In the United States, over 90 million people take statins to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease. They are one of the most prescribed drugs in history. Despite their widespread use, heart disease remains the nation’s leading cause of death.
Heart health requires more than just a prescription drug. In fact, evidence suggests that long-term statin use may even harm the heart and disrupt other functions in the body. Nothing in the body works independently, so improving cardiovascular health means addressing the many interconnected factors that contribute to it.
A few notes on cholesterol:
Low cholesterol levels are not synonymous with heart health. In fact, a study of over 140,000 heart attack patients found that their cholesterol levels were lower than the normal range at the time of admission to the hospital (Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 2018). Another Japanese study found that low LDL levels were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (Lipids in Health and Disease, 2021).
Cholesterol is the precursor to all sex steroids and is an essential component of brain health because it coats neurons, forming the myelin sheath that helps cells transmit signals effectively. It is also needed for producing bile acids, which aid in fat digestion, and for synthesizing vitamins to support immune function, bone health, and inflammation control. Its role in the body is far more complex than just being a “number to lower.”
Modern medicine wants to fit biomarkers like cholesterol into narrowly defined “normal” ranges, but this approach ignores the broader context of how these substances function in the body. Artificially lowering cholesterol can lead to unintended downstream effects, such as hormonal imbalances, impaired cognitive function, and weakened cellular integrity. We have to shift our focus from simply targeting numbers to understanding how to support the body’s natural balance and optimize the factors that truly contribute to health.
Heart health is not a one-dimensional issue—it requires a systemic approach. There is always something deeper going on:
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- Thyroid health:
In the 1970’s, Dr. Broda Barnes, a pioneer in thyroid health, argued that undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism was a significant cause of heart disease.
He believed that low thyroid function impaired the body’s ability to metabolize cholesterol, leading to its accumulation in the arteries. Barnes also linked hypothyroidism to sluggish circulation, systemic inflammation, and a reduced capacity for cellular repair—all of which could weaken the heart and blood vessels over time.
When hypothyroidism was treated with thyroid hormone (usually desiccated thyroid), cholesterol levels often normalized, and heart disease risk decreased.
- Balanced sex hormones:
Because the heart is a muscle, adequate testosterone is critical for healthy heart function. Testosterone helps maintain muscle strength, improve blood flow, and support the repair of cardiac tissues. Progesterone is also protective by improving blood flow, regulating calcium levels, and strengthening heart beats.
In contrast, excess estrogen, particularly in its unopposed or synthetic forms, can contribute to water retention, inflammation, and clot formation, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It is critical to maintain a healthy ratio of testosterone and progesterone to estrogen. In some cases, bioidentical hormone therapy may be helpful to support the heart.
- Stress and cortisol:
Stress is a major contributor to heart disease. Interestingly, heart attacks were relatively uncommon in women until they entered the workforce in the 1980’s. This is likely due to the added stress of managing demanding careers
Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can increase blood pressure, promote arterial damage, and lead to insulin resistance—all of which strain the cardiovascular system.
Mitigating stress is essential. Fortunately, there are a few ways we can lower excess cortisol: maintaining blood sugar, increasing sodium intake, using pregnenolone or progesterone to counter cortisol, getting enough sunlight, and prioritizing quality sleep.
- Calcium and magnesium balance:
The heartbeat relies on both calcium and magnesium to function properly. Calcium
triggers the heart’s muscle cells to contract, creating a beat, while magnesium helps relax the muscles after each contraction, keeping the rhythm steady. An imbalance of these minerals can lead to irregular beats, arterial calcification, and high blood pressure.
Magnesium acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, preventing excessive calcium from entering cells. Higher magnesium intake is consistently associated with lower incidences of heart disease.
Contrary to popular belief, dietary calcium is important for reducing the risk of calcification and atherosclerosis. When calcium intake is low, the body pulls calcium from the bones. As it travels from the bone into the blood, there is a high risk that it will deposit in soft tissues to cause calcification.
- Vitamin D & K and sunlight:
Vitamin D, produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight,helps maintain healthy blood vessels by reducing inflammation and supporting proper muscle function, including the heart muscle. It also aids in calcium absorption.
Vitamin K2 works in synergy with vitamin D by directing calcium to where it belongs—bones and teeth—while preventing it from depositing in soft tissues, such as arteries. This reduces the risk of arterial calcification. Interestingly, statins have been shown to deplete vitamin K levels, which can increase calcification and the risk of heart disease—undermining the very purpose for which they are prescribed.
- Iron regulation:
Excess iron in the body can act as a pro-oxidant, generating free radicals that increase oxidative stress and cause damage to blood vessels and surrounding tissues. This oxidative damage can promote inflammation, contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, and impair the heart’s function over time.
Excess iron can come from a variety of sources, including iron-fortified foods, supplements taken without proper testing, or genetic conditions like hereditary hemochromatosis. Monitoring ferritin levels—a marker of iron storage—and donating blood periodically, using aspirin, caffeine, and calcium can help regulate iron stores and reduce the risk of iron-related cardiovascular damage.
- A note on fat intake:
In the 1950s with the rise of the “Diet-Heart Hypothesis,” unsaturated fats—particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in vegetable oils, margarine, and processed foods—have been promoted as heart-healthy alternatives to saturated fats.
However, emerging evidence suggests the opposite may be true. Unlike stable saturated fats, PUFAs are highly prone to oxidation, which generates harmful free radicals that can damage cells, promote inflammation, and contribute to atherosclerosis. PUFAs also suppress thyroid function and disrupt normal cellular energy production, further straining the heart and other systems.
Saturated fats, like those found in butter, coconut oil, and tallow, are stable, resistant to oxidation, and provide a reliable energy source for the body, making them far more protective for heart health. When saturated fats were the primary source of dietary fat, heart disease was uncommon.
Despite what the mainstream medical associations suggest, choosing saturated, nutrient-dense fats over seed oils and PUFAs is critical for lasting heart health.