Lay off the Atorvo, mate!

[TheGeorge]

I am prescribed 40mg Atorvastatin daily, to combat my cholesterol level, and I'm all right with it. I have read that porage oats have the effect of "soaking-up" cholesterol: if that is so, can I take a bowl of porage oats, with water and a little milk only, and miss out the Atorvastatin, at least some days? I am trying to minimise my medication. What say you?

[Hidden]

High The George,Yes oats are well known in the fight against high cholesterol, among several high fibre foods which do the same thing. They don't exactly 'soak up' the cholesterol, but that's a simple way of explaining it.Most doctors in UK, when first finding high 'bad' cholesterol readings will ask if you would like to try to reduce your figures through healthier eating and it is possible to do in many cases. So if you want to give that a try, why not?

If you can't and for all those stubborn and lazy people like myself who are hard eared about nutritional improvements, there are statins, and I have happily been taking one for years with good results and no side effects.

Luckily it is one of those things in which there is a bit of a choice for most people.

[Cavalierrubie]

I have porridge oats for breakfast made with water and have done for years. I don't have any cholesterol problems at all, never have, and I am adamant it is the oats. Highly recommended. Take care.

[Hidden]

My wife has high cholesterol, runs through her family whereas mine has always been in range. When I had a “proper” job, I was away a lot so my diet was very different to what it was when home but my cholesterol hovered around 4.7. Now retired and well and truly under the thumb, I follow my wife’s diet so chicken and fish in its various forms tend to predominate. Like her, I also have porridge every morning, spiced up with nuts ‘n fruit and now my cholesterol is around 3.5. Ironically, when we eat out I rarely eat red meat!!

[secondtry]

I would caution against taking any pills to lower your cholesterol unless you have attendant comorbidities.

I have had total cholesterol level around 7 for around 25 years (now67), since I started recording my results. More recently 7 years ago, I had ultrasound scans on my heart & carotid arteries - all clear. I would add that I have always had quite a high organic grass fed animal fat diet particularly over the last 10 years as the benefits are significant.

The research/comment I have read (sorry haven't got the references to hand) suggests not only that the majority of your cholesterol is produced by your body for good reason but also that a high LDL component (long since treated as the 'bad boy') is good. I sense the medical profession will be making another U-turn over the next 5 yrs+.

[RoyMacDonald]

Yes, I've eaten porridge cooked with water for breakfast virtually every day for the last 60 years and my cholesterol level is the lowest the GP and hospital have ever seen. I also put a topping of blueberries on it.

All the best.

Roy