Indian and he's proudly sharing his culture and showing us how what he specifically eats works, but maybe a more culturally-neutral diet plan would have made more sense where he states the product but not a specific preparation method. Also, what matters is the principle behind food choices, not a specific list of recipes, which confuses more than helps, as well as take over half the pages in the book.

Having said that, the first half of the book is brilliant in that it is able to succintly state the problem with statins backed with plenty of evicence, which essentially boils down to ineffectiveness and negative side effects. He patiently explains concepts such as relative risk that allows the reader to understand why the way statins are presented by doctors and the press can be misleading. He also introduces another way of understanding doctor-patient relationships whereby the patient is informed of the exact risk that not taking a given pill represents and compares it to the drawbacks of taking it and then decides freely, as opposed to a doctor dictating what to take and fear-mongering the patient into compliance.

If the author were to print a new edition, I would suggest dropping the diet plan & recipes and slightly extending the debate on statins, as it was really interestinng and I was left longing to know more.

[Ktmholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has your doctor said that your cholesterol is high, so you need to take statins to avoid a heart attack? And if you’re already on statins, are you experiencing muscle pain and fatigue? Dr. Malhotra explains that for most people, high cholesterol alone may not pose a significant risk for heart disease, and he questions the studies that have made statins so widely prescribed. Lowering the ‘bad’ cholesterol will not reduce the likelihood of a heart attack, and most people won’t benefit from taking statins. He examines the roles played by poor diet (he includes recipes in his ‘Heart Disease Prevention Plan’), exercise, and particularly stress, and stresses the importance of ‘shared decision making’ between doctor and patient to assess both benefits and risks of treatment.
As is common with this type of book, I give it only 3 stars, since I have no medical expertise. That being said, this agrees with other authors I’ve read, and is important reading for anyone taking statins, or simply evaluating their own heart health.

[mjgman63 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently had statins offered by my GP because my cholesterol level was slightly raised. I did some reading around the subject, and was interested to find this book which expresses doubt about the benefit of statins for many people. It's a controversial topic, and there are many diametrically opposed views, but personally I was persuaded by a lot of what the author says. Interestingly (for me!), when I subsequently saw a consultant cardiologist she said that she wouldn't recommend statins for me based on the results of my blood tests, and I am continuing to try to manage my risk factors through diet/exercise/reducing stress, etc. As others have mentioned, the only thing I didn't like about the book was all the space given to 'healthy' food recipes!

[Dave Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone over the age of 60, or those who have been prescribed statin drugs, need to read this book. As cardiologists worldwide are beholden to the pharmaceutical industry, patients are left holding the bag of rather ineffective healthcare. Not to say that you should not trust your physician, but to educate yourself and go in with eyes wide open and armed with critical questions. Dr. Malhotra exposes the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of this family of drugs in plain and simple English. I can only hope that statin drugs are given the same scrutiny and exposure worldwide as the botched Covid vaccines have recently received. Dr. Malhotra is sounding the alarm! I highly recommend this book!

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well having read this I feel pretty confused as the information has thrown my admittedly basic knowledge of statins! I thought these were to aid a person who has a healthy diet, follows a fair amount of exercise, someone who tries to have a lowered stress life, to avoid a stroke or heart attack. Looks like they may help a few but not all and in a lot of cases are perhaps taken by many as default meds given after a health episode.
Information perhaps controversial and think statins may benefit some but perhaps not as many as widely thought!?

[Eric Nehrlich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to know if this guy is a crank, but the advice seems sound and consistent with Jason Fung's book The Obesity Code, saying that metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are the factors underlying heart disease and type 2 diabetes. They both advocate for an improved low-carb diet with extensive vegetables and whole fruits, as well as exercising more. As somebody who was just put on a low dose of statins by my doctor, I am considering the benefits of this more holistic approach compared to drugs that target cholesterol directly.

[Chanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent information about the powerful effects of lifestyle on health, and the limited value of medication. An eloquent plea for informed consent and transparency between doctors and patients.
Sadly, large chunks of the book were censored out and left blank. At least it was available on Amazon. Another seller didn't have it in stock at all.
Malhotra's 21-Day Immunity Plan (which came with as a set) is unadulterated.

[Claire Sager · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Very informative book. He challenges the idea that a pill will fix all. I was surprised the data shows that Statins minimally decrease risk of stroke and heart attack, when the perception is quite the opposite. Factors such as diet, exercise and stress are more effective in decreasing the overall risk of heart disease. An interesting read for sure, especially for those working in health care.

[John Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one who has been using a statin for a decade, I found this book very helpful in dispelling a lot of apparent myth and misinformation. The author brings a great deal of impressive medical research and experience to bear, all questioning the value and effectiveness of statins for preventing heart disease. While his diets and recipes at the end of the book are probably helpful, I think it might have been helpful to have at least added some general principles and guidelines.

[Marti Zyg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got into this book because of my nursing background, but also because I experienced side effects of statins after being put on them for a total cholesterol of 220. The findings of Dr. Maholtra seem sound and he backs up all his statements with study references. It’s definitely worth a read if you worry about heart disease or have had issues with statins. Still, talk to your physician before making changes!

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flat, repetitive and slow in some parts but overall a great critique of the general cardiology population singing to hymns hypnotically that are likely interpreted sans nuance and without what the patient presents with clinically.

[Jill Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, and full of useful information, but I find that if you follow the Dr on instagram and listen to podcasts you probably will already know almost everything in the book.

I do recommend it for people trying to make the ‘statin decision’. Dr Malhotra is a well respected cardiologist.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are taking a statin
If your doctor is pushing a statin on you
If you have never had a heart attack
If you have had a heart attack
If you have a stent(s) in you cardiac arteries
If you are stressed
If you are too round
If it’s time

Then
READ THIS BOOK NOW

[Robin Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Guess I will have to do more research if I end up needing statins in the future. I do feel inspired to refine my dietary habits even more than I have.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and also very like the Blood Sugar Diet, and also different in some aspects from the recommendations of the BHF. Convincing though!

[Lisa Eidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good straightforward read on how to reduce your risk of a heart attack without going on statins.

[Fiona Cribb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly explains how cholesterol is produced. Fascinating to see how pharmaceutical companies manipulate data. Shocking. I have high cholesterol, but will try the plan before taking medication.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs an update that includes opinions on newer lipid markers like apo-b.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and worthwhile perspective to consider, if you have high cholesterol or are currently taking Statin drugs.