The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease-and the Statin-Free Plan That Will

by Stephen Sinatra, Jonny Bowden

Overview

Heart disease is the #1 killer. However, traditional heart disease protocols—with their emphasis on lowering cholesterol—have it all wrong. Emerging science is showing that cholesterol levels are a poor predictor of heart disease and that standard prescriptions for lowering it, such as ineffective low-fat/high-carb diets and serious, side-effect-causing statin drugs, obscure the real causes of heart disease. Even doctors at leading institutions have been misled for years based on creative reporting of research results from pharmaceutical companies intent on supporting the $31-billion-a-year cholesterol-lowering drug industry.

The Great Cholesterol Myth reveals the real culprits of heart disease, including:
Inflammation
Fibrinogen
Triglycerides
Homocysteine
Belly fat
Triglyceride to HCL ratios
High glycemic levels

Bestselling health authors Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., and Stephen Sinatra, M.D. give readers a 4-part strategy based on the latest studies and clinical findings for effectively preventing, managing, and reversing heart disease, focusing on diet, exercise, supplements, and stress and anger management.

Get proven, evidence-based strategies from the experts with The Great Cholesterol Myth.

MYTHS  VS. FACTS
Myth–High cholesterol is the cause of heart disease.
Fact–Cholesterol is only a minor player in the cascade of inflammation which is a cause of heart disease.

Myth–High cholesterol is a predictor of heart attack.
Fact–There is no correlation between cholesterol and heart attack.
 
Myth–Lowering cholesterol with statin drugs will prolong your life.
Fact–There is no data to show that statins have a significant impact on longevity.
 
Myth–Statin drugs are safe.
Fact–Statin drugs can be extremely toxic including causing death.
 
Myth–Statin drugs are useful in men, women and the elderly.
Fact–Statin drugs do the best job in middle-aged men with coronary disease.
 
Myth–Statin drugs are useful in middle-aged men with coronary artery disease because of its impact on cholesterol.
Fact–Statin drugs reduce inflammation and improve blood viscosity (thinning blood). Statins are extremely helpful in men with low HDL and coronary artery disease.
 
Myth–Saturated fat is dangerous.
Fact–Saturated fats are not dangerous. The killer fats are the transfats from partially hydrogenated oils.
 
Myth–The higher the cholesterol, the shorter the lifespan.
Fact–Higher cholesterol protects you from gastrointestinal disease, pulmonary disease and hemorrhagic stroke.
 
Myth–A high carbohydrate diet protects you from heart disease.
Fact–Simple processed carbs and sugars predispose you to heart disease.
 
Myth–Fat is bad for your health.
Fact–Monounsaturated and saturated fats protect you from metabolic syndrome. Sugar is the foe in cardiovascular disease.
 
Myth–There is good (HDL) cholesterol and bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Fact–This is over-simplistic. You must fractionate LDL and HDL to assess the components.
 
Myth–Cholesterol causes heart disease.
Fact–Cholesterol is only a theory in heart disease and only the small component of LP(a) or “bb shot” LDL predisposes one to oxidation and inflammation.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592335213
Publisher:	Fair Winds Press
Publication date:	11/01/2012
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., (Woodland Hills, CA) also known as The Nutrition Myth Buster, is a nationally known, board-certified nutritionist and expert on diet and weight loss. He has appeared on the Dr. Oz Show, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS and has contributed to articles in the New York Times, Forbes, the Daily Beast, Huffington Post, Vanity Fair Online, Men’s Heath, Prevention, and dozens of other print and online publications. He is a popular speaker who presents at both academic and consumer events all over the world.

Dr. Jonny is the best-selling author of fifteen books, including The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy, The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer, The Healthiest Meals on Earth, Smart Fat (with Steven Masley, M.D.), and the controversial best-seller, The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease and the Statin-Free Plan that Will (with cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, MD). 

Stephen Sinatra, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist, educator, and author who created the Manchester, CT-based Heart MD Institute (www.heartmdinstitute.com) as an educational platform focused on prevention and proactive lifestyle changes to live a healthier life. He is the author of Reverse Heart Disease Now, The Sinatra Solution, Lower Your Blood Pressure in Eight Weeks, and Heart Sense for Women. He has also contributed to several prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Heart Disease, CT Medicine, and the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.

Read an Excerpt

A Note on Materials

I have a studio full of art supplies I rarely use. In the end, I prefer to work with a fairly small list. With a few exceptions, the following is all you will need to do the projects in this book:

- Mechanical pencil
- Ultra Fine-Point Sharpie (permanent marker)
- Ballpoint pen
- White paint pen
- Watercolors
- #12 round watercolor brush
- Soft vine charcoal
- White gesso
- White acrylic ink
- Colored pencils
- Markers (any kind)
- 1 or 2 light grey Copic markers (or something similar)

I work in small 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch (14 x 14 cm) sketchbooks, on white card stock from the office supply store, #140 hot-press watercolored paper, or wood.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Chapter One: Why You Should Be Skeptical of Cholesterol as an Indicator of Heart Disease

Chapter Two: “Cholesterol Is Harmless!”

Chapter Three: Inflammation: The True Cause of Heart Disease

Chapter Four: Sugar: The Real Demon in the Diet

Chapter Five: The Truth about Fat: It’s Not What You Think

Chapter Six: The Statin Scam

Chapter Seven: Help Your Heart with These Supplements

Chapter Eight: Stress: The Silent Killer

Chapter Nine: Putting It All Together—A Simple and Easy Blueprint for a Healthy Heart—and Life!

Glossary

Endnotes

About the Authors

Acknowledgements

Index

Editorial Reviews

Anyone skeptical of the notion that there is more to heart disease than ‘cut your fat, take a statin drug’ would be well served by reading this book.”  -William Davis, M.D., best-selling author of Wheat Belly

“How is it that more people are on statin drugs and aggressive pharmaceutical interventions than ever before and yet cardiovascular disease remains one of the most pervasive killers in Western society? The authors present the real causes of heart disease and practical solutions to both preventing and treating it.” - Robb Wolf, best-selling author of The Paleo Solution

“The Great Cholesterol Myth finally sheds light on the true story, why millions are being harmed by statin drugs and how to really prevent heart disease. Everyone with heart disease, on a statin, or with a family history of heart disease must read this book. And if your doctor recommends a statin, read this book first!” - Mark Hyman, M.D., best-selling author of The Blood Sugar Solution
“Doctors Bowden and Sinatra have done us all a great service by busting the cholesterol myth and all the misinformation out there about heart disease. This book is a must-read!” - Christiane Northrup, M.D., best-selling author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause
 
"The Great Cholesterol Myth, by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., and Stephen Sinatra, M.D., goes far beyond the standard information and advice for anyone worried about heart disease. The style is breezy and easy to read, but the information is solid and will surprise many readers. A must for anyone who needs to combat heart problems." - Joe Graedon, M.S., and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., New York Times best-selling authors of The People's Pharmacy
 
 “The simplistic view that dietary and serum cholesterol are the primary causes of heart disease and heart attack is no longer tenable. Doctors Sinatra and Bowden provide all of us with a persuasive, fact-based interpretation and vision of the true role of cholesterol in cardiovascular illnesses.” - Mark Houston M.D., M.S., F.A.C.P., F.A.H.A., F.A.S.H., F.A.C.N., Director, Hypertension Institute, Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville, TN, and author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Heart Disease
 
“The Great Cholesterol Myth is a remarkable book that will revolutionize the way in which heart disease is prevented, detected, and treated in this country.” - Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., best-selling author of The Fat Flush Plan
 
“This book clearly explains the tragic and harmful cholesterol and statin myths, and gives readers insight into those factors that really do promote a healthy heart.”  – Peter H. Langsjoen, M.D., F.A.C.C.



“Full of useful facts, backed up by the research literature, this book is entertaining and accessible to just about anybody who cares about their health. A must-read for those who are worried about their cholesterol levels and on the fence with statin therapy.” - Stephanie Seneff, B.S., M.S., E.E., Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“Increasingly, doctors are questioning assertions that cholesterol is responsible for arterial disease, and that effective management requires lowering of cholesterol levels, especially with statins. At the same time, the noxious properties of the latter are being appreciated. It is therefore timely that Bowden and Sinatra provide this very readable explanation of why they think the way they do. Many readers will be persuaded.”  - Hywel Davies, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C., former Chief of Cardiology at the Denver VA Hospital

“Jonny Bowden, along with Dr. Stephen Sinatra, demonstrates with compelling logic backed by scientific studies, that doctors are doing more harm than good by prescribing statins as if they were after-dinner mints, with the false hope that a lower cholesterol level will prevent heart disease when underlying inflammation and oxidative stress are the real root causes of heart disease.” - Todd LePine M.D., The UltraWellness Center
 
“Dr. Bowden and Dr. Sinatra do an outstanding job providing a deep dive into all the causes of heart disease, while clarifying the role cholesterol plays. I would encourage this book to be required reading for all health science students, nutritionists, and physicians who treat patients!” - Colette Heimowitz, M.Sc., Vice President of Nutrition and Education, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.
“If you’re concerned about your cholesterol level and are thinking of taking a statin drug, this book is a must read! It will change the way you think about heart disease—and it may save your life!”  - Prudence Hall, M.D., Founder and Medical Director, The Hall Center
 
“Be ready to be surprised, entertained, and to become healthy.” - Larry McCleary, M. D., best-selling author of Feed Your Brain, Lose Your Belly
 
“This book is well written with excellent scientific references and from extremely knowledgeable authors. Read this book so you can be armed with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision before you treat your high cholesterol!” - Jennifer Landa, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, author of The Sex Drive Solution for Women
 “Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra set the record straight on decades of bad science [and] put forth a far better solution about the true culprits that rob you of longevity: processed carbohydrates, insufficient vegetables, excess omega 6, too many trans fats. Masterly, readable, and life-altering.” - Sara Gottfried, M.D., author of The Hormone Cure 


“The authors have done their homework, and rather than rotely ‘following the leader.’ They have dug into the extensive research and correlated it with their wide clinical experience to reveal the truth. This book can save many lives, including your own!” - Hyla Cass, M.D., author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health
 
“Thanks to the extensive scientific evidence provided by Bowden and Sinatra, the truth about cholesterol will hopefully end the utter madness that has plagued our society for far too long. Don’t even think about taking another statin drug, cutting your fat and cholesterol intake, or other ‘heart-healthy’ measures until you read The Great Cholesterol Myth.”  —Jimmy Moore, author of Livin’ La Vida Low Carb and A Patient’s Guide to Understanding Your Cholesterol Test Results
 
“This powerful new book will help the cholesterol test get the rest it deserves.” — Alan Christianson, N.M.D., co-author, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease
 
"If you want to know the truth about cholesterol, and what you absolutely must do to improve your heart health, this is the book for you. Jonny Bowden and Dr. Stephen Sinatra reveal the facts in a compelling and insightful way. This invaluable book belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who cares about the truth in medicine and healing." —Daniel Amen, M.D., CEO, Amen Clinics, Inc., Author of Use Your Brain to Change Your Age
 
“Got high cholesterol or heart disease? Get this book!” —Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of Beat Sugar Addiction Now! and From Fatigued to Fantastic!
 
“Finally! This timely book, written by the eminently qualified dream team of Dr. Jonny Bowden and Dr. Stephen Sinatra, exposes and unravels the great American cholesterol scam. Statin drugs sell in the U.S. for over $30 billion per year, but do they really prevent heart disease? No!  This ‘must read’ book will tell you how to really prevent heart disease and live a longer, healthier, leaner, fuller life.” —Dean Raffelock, D.C., Dipl. Ac., D.A.A.I.M., D.I.B.A.K., D.A.C.B.N., C.C.N., author of A Natural Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum Health
 “The book you’re holding is dangerous, and may even upset you. That’s because everything you know about cholesterol is probably wrong. Doctors Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra provide both the science to vindicate this unfairly demonized molecule and a plan of action so you can attain optimal health.” - JJ Virgin, best-selling author of The Virgin Diet 

From the Publisher