As per the World Health Federation, high cholesterol levels result in 4.4 million deaths every year. From a regional perspective, this toll of demise is increasing in high-income Western countries. This underscores a global burden of disease and necessitates immediate action for disease treatment and prevention from ischemic heart disease and stroke.
Lowering your cholesterol levels with healthy lifestyle changes and medicines like Crestor can help prevent one from developing high cholesterol in the first place. This blog will help you learn more about What Foods Should Be Avoided When Taking Crestor to achieve the best results and minimize potential complications.
What is Crestor and what is Crestor used for?
Crestor is a brand-name prescription medication, a type of statin that helps lower bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides (type of fat in the blood) while increasing good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) in the blood. Doctors prescribe this medication to adults and children aged above 8 years when diet and exercise regimes alone cannot keep cholesterol levels in check.
Crestor may help lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood to up to 55% when taken along with a healthy diet. It is even FDA-approved to slow down the progression or plaque build-up in the inner lining of the arteries.
As per clinical trials, Crestor has been found to provide greater reductions in bad cholesterol in high-risk patients than provided by other cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor or Zocor. However, to achieve the desired effects of Crestor, it is important to take note of what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor.
How does Crestor work?
Crestor belongs to the class of medications called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or statins. This drug contains rosuvastatin as the active ingredient.
It works in lowering cholesterol in two ways:
- Blocking of a liver enzyme (HMG CoA reductase) that is associated with the synthesis of mevalonate, a naturally occurring substance that the body utilizes to make sterols, including LDL cholesterol.
- Increasing the number of LDL receptors on the liver cells increases the uptake and breakdown by the liver of LDL cholesterol present in the blood.
The desired effects of Crestor show up in 2-4 weeks after starting the medication course. Individuals taking Crestor respond variably to the medication. The results are influenced by diet plans and physical activity.
Hence it is important to check what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor, to enjoy the benefits of Crestor. So, if you want to buy Crestor online then get in touch with LifeRx Pharmacy.
Is Crestor right for me?
A doctor can only help you decide if Crestor is a good option to help lower LDL cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis. Crestor is not suitable for everyone.
It is contraindicated if :
- You are allergic to rosuvastatin or any other ingredients of Crestor.
- You have or had liver problems, kidney disease, or thyroid disorder.
- You are aged above 65 years old or under 8 years.
- You are an alcoholic abuser.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You have high levels of liver enzymes in the blood.
- You have unexplained muscle aches or weakness.
- You have severe infection or illness.
- You have undergone surgery or have a medical emergency.
- You have severe hypotension or dehydration.
- You have an electrolyte imbalance.
- You are taking antacids or other medications/substances that can interfere with Crestor and cause serious side effects.
- You have unhealthy lifestyles including poor diet, no physical activities, stress, and disturbed sleep.
If an unhealthy diet is the reason you are not being prescribed Crestor, you should switch to the right diet plan. For that, you need to know what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor. Diet plays a major role in working of the medicine.
Why avoid certain foods when taking Crestor?
Crestor is a cholesterol-lowering medication that effectively works in conjunction with a healthy diet plan and physical activity. Certain foods can reduce the efficacy of Crestor and be associated with some serious health risks; therefore, they should be avoided.
FDA has found that the removal of trans fats from the diet can prevent life-threatening cardiovascular health issues like heart attacks. To learn more about what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor, talk to your doctor.
What foods should be avoided when taking Crestor?
Finally! you have come to the main section of this article! If you are prescribed Crestor, the doctor recommends you avoid foods rich in fat or bad cholesterol, or else Crestor’s desired effect will not be seen. Specifically, intake of saturated or trans fats- partially hydrogenated oils need to be avoided.
Here is a list of what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor:
- Fast food or Junk foods: Having fast-prepared food items like burgers, French fries, pizza, hot dogs, chips, tacos, and others are never healthy. It is very bad for health especially if consumed while on course with Crestor. It can increase one’s risk of diabetes and obesity. Fast food must be avoided, as it increases the level of cholesterol and even the risk of diabetes and obesity.
- Fried foods: If you are getting treated for high cholesterol with Crestor, stop or limit the intake of potato chips, fried meats, and other fried dishes. Their entail must be limited or stopped while taking Crestor for high cholesterol to prevent further elevation of cholesterol levels.
- Full-fat dairy products: Full-fat dairy products contain saturated fats which can prompt the liver to produce more bad cholesterol. So, instead of full-fat cheeses or ice cream, you should have low-fat dairy items like yogurt. This helps reduce saturated fat intake and manage cholesterol levels.
- Baked foods: Pastries, donuts, cakes, and other baked foods are high in trans fats and so should be avoided while taking Crestor to lower high cholesterol. They must be avoided as these trans fats can raise “bad” cholesterol.
- Butter: Butter has saturated and trans fats. It must be avoided and replaced with olive oil or plant-based spreads that are not unhealthy hydrogenated oils. Taking these oils or plant-based spreads supports cholesterol management while on Crestor.
- Tropical oils: Coconut oil, palm oil, and other tropical oils are high in saturated fats and should be avoided. Heart healthier oils like peanut, rice bran, sunflower, soybean, canola, flax seed, or sesame can be consumed while taking Crestor.
- Fatty or processed meats: Pork, lamb, beef, and poultry with skin as well as processed meats like hot dogs, sausages, and bacon must all be avoided if taking Crestor for lowering high cholesterol. Avoiding them while taking Crestor will also promote heart health.
- Sugary Foods: Candies and desserts can contribute to weight gain and increase cholesterol levels. Limit their intake so Crestor can work effectively.
- High-Sodium Foods: Intaking such food will increase blood pressure and put one at risk of having heart disease. Avoid them while taking Crestor.
End Note:
It is important to keep levels of good cholesterol high in the blood and bad cholesterol under control to have a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or other heart complications. Crestor is used to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis and lower the risk of cardiovascular health issues. It is even prescribed to treat hereditary forms of high cholesterol including homozygous type (inherited from single parent) and heterozygous type (inherited from both parents).
Crestor is part of a treatment plan that also includes eating healthy, regular exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Cholesterol-lowering is not possible alone with Crestor. There is a need to follow a healthy diet plan, meaning certain foods should be avoided when taking Crestor. This article focuses on what foods should be avoided when taking Crestor.
FAQs:
What are the long-term side effects of Crestor?
In clinical drug research done on Crestor, the studies reveal that rarely people taking Crestor can experience long-term side effects. The potential long-term side effects are liver damage, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (muscle pain and weakness), and rhabdomyolysis (a severe, life-threatening muscle breakdown). These may develop at any time while taking Crestor, even if it is taken for a long period.
Is Crestor generic?
No, Crestor is a brand-name cholesterol-lowering medication. Although generic Crestor is available on LifeRx Pharmacy. If interested in taking a generic form of Crestor, talk with your doctor as only a doctor can tell you about its efficacy in treating your condition.
When is the best time to take Crestor?
Crestor (Rosuvastatin) is recommended to be taken once a day, preferably in the evening time daily, with or without food. The best time to take Crestor is evening because the enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis are more active during the night. In any case, the medication should be taken at the same time daily.
Is Crestor safe?
Crestor is safe only when taken with a doctor’s prescription in a specified dosage. Most people experience no side effects while taking Crestor. Still, Crestor is contraindicated in some cases. If concerned about the safety of Crestor consult your pharmacist or doctor.
Does Crestor cause constipation?
Yes, intake of Crestor may cause digestive issues like constipation. Constipation is one of the commonly reported side effects of taking Crestor. But it can even be because of other reasons. In most cases, it is mild and manageable with doctor-suggested ways like eating more dietary fiber, drinking plenty of water, and reducing alcohol intake. Certain foods when taken with Crestor can lead to constipation. To know about the list of these foods, switch to the section of the article “What foods should be avoided when taking Crestor”.
