Benecol and Cholesterol: Understanding the Impact & Results

Question
Hello Dr. Aukerman,

Benecol adverstises that it can lower the "bad" cholesterdal by uo to 14% in 30 days bu eating 3 tablespoons a day. I religiously eat my 3 grams of  Oatmeal each morning and I use Benecol on that as well as other products. A recent physical exam I had showed a total Cholesterol count got me of 290. (42 the good kind / the rest bad). I feel that this was a bad "snapshot" of my true C-level as I just came off the Attikins diet and I was eating A LOT of junk food right up until I had my blodd tested. I am 46 years old and I scored a 40 on a Heart Calcification test. I took another test; this time a treadmill with an echocardiagram and the doctor told me that my blood flow was fime and I just need to lower my cholesterol. I am eating nothing (nothing) bad now and my diet basically is tofu, poached salmon, oatmeal; extra virgin oilive oil, sow milk and fresh galic and lots of fresh leafy greens and fruits. I also take 6 fish oil supplements a day as well as a baby aspirin. My doctor prescribed Lovastatin to get my cholesterol down fast but I reasearched the potential side effects and I don't like them. In fact; I don't likethe idea of being on this type of medication for the rest of my life. My plan is to stick to my "super duper" current diet and have myself re-tested in about 30 to 60 days so that I can get a more accurate picture of my true cholesterol before beging-ing any medication. I've also looked at NIACIN but I want to wait for my next test and do more research. Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you...

Respectfully,
Gene McCann
mccann@flex.com

Answer
You have a good plan, that I would add the following to if OK with your doctor:
1) high potency B complex twice a day
2) magnesium 500mg twice a day
3) calcium with vit D twice a day
4) 1000 mg Vit C esther twice a day
5) a multivitamin daily
6) 1/4 tsp of cinnamon daily in hot oatmeal to decrease your cholesterol better than the lovastatin.