Treating cholesterol the right way
Unfortunately, most docs just don't think of nutrition as being part of the bigger picture in terms of your health. Ditto the insurance companies.
But a new study supports what I always tell you (as well as my own patients): before resorting to a medication to lower cholesterol, try fixing your diet first.
Researchers analyzed 175 patients between the ages of 25 and 70 who had high cholesterol. Before changing or adding to their medications, they were sent to a dietician for nutritional counseling.
After implementing dietary changes, 45 percent either reduced their levels of bad cholesterol by at least 15 percent, or they reached their cholesterol-level goal. Most patients also lost weight, which helps contribute to heart, as well as overall, health.
This type of nutritional counseling is called "medical nutrition therapy" and should be an integral part of anyone's treatment.
Insurance is a big hurdle for many patients, as many plans won't cover the cost of dietary counseling. This often results in patients dropping out prior to completing the recommended number of sessions. Three to four sessions are generally recommended in order to gain the most value and ensure greater success in your dietary changes. But most drop out after only one or two sessions—because of the out-of-pocket expense.
How unfortunate that the insurance companies don't see the value, not just in terms of the quality of a patient's life, but also to their bottom line. For a reason that defies all logic, they seemingly prefer to pay for ongoing treatment with expensive meds that patients are stuck on for the rest of their life, instead of this simple, logical solution.
Here's my advice: call a dietician today. Go to www.eatright.org, which is the web address for the American Dietetic Association. There will be a section at the top of the home page that will guide you in locating dieticians in your area. Second, see if your insurance will cover it. You may need to have your doctor give you a referral in order for them to do so. And if push comes to shove, it's worth it to just pay for those sessions out-of-pocket.
To help you rid yourself of meds altogether, watch for the May issue of my newsletter, Health Revelations, where I walk you through my strategy for getting my own patients off their drugs in just 90 days. Go to www.healthrevelations.com if you're not already a subscriber.
