You’ve got to hand it to mainstream medicine. They sure don’t give up easily. They’re like a dog with a bone. Once they commit to something… like statins… they’ll endlessly fight for it.
But I have to say this latest move takes the cake. You really have to see it to believe it.
Study after study finds that the antidepressants doctors often recommend make very little difference in many depression cases. And in others, the drugs fail entirely. So it’s tough to imagine a worse idea for warding off depression.
But unfortunately, it turns out, we don’t have to imagine it. Because that worse idea is already here.
A ridiculous new report claims that the common statins that are already widely used across America could block the mood disorders that have become so common these days.
It’s not that the statins will beat depression if you already have it. But supposedly, these drugs will help prevent it and keep you off of antidepressants.
But this is no medical miracle. And if you follow this advice and take the med as directed, you could find yourself with a whole new reason to be depressed instead.
Sales on statins could start to sag
Statins were designed to cut cholesterol. The drug companies claim that they will reduce your risk for heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death from cardiovascular problems.
But statins have never entirely delivered on those promises. And as a result, a growing number of folks are ready to ditch the drugs.
That has left the drug industry desperate to keep sales from dropping. So they’ve been cooking up all kinds of potential new revenue streams like pushing the idea that statins could help prevent Parkinson’s disease. (An idea I debunked here.)
Now with mental health issues on the rise, the focus has shifted to mood as the latest way to head off sagging stain sales. The new study suggests people who take the drugs might be less prone to negative moods and emotions and, as a result, less prone to depression.
But here’s the problem. The study didn’t look at the actual rate of mood disorders in people who take or don’t take statins. It didn’t even measure actual depression risk in statin users compared to non-users.
So how did they reach their conclusions about statins and mood? I’m glad you asked. Because the experiment they cooked up tells you everything you need to know about this so-called “breakthrough.”
Could cholesterol drugs help manage mood?
The researchers had volunteers stare at photos of faces showing the usual array of emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and happiness. And the participants were asked to identify the emotions being illustrated.
Now, that’s not quite as simple as it may seem. We all see faces and interpret emotions a little differently. And our own moods and attitudes can shape how we perceive them.
But overall, the folks who took statins were more likely to interpret fearful or angry faces as something more positive. And that’s when the researchers made their ridiculous leap in logic.
In theory, this “bias” toward positivity could make folks who are taking these cholesterol drugs less prone to depression.
That’s it. Despite the exciting headlines, that’s the ONLY “connection” they uncovered between mood and statins.
Yet many folks who see those headlines will be left with a more positive view of the drugs. Mission accomplished.
Telling the truth about statins
As I’ve shared before, there’s a big problem with statins. Well, a couple of them, actually.
First of all, even when they do reduce cholesterol, studies show statins don’t necessarily save lives. This is no real surprise because the drugs don’t target the true troublemaker, oxidized LDL cholesterol. (For more on this cholesterol drug FAIL see my earlier report here.)
Then to add insult to injury, they come with some nasty potential side effects. These include muscle pain, memory loss, and diabetes.
But it turns out there is a way to bump up cardiovascular protection while lowering your depression risk. And that’s with the natural tag team…
- curcumin
- fish oil
Each enhances blood vessel health and circulation on its own. And both are great for brain function, too, crossing the blood-brain barrier to deliver vital nutrients where they’re needed most.
So it’s no surprise that emerging research finds both of these natural supplements can enhance mood AND help with memory.
Of course, if you’re already on statins, don’t quit on your own. A doctor skilled in natural or integrative medicine can help you pinpoint the best way to ditch the drugs. Then they can help you develop a plan for protecting your cardiovascular health AND supporting your mood naturally.
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