There is some great info in this thread! Copying and pasting. My cholesterol has been stellar, but DH has a familial issue. He's been on Lipitor for years, now just switched to Vytorin. We'll see with the next blood test if it had any results. I'm another one who cooks only with EVOO or a bit of canola or grapeseed when absolutely necessary. You know that I don't add butter to any recipe that I'll be eating, nor do we use much butter or margarine here. DH give up eating cheese, but he prefers the harder types such as swiss or manchego as opposed to Brie. He likes it as a lo-carb/hi protein snack. He drinks his coffee black and uses 1% milk with his oatmeal. He primarily eats skinless white meat chicken, lean cuts of beef or salmon most of the time. Apples, he could do w/o but maybe spread with almond butter. One thing that we don't do w/o transfats is peanut butter. We buy the lower fat variety, but it has to be Skippy! What I haven't seen mentioned here, and Linda, this would be beneficial for you, is that the statin drugs--Lipitor in particular--may have some effect in reducing tumors of the colon. If that's the case, it may not be such a bad drug to take. Sometimes, I think we fight taking a pill, just because we want to do it "naturally" with niacin etc. but it's not the best choice. I definitely believe in diet and exercise, but in many cases like Annie's or DH's or Sharon's, it's genetics, plain and simple. So fight it with the entire arsenal!

Thanks so much ...I really appreciate your response/ideas ! The flaxseed I get is from COSTCO & contains, according to the label: organic flaxseed oil(Linum usitatissmum)(seed) 1300 mg. omega 3 (alpha linolenic acid) 780 mg omega 6 (linoleic acid) 156 mg. omega 9 (oleic acid) 143 mg. Contains: anchovy,clupea,salmon,& sprat according to the label. I am taking two capsules a day. I am going to try the fish oil capsules now again for a couple of months & see if my LDL & triglyceride levels decrease from when I was on flaxseed. For some reason my doctor had me switch to the flaxseed. Seems every month or so another idea on these comes out & very confusing!

I take blood pressure meds because I need them if I have any quality of life, but I won't take anything preventative, no flu or pneumonia shots, no cholesterol meds, etc.. I saw a doctor on TV and he said "I believe we are on the wrong track with Chlorestrol, it is suppose to flow through our blood streams and we have to find out what is making it harden". He thinks high blood count is the culprit. I read and research a lot and I pay attention to who wrote it and where studies were done. Drugs are driving the death rate up. I would be willing to bet it is the preventative stuff. They are very dangerous. And I will not take invasive tests because I would not treat cancer or have by pass surgery, etc.. I do not want to out live my memory. Alzheimer's and Dementia is rampant. My husband had cancer and heart problems, they saved his life, AZ took his life even though he was still alive. Mom Was very healthy physically, but had dementia and she lived years with it. I am not going there unless I have a stroke, become incapacitated and can't end my life. I finally found a doctor who will make suggestions on what he thinks I need to do, but will accept what I decide without nagging me to death. My dermatologist said he is not going to a care home. He said when he gets in bad shape he is going to call his vet. LOL he said he has meds that can drop a horse like that, snapping his fingers. I make every day count and enjoy the time I have left. I am 73 and can still out walk my kids. My life has been good, I have a positive attitude and I intend to enjoy the days I have left but I do not want to outlive my memory. I have met 3 people in the last 2 weeks who are making plans for when the time comes.

Vytorin is a combination of two anti cholesterol drugs. Simvastatin (Zocor) and Zetia. It is the Zetia that is under question. Seems that the drug company that developed zetia is now saying that studies have shown it to be uneffective in lowering heart attack risk caused by a build up of plaque in the arteries. It is a little more complicated than that. Read the info on the site below to better understand what is really the problem. Here is a link that might be useful: Vytorin?Zetia