Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q: Dear Terry, “I take Crestor and Tri-cor to help lower my cholesterol and triglycerides. Would you have anything you could recommend I add to these prescriptions? I cannot get my triglycerides lower than 500, which in turn does not allow testing to get a true cholesterol reading. In addition to the prescription medicine, I also eat a proper diet. Nothing seems to work. Any suggestions would be appreciated!” —Tim D., Shawano, WI A: Dear Tim, When people plan to combine dietary supplements with prescription medicine, I always encourage them to discuss with their doctor prior to use. If your doctor is in agreement, I would recommend you consider an herb called Indian Gooseberry. In Ayurvedic medicine, the oldest system of medicine on the planet, it is called Amla, and it is very highly valued. There are 4 clinical studies on Indian Gooseberry, showing safety, reductions in triglycerides, and boosting HDL cholesterol. Most heart experts agree that raising HDL cholesterol is the key to excellent heart health, much more so than lowering LDL cholesterol. You need cholesterol for proper brain function, for making hormones, and for making vitamin D! What you need is to balance your cholesterol, and make sure you have a diet rich in antioxidants (which means lots of fruits and vegetables). You will need 3 months to see full evidence of Indian Gooseberry’s effectiveness, so be patient and I am sure you will see excellent results.