Readers React: Before swallowing statins, try eating healthy

To the editor: So here’s another “study” that will surely enthrall the pharmaceutical companies while continuing to erode my confidence in the traditional medical establishment. (“Even people with low risk of heart attack, stroke can benefit from taking statins, study says,” July 14)

The guidelines, published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., call for “drugging” essentially “two-thirds of eligible healthy adults” with side-effects laden medication, instead of leading by prescribing well-tested and effective nutrition and lifestyle directions.

Whatever happened to the notion of “do no harm” and avoiding over-treatment?

Eat a primarily good vegan or vegetarian diet, exercise, refrain from smoking and too much drinking, and you’ll see your cholesterol levels go down to healthy levels.

Smadar Marshall, Westlake Village

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