Years ago, when statins were being pushed on me by my doctor, I was fortunate enough to come across ‘The Cholesterol Myth’ by Uffe Ravnskov, where his data (gleaned from scientific documentation) indicated that people with higher cholesterol actually lived longer; that there were no trials indicating statins were of any benefit to women, etc. At the time in the EU, the ceiling for high cholesterol was considered to be 6. I was on a vegan diet, and my cholesterol was 6.5, which seemed to indicate to me that dietary fat would not be an issue. Of course, overnight, the cholesterol ceiling was reduced to 4, thus creating millions of new, ‘sick’, patients, and making my doctor even more alarmed about my cholesterol level. Then again, he also took the covid vax….twice! With the advent of the internet, we are fortunate enough to be able to find reliable information, if we take the time to search for it. Imagine trying to find information, like this substack, from a book or magazine. It would be virtually impossible.
and weight. when you bring down all the numbers, you create a massive market to sell your poisons, and then, when everyone gets poisoned, you created a new market. Money money money !
I lowered my cholesterol by eliminating added sugar and seed oils from my diet. I still ate red meat, whole milk, cheese, butter, and eggs. According to my doctor with my numbers I have a 1.5% chance of a cardiac event in the next 10 years. When I told my doctor how I lowered it, she nodded but said nothing.
Allopathic medicine is like a mechanic that instead of fixing the cause of a misfiring engine instead rigs the sensors to read differently so that it runs without stalling.
Blood pressure and cholesterol are high when there are other issues that bring the body to that response.
One of the major issues is that it's much easier to temporarily correct or shift a symptom than it is to identify what's causing it and actually address the problem.
years ago I went to the doc with an ear infection. all my numbers were up. she wanted to prescribe me 4 forever meds but did nothing about the ear infection. no need to say she never saw me again. after the infection went away, my numbers all went back to normal.
Malcolm Kendrick is a very readable writer and makes complex information easily accessible to the average person. I read two of his earlier books, The Great Cholesterol Con, and Doctoring Data and both were eye openers for me. The problem in America is doctors do not like informed patients with legitimate questions. I can talk to my mechanic, I can talk to my plumber or nearly any other professional and my questions are treated with respect. If I am wrong they explain to me why. I have met few doctors who extend the same courtesy.
So true, Bruce. Not being mechanically savvy, I recently found an AC mechanic who explained the problem in English for me. Both the doc I go to and the vet kinda minimalize problems, without giving much explanation - I wish I could find better, but there is not much to be had hereabouts. A friend told me years ago, that her doc charged by the question asked, can you imagine that?
Most doctors don't understand the depth of these medical fallacies - thanks for keeping the good articles coming. My patients ask the same questions "why hasn't my regular doctor told me this?" - my feeling is that most don't have much time or curiosity left to keep asking questions, looking at the narrative in different points of view, and proper skepticism at their own profession.... true health is keep asking questions, and then observe the reality that we (general we as a public) are not healthier and happier with the common approaches in medicine. In the end its up to everyone to keep asking questions about what we can be doing for ourselves to maintain Health.
Yet another beautiful example of exposing immorality at work. Look at how clever "they" are at manipulation, obfuscation, lying, cheating, and how they use these fear based tools and others to produce desired results. And, this is not the only arena ( medical ) where immorality is running rampant. To take it a step further, the World is run immorally, as it turns out. We don't "see" it because it has become Normal. We're like fish in water.....water being this immorally run planet.
So, we have statements such as, " Money is the root of all evil". In a morally run world the statement would be, " Money is the root of all good". This is because people with extra money would help their fellow human beings because - They'd be doing unto others as they would want to be done to.
This world will be immoral until the clergy become moral. But we can become moral by doing our own study of the Scriptures and trusting in Jesus Christ, His blood, His Righteousness, His merits and His Priestly ministry. And not man, including ourselves.
In health, politics, morals, we have to do our own studies and come to the logical conclusions. With a close study of the Word of God a person will find that many doctrines that are being taught in most denominations are false and not according to the Word. Jesus said in Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
Not only the clergy, but the majority of us - just do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Once enough of us continue and/or start to live morally, we will elect similar morally living representatives. Once there's a majority of morally living representatives in the World, then the World can start running morally, and we can
then eliminate all our problems. As Luke and Christ said - Heaven isn't out there somewhere, heaven is within us. In other words, by living morally we could create a Heaven on Earth.
I had read The Cholesterol Myth and this Substack and have eaten and lived in accordance for years. And still I recently found out I have moderate CAD despite having none of the risk factors listed in this article, eating clean, no alcohol or smoking, no seed oils, no processed foods. Inflammation is low, bp has always been low, bmi/weight perfect, I'm active, etc. In revisiting The Cholesterol Myth, they say they would put someone on statins with my numbers/bloodwork/CT results. So... I'm extremely frustrated. I'm doing a course with a RD who specializes in optimizing heart health and lowering numbers with diet, and I'm hoping to stabilize/reverse what I can.
I'm just finding out i have plaques too, some heavy in my carotid...what dietary advice have you been given...I was looking at going mostly wfpb with some fish. Would love to hear what your dietician recommends.
70 yo Caucasian female with “pre” diabetes on HRT and with (of course) high cholesterol. Eliminating most sugar (occasional cheat) exercise and enjoying life what’s a girl to do? The doc put the scare on me so I’ve been statinized for ten years…no family history of anything but crankiness
Interesting. The regulatory capture of our law making and rule making processes is everywhere. Search "glyphosate tolerances" and see how much roundup can be in our cornflakes and jeans. Yep, it's codified in Title 40 of The U.S Code of Federal regulations along with over 600 other agrochemicals. Every agricultural commodity listed in alphabetical order. This was the result of the "Food Quality Protection Act" passed unanimously in 1996. It replaced the 1938 Food and Cosmetic act (Made necessary by our friends in the dairy industry embalming milk. In the 1950's it was amended by the Delaney clause, which allowed for no known carcinogens in food. The new legislation superseded this, and the interstate commerce clause ensures that no state health lab can test for these poisons, only the EPA. Enjoy those cornflakes!
Yes, eat normal having balanced diet, avoid low and no fat, eat salty enough (real salt), no or next none process sugar, replace beer with red wine (with moderation), stop worry about stuff you can't change and enjoy life. Listening to doctors are depressing.
Statins do not protect against cancer: quite the opposite
Uffe Ravnskov et al. J Clin Oncol. 2015.
Based on recent research since 2015, the picture on statins and cancer has become considerably more nuanced than the Ravnskov et al. paper suggested. Here's what the recent evidence shows:
Overall Cancer Risk: Neutral Findings
Multiple large meta-analyses from 2023-2024 have found no significant association between statin use and overall cancer incidence, with pooled odds ratios around 0.99 (PubMed Central) (BioMed Central) . A 2024 Hong Kong study following patients over 10 years found statin use had no impact on cancer incidence (ScienceDirect) .
Mixed Results for Specific Cancers
The evidence varies significantly by cancer type:
Potential protective effects:
Long-term statin use (>5 years) was associated with decreased risk of liver cancer (Nature)
A 2024 Harvard study found pitavastatin specifically was linked to significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in analyses of over 200 million people across North America and Europe (Harvard Gazette)
Meta-analyses found statin use associated with a 54% reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development (Frontiers)
Potential increased risk:
The Japanese study found increased risk of pancreatic cancer with long-term use (Nature) (though note this conflicts with the Harvard finding)
Mechanism discoveries:
The 2024 Harvard research identified that pitavastatin suppresses inflammation by blocking IL-33 expression, potentially preventing inflammation-related cancers (Harvard Gazette) .
Ongoing Controversies
A 2024 review highlighted that while statins' cytotoxic effects may inhibit cancer proliferation, other studies have found statins to be carcinogenic, with potential mediation through phosphate toxicity (PubMed Central) . The review notes significant confounding by indication—people prescribed statins differ systematically from those who aren't.
Key Limitations
Most studies have relatively short follow-up periods (typically 3-6 years), which may be insufficient to detect long-term cancer effects. The relationship appears complex, varying by statin type, cancer site, and patient population.
The current consensus appears to be that statins are generally safe regarding cancer risk, but any potential protective or harmful effects remain inconclusive and require longer-term studies.
Years ago, when statins were being pushed on me by my doctor, I was fortunate enough to come across ‘The Cholesterol Myth’ by Uffe Ravnskov, where his data (gleaned from scientific documentation) indicated that people with higher cholesterol actually lived longer; that there were no trials indicating statins were of any benefit to women, etc. At the time in the EU, the ceiling for high cholesterol was considered to be 6. I was on a vegan diet, and my cholesterol was 6.5, which seemed to indicate to me that dietary fat would not be an issue. Of course, overnight, the cholesterol ceiling was reduced to 4, thus creating millions of new, ‘sick’, patients, and making my doctor even more alarmed about my cholesterol level. Then again, he also took the covid vax….twice! With the advent of the internet, we are fortunate enough to be able to find reliable information, if we take the time to search for it. Imagine trying to find information, like this substack, from a book or magazine. It would be virtually impossible.
Same with hypertension 'norms' which keep being 'adjusted' to create more 'hypertensive' patients.
and weight. when you bring down all the numbers, you create a massive market to sell your poisons, and then, when everyone gets poisoned, you created a new market. Money money money !
I lowered my cholesterol by eliminating added sugar and seed oils from my diet. I still ate red meat, whole milk, cheese, butter, and eggs. According to my doctor with my numbers I have a 1.5% chance of a cardiac event in the next 10 years. When I told my doctor how I lowered it, she nodded but said nothing.
Allopathic medicine is like a mechanic that instead of fixing the cause of a misfiring engine instead rigs the sensors to read differently so that it runs without stalling.
Blood pressure and cholesterol are high when there are other issues that bring the body to that response.
https://barn0346.substack.com/p/life-is-not-a-battle
Vaccines are a big factor with heart disease along with over use of prescription drugs that "hack" chemical processes in the body.
Quack pseudoscience has pervaded medicine for decades.
One of the major issues is that it's much easier to temporarily correct or shift a symptom than it is to identify what's causing it and actually address the problem.
years ago I went to the doc with an ear infection. all my numbers were up. she wanted to prescribe me 4 forever meds but did nothing about the ear infection. no need to say she never saw me again. after the infection went away, my numbers all went back to normal.
Malcolm Kendrick is a very readable writer and makes complex information easily accessible to the average person. I read two of his earlier books, The Great Cholesterol Con, and Doctoring Data and both were eye openers for me. The problem in America is doctors do not like informed patients with legitimate questions. I can talk to my mechanic, I can talk to my plumber or nearly any other professional and my questions are treated with respect. If I am wrong they explain to me why. I have met few doctors who extend the same courtesy.
So true, Bruce. Not being mechanically savvy, I recently found an AC mechanic who explained the problem in English for me. Both the doc I go to and the vet kinda minimalize problems, without giving much explanation - I wish I could find better, but there is not much to be had hereabouts. A friend told me years ago, that her doc charged by the question asked, can you imagine that?
Patrick,
The author has been to medical school and is one of the finest doctors in the country.
Most doctors don't understand the depth of these medical fallacies - thanks for keeping the good articles coming. My patients ask the same questions "why hasn't my regular doctor told me this?" - my feeling is that most don't have much time or curiosity left to keep asking questions, looking at the narrative in different points of view, and proper skepticism at their own profession.... true health is keep asking questions, and then observe the reality that we (general we as a public) are not healthier and happier with the common approaches in medicine. In the end its up to everyone to keep asking questions about what we can be doing for ourselves to maintain Health.
As always, thank you!
Yet another beautiful example of exposing immorality at work. Look at how clever "they" are at manipulation, obfuscation, lying, cheating, and how they use these fear based tools and others to produce desired results. And, this is not the only arena ( medical ) where immorality is running rampant. To take it a step further, the World is run immorally, as it turns out. We don't "see" it because it has become Normal. We're like fish in water.....water being this immorally run planet.
So, we have statements such as, " Money is the root of all evil". In a morally run world the statement would be, " Money is the root of all good". This is because people with extra money would help their fellow human beings because - They'd be doing unto others as they would want to be done to.
This world will be immoral until the clergy become moral. But we can become moral by doing our own study of the Scriptures and trusting in Jesus Christ, His blood, His Righteousness, His merits and His Priestly ministry. And not man, including ourselves.
In health, politics, morals, we have to do our own studies and come to the logical conclusions. With a close study of the Word of God a person will find that many doctrines that are being taught in most denominations are false and not according to the Word. Jesus said in Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
Not only the clergy, but the majority of us - just do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Once enough of us continue and/or start to live morally, we will elect similar morally living representatives. Once there's a majority of morally living representatives in the World, then the World can start running morally, and we can
then eliminate all our problems. As Luke and Christ said - Heaven isn't out there somewhere, heaven is within us. In other words, by living morally we could create a Heaven on Earth.
I had read The Cholesterol Myth and this Substack and have eaten and lived in accordance for years. And still I recently found out I have moderate CAD despite having none of the risk factors listed in this article, eating clean, no alcohol or smoking, no seed oils, no processed foods. Inflammation is low, bp has always been low, bmi/weight perfect, I'm active, etc. In revisiting The Cholesterol Myth, they say they would put someone on statins with my numbers/bloodwork/CT results. So... I'm extremely frustrated. I'm doing a course with a RD who specializes in optimizing heart health and lowering numbers with diet, and I'm hoping to stabilize/reverse what I can.
I'm just finding out i have plaques too, some heavy in my carotid...what dietary advice have you been given...I was looking at going mostly wfpb with some fish. Would love to hear what your dietician recommends.
70 yo Caucasian female with “pre” diabetes on HRT and with (of course) high cholesterol. Eliminating most sugar (occasional cheat) exercise and enjoying life what’s a girl to do? The doc put the scare on me so I’ve been statinized for ten years…no family history of anything but crankiness
Interesting. The regulatory capture of our law making and rule making processes is everywhere. Search "glyphosate tolerances" and see how much roundup can be in our cornflakes and jeans. Yep, it's codified in Title 40 of The U.S Code of Federal regulations along with over 600 other agrochemicals. Every agricultural commodity listed in alphabetical order. This was the result of the "Food Quality Protection Act" passed unanimously in 1996. It replaced the 1938 Food and Cosmetic act (Made necessary by our friends in the dairy industry embalming milk. In the 1950's it was amended by the Delaney clause, which allowed for no known carcinogens in food. The new legislation superseded this, and the interstate commerce clause ensures that no state health lab can test for these poisons, only the EPA. Enjoy those cornflakes!
Great article. Opens many people eyes to the medical political cartels scams we see today!
So, can anything be done to repair heart disease?
Yes, eat normal having balanced diet, avoid low and no fat, eat salty enough (real salt), no or next none process sugar, replace beer with red wine (with moderation), stop worry about stuff you can't change and enjoy life. Listening to doctors are depressing.
I was put on Lipitor 2 weeks ago when I had a stroke. How should I get off it? It it necessary to taper off?
And let us not forget Mattias Rath.
Statins do not protect against cancer: quite the opposite
Uffe Ravnskov et al. J Clin Oncol. 2015.
Based on recent research since 2015, the picture on statins and cancer has become considerably more nuanced than the Ravnskov et al. paper suggested. Here's what the recent evidence shows:
Overall Cancer Risk: Neutral Findings
Multiple large meta-analyses from 2023-2024 have found no significant association between statin use and overall cancer incidence, with pooled odds ratios around 0.99 (PubMed Central) (BioMed Central) . A 2024 Hong Kong study following patients over 10 years found statin use had no impact on cancer incidence (ScienceDirect) .
Mixed Results for Specific Cancers
The evidence varies significantly by cancer type:
Potential protective effects:
Long-term statin use (>5 years) was associated with decreased risk of liver cancer (Nature)
A 2024 Harvard study found pitavastatin specifically was linked to significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in analyses of over 200 million people across North America and Europe (Harvard Gazette)
Meta-analyses found statin use associated with a 54% reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development (Frontiers)
Potential increased risk:
The Japanese study found increased risk of pancreatic cancer with long-term use (Nature) (though note this conflicts with the Harvard finding)
Mechanism discoveries:
The 2024 Harvard research identified that pitavastatin suppresses inflammation by blocking IL-33 expression, potentially preventing inflammation-related cancers (Harvard Gazette) .
Ongoing Controversies
A 2024 review highlighted that while statins' cytotoxic effects may inhibit cancer proliferation, other studies have found statins to be carcinogenic, with potential mediation through phosphate toxicity (PubMed Central) . The review notes significant confounding by indication—people prescribed statins differ systematically from those who aren't.
Key Limitations
Most studies have relatively short follow-up periods (typically 3-6 years), which may be insufficient to detect long-term cancer effects. The relationship appears complex, varying by statin type, cancer site, and patient population.
The current consensus appears to be that statins are generally safe regarding cancer risk, but any potential protective or harmful effects remain inconclusive and require longer-term studies.