Q. I was saddened to read about people suffering the side effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. In less than a year, I have lowered my cholesterol 30 points by doing nothing but take fish oil. I take a tablespoon of cod liver oil a day.
Not only does it lower bad cholesterol, it also raises good (HDL) cholesterol. I wish more people knew about this very simple and safe remedy. One friend said it tastes bad, but that’s not true if you take Carlson or Nordic Naturals.
A. The benefits of fish oil are well established. There are more than 10,000 articles on fish oil in the medical literature. Many refer to its ability to lower triglycerides and raise good HDL cholesterol. Fish oil also has anti-inflammatory activity.
For people who cannot tolerate statin-type medications there are many other ways to reduce cardiovascular risk. We discuss them and the value of fish oil in our Guide to Cholesterol and Hearth Health.
