(edit: I just read the whole and see MadisonGirl has covered this already. Oh well, I'll just leave it here.)
I think the general opinions on statins here are well known, but let me chime on one aspect of it.
If you do research, you'll learn that their are different kinds of LDL (the "bad" stuff) cruising around your blood, and they're distinguished by particle size. The small particles are the dangerous ones, while the large particles are believed to be benign.
Saturated fat is believed to raise your large particle LDL, while carbs are believed to raise your small particle LDL. A standard cholesterol test cannot distinguish between the two, yet basic standard of care does not yet call for the ordering of a LDL particle test before prescribing statins. These tests are widely available, but may or may not be covered by insurance. I think they run around $100.
Anyway, I think it's practically criminal that a doctor would even suggest statins without getting one of these tests done, but that's protocol right now.
Here's a balanced article on it IMO:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/high-c...olesterol.aspx
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