With efforts being ramped up to slash heart attack and stroke risks, many doctors argue that taking statins over the age of 50 can only be a good thing.
The drugs' association with side effects, however, continues to cause controversy because of their deterrent effect.
One user named Justine recently took to TikTok to share her thoughts on the drugs after experiencing several side effects.
"I stopped taking statins about six months ago," she told viewers. "The chances are, if you suffer from high cholesterol, your doctor has passed you a script.
Justine described her symptoms on TikTok
TIKTOK / JUSTINE
"But what your doctor doesn’t always tell you about are the side effects, and let me tell you, those side effects made me feel awful.
"I was supposedly taking statins to future-proof my health, but they are making my day-to-day life absolutely miserable.
"My muscles ached constantly, and I had zero energy, and mentally, I just didn’t feel like myself anymore; I felt like a different person.
"I found two natural plant-based products that have basically changed my health, they’re not gimmicks, they’re clinically proven and scientifically proven to support metabolic health, control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, they improve mood, and mental clarity."
Nutritionist Irene Astaficheva previously told GB News that in certain cases, non-pharmaceutical methods can deliver results within weeks.
"You can see a reduction in LDL level in as little as four to six weeks if you change your diet and lifestyle," she said.
"It depends on how seriously you take the changes, in particular, if you increase your fibre intake, reduce saturated fat and exercise regularly."
Some of the best alternatives for cholesterol treatment are phytosterols and plant sterols, according to nutritionist Shona Wilkinson.
These are essentially found in the cell membranes of the plants and have a similar structure to cholesterol. They act by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream.
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Statins may cause undesirable side effects
GETTYWilkinson explained that foods rich in phytosterols include sesame seeds, edamame, kidney beans, split and green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, peanuts and almonds.
But she noted that you would have to consume a lot of these each day to reach your two grams' worth, and it can be difficult to get a cholesterol-lowering dose.
Foods with added sterols are also widespread and typically include yoghurts, spreads and cheeses.
"Most prescription medication stops the production of cholesterol totally," Wilkinson explained.
"That can cause problems. Plant sterols work by reducing the amount, which is far better," she said, noting that this is why some "people may want to consider a natural alternative and lifestyle change to lower their cholesterol".
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