The Cholesterol Myth: What Most Women Don’t Know About Heart Health and Statins

For years, I believed what most of us were taught—that high cholesterol was the ultimate enemy and that statins were the answer. I obsessed over my LDL, avoided every yolk, and practically feared butter. But something didn’t sit right with me. I was doing everything “right,” but I didn’t feel right.

Then I read The Great Cholesterol Myth by Dr. Stephen Sinatra and Dr. Jonny Bowden, and it honestly changed my life. What I learned from that book, combined with my own experience, made me realize just how much misinformation we’ve been fed about cholesterol—and how women, in particular, are often over-medicated and under-informed.

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What The Great Cholesterol Myth Exposed

The book dives deep into the flaws of mainstream cholesterol guidelines and the overuse of statins. What struck me most was this simple truth:

Cholesterol isn’t the root cause of heart disease—chronic inflammation is.

That shook me. The authors back it up with decades of research, explaining that:

• Half of all heart attack victims have “normal” cholesterol
• Statins don’t work the same for women as they do for men
• Dietary fat and cholesterol are not the villains they’ve been made out to be

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My Personal Journey with Statins

Like many women in their 40s, I was prescribed a statin when my LDL started creeping up—even though my HDL and triglycerides were great, I exercised, and my diet was clean.

Within weeks, I had joint pain, muscle fatigue, and felt like I was aging rapidly. I brought it up with my doctor, but was told it was “just part of getting older.” But I knew my body. And I knew something was wrong.

Later I found out that statins can:

• Deplete CoQ10, a critical nutrient for heart and muscle function
• Lead to muscle pain, cognitive changes, and fatigue
• Increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in some people, especially women

I weaned off the statin (under supervision), focused on healing inflammation, and started tracking the bigger picture of heart health—not just one lab result.

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The Real Problem? Inflammation.

I began to understand that:

• Sugar, processed carbs, and stress were doing far more harm to my body than any healthy fat ever did.
• Inflammation damages the arteries and leads to plaque buildup—not necessarily the cholesterol itself.
• Cholesterol is used by the body to repair that damage. It’s not the enemy—it’s part of the healing process.

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What Actually Improved My Heart Health

Here’s what helped me feel better, stronger, and more in control:

• Cutting added sugar and refined carbs
• Eating healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and salmon
• Moving daily with strength training and walking
• Improving sleep and stress levels (goodbye 2am phone scrolling!)
• Getting tested for inflammation markers like CRP, fasting insulin, and triglyceride-to-HDL ratio

I started viewing my body with more trust and less fear.

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The Statin Question—What You Should Ask First

If your doctor suggests a statin, ask:

• What’s my actual cardiovascular risk beyond cholesterol?
• What are my inflammation and insulin resistance markers?
• Am I being treated based on numbers, or my full health picture?
• What are the potential side effects for women my age?

If you’ve already had a heart event, statins may absolutely be appropriate. But if you’re being prescribed one just for slightly high LDL with no other risk factors? Get a second opinion. You deserve informed choices.

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My takeaway 

I’m not against medicine—I’m for informed, personalized care. The cholesterol myth made me rethink everything, and it gave me back my peace of mind. Today, I still get my labs checked, but I don’t panic about every number. I focus on how I feel, how I live, and how I love my body.

Heart health is about the whole picture—your habits, your mindset, your hormones, your stress, and your sleep. Cholesterol is just one small piece.

By Irene Nicole for Ravoke.com