LDL cholesterol is the primary driver of our primary killer, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. When it comes to LDL, the lower, the better. No threshold appears to exist below which further LDL-lowering won't further reduce our risk of heart attacks, strokes, or sudden death.

The reason more people aren't prescribed cholesterol-lowering statin drugs is there are associated drawbacks (such as increased diabetes risk), so the drugs are limited to those for whom the benefits outweigh the risks. But what if there were safe, simple, side-effect-free steps we could take to lower our cholesterol, like eating certain foods every day? With no downsides, everyone should be eating them to get their LDL as low as possible, regardless of whether they are already on medications or not.

That's what this book is all about.

From the New York Times bestselling author of How Not to Die, How Not to Diet, and How Not to Age, Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM, with Kristine Dennis, PhD, MPH, this primer lays out the risks and benefits of statin drugs and who should take them, before diving into detailing the diet best proven to lower LDL cholesterol through the combination of avoiding cholesterol-raising foods and including a portfolio of foods that actively pull excess cholesterol from our bodies. Drs. Greger and Dennis then expand this portfolio with creative ways to incorporate all known foods and safe supplements that have been shown to lower LDL by at least 10 mg/dL (0.26 mmol/L).

Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food concludes with actionable steps to maximally reduce our LDL, including recipes such as Dr. Greger's Portfolio Plus Powder to sprinkle on meals.