Statins for all over 50s. Try peanut butter instead! - Healthy Life Essex

It hasn’t happened yet, but there is a huge move amongst the medical profession to be able to prescribe statins to all over 50s.

The cheap drug is used to reduce levels LDLcholesterel, the bad cholesterol that can lead to furred arteries and resultant heart attacks. More than six million adults are currently taking statins in the UK. Recent trials suggest that use of the drug can reduce the risk of heart attack even in healthy people by up to 30%.

But many other specialists agree that mass drug prescription is not the answer. There are often severe side effects to taking statins such as muscle pain and damage to liver and kidneys. It will also encourage a false sense of complacency and a move away from healthy eating and other healthy lifestyle options.

A 20 year study last week showed that people who eat 1 serving of peanuts or peanut butter 5 times per week have a considerably reduced risk of heart attack. So the answer must surely be to adopt a healthy life style and eat your peanuts (salt and sugar free of course)!