Despite years of concerted efforts by public health authorities, heart disease remains the number one killer of men and women in Western civilization. Part of the problem relates to the ongoing confusion and controversy about the role that cholesterol plays in atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, there is an increasing tendency among health authorities to pin their hopes on statins and aspirin as the ultimate solution. This class will closely examine the research behind this controversy, with specific emphasis on nutritional and botanical alternatives to lipid lowering drugs for preventing and treating heart disease.