A trending social media ‘health hack’ is encouraging people to ditch their statins in favour of consuming 24-month aged garlic to lower cholesterol. BBC Morning Live’s Dr Tosin disclosed that even members of her own family had begun carrying cloves around to consume « every single day wherever they went ».
She shared with BBC audiences the same advice she’d given her relatives, offering her assessment of the ‘hack’. She said: « If you’ve been prescribed statins by your GP, that’s for a reason. It can prevent cardiovascular events, diseases to your heart and your blood vessels in the future. »
Nevertheless, she acknowledged there may be some scientific basis to the garlic method. She said: « This hasn’t come out of nowhere. There have been studies that have looked into how taking garlic can possibly lower high cholesterol levels. However the results from these studies have been mixed and the results definitely don’t outweigh the benefits we know statins can provide. »
Garlic costs around £0.80 at most high street supermarkets for packs of three or four bulbs.
Dr Tosin highlighted that while statins offer established advantages, some people wish to discontinue the medication due to adverse effects they’re experiencing. Those taking the drug were advised to reach out to their GP if they notice any of the typical side effects.
She urged: « Please speak to your doctor because there are lots of options that we can explore. »
The NHS highlights that amongst the five statin varieties available across the UK, not every option suits all patients. People may need to trial different formulations before discovering the most effective one for their needs.
Common side effects of statins, according to the NHS:
Statins represent a widely-used category of medications designed to reduce cholesterol levels. Elevated cholesterol is frequently dubbed a ‘silent killer’ because it rarely produces noticeable symptoms independently, yet can trigger catastrophic medical emergencies such as heart attacks.
Doctors typically prescribe statins to those diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or who have a family background of such conditions, particularly when lifestyle modifications haven’t sufficiently lowered their risk of developing it.
These medications are generally taken as a daily tablet, though the precise dosage varies according to individual circumstances. The majority of patients require lifelong treatment, even after achieving lower cholesterol readings, to prevent levels from climbing once more.
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