High Cholesterol

[gmart74]

let's just say that if you worry about it too much you're likely to have more of an adverse effect on your health than enjoying life and food a little.

I have always wanted to do a study to see if all the stress of worrying about your numbers and stress of counting every calorie and type of food actually is so unhealthy that it outweighs the benefits of better nutrition.

 

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

It's hard to answer the question without knowing your numbers. If you're just a little over the 200 mark and your ratio of good/bad cholesterol is decent, you can lower your number pretty easily with very small dietary changes. If you're pushing up into the high 200's or, God forbid, sailing through the 300's or even pushing 400, there's not a whole lot you're going to change with dietary changes (even though you should probably make them nonetheless). If you fall into the latter category, you're most likely going to end up on meds because those high numbers come compliments of your genes (and there's no undoing those!).

Here's hoping you fall into the former, more easy to alter, category.

Thanks for the comments from everyone.

Based on what I've read so far I am on the low end of the scale of concern.

Here are my numbers.
237 Total Cholesterol
77 Trilicerides
63 HDL Cholesterol

"According to ATP-III Guidelines, HDL-c < 59 mg/dl is considered a negative risk factor for CHD"

159 LDL Cholesterol Calc

LDL/HDL Ratio is 2.5

85 Glucose Plazma

 

[TDBama78]

Twinlab Norwegen cod liver oil. braggs apple cider vinegar w/the mother. cod liver oil is full of vit a&d and omega 3.

 

[TRUTIDE]

Flavseed is my miracle food. I put it on everything I eat. It is small and basically tasteless. As others suggested, I also use a lot more Olive Oil. This may not be a cure all for everyone but I had spoken with others who had used flaxseed for cholesterol and it worked well for me. Of corse you cannot go wrong with exercise either.

I am not a big fan of prescription drugs. I watched a young family member get heavily into prescription drugs for asthma where, as a child he had to take several drugs a day which sometimes included a shot. He was only 4-5 yrs old. When my child was diagnosed as an infant with severe allergies and the beginning stages of asthma, the doctors referred him to a specialist and the specialist wanted to run him through a series of test in preparation to determine what prescription drug treatments to put him on. We were young, first time parents and scared to death. Some friends of ours suggested mixing acidolphilus with his formula and it did a instant turnaround in his health. We went from this to whole milk. He's well into his teens now and has not had any problems with asthma or allergies. I only state this to point out that prescription drugs are not always the only answer. Don't overlook the the benefits of natural remedies. There become a time when we all have to take prescription medicine but I am not afraid to try a more natural approach first.

 

[Crimson Speed]

High cholesterol is something I have been dealing with for several years. Everyone is different so solutions vary from person to person. My doctor put me on Zocor and it worked for a while, but I started getting aches and cramping in my extremeties, even in my back muscles. He changed to a generic statin that works much better for me. However, proper diet and exercise needs to compliment drug treatment. I'm not saying Zocor is a bad drug; it just did not work for me.

There is ample information on the net about proper diets to help reduce high Cholesterol. Generally, I try to make a habit of oatmeal for breakfast and avoiding typical fried breakfast meats, but turkey sausage is an acceptable alternative. I really like grilled or baked fish, so that is a plus. Chicken and turkey works if it is grilled or baked. I keep a package of frozen chicken breasts on hand, throw one on the grill while frozen. It cooks quickly. Tossed salads do the trick if you don't load them down with high fat dressings. Omega three and flaxseed suppliments is suppose to be helpful and I use them. Yes, cod liver oil has high marks, but I can't handle the taste and smell.

It is not easy to change a lifetime of eating whatever you like and crave. Although I realize pizza and red meats are not good for me, I still enjoy them occasionally. You have to live a little, but eating foods with high dairy content and visiting the hamburger joints several days a week will not cut it. When I do endulge in fried foods, I use virgin olive oil and make a serious attempt to avoid foods fried in vegetable oil or animal fat.

I have some friends that eat any and everything they want and never have this issue. All I can say is they are very lucky. In my case, I'm convinced my cholesterol problem is a genetic thing. When my doctor first discovered the problem, he wanted to put me on a statin drug immediately. I refused and assured him I would change my diet, which helped only slightly. It took medication to resolve the issue.

 

[Bamaro]

A couple of points in no particular order:
1. Everything in moderation, even an very occasional Big Mack is OK
2. Watch the trans fats and saturated fats. The nutrition label is your friend.
3. Limit red meat intake. Fish and skinless fowl are a good substitution. Fill up on vegetables & fruits. Red meat intake is also a risk factor for some cancers.
4. Increase soluble fiber intake (i.e. oat bran)
5. No smoking
6. Drink a glass of wine, preferably red, with dinner
7. Fish oil tablets may be helpful
8. Exercise

 

[SavannahDare]

Thanks for the comments from everyone.

Based on what I've read so far I am on the low end of the scale of concern.

Here are my numbers.
237 Total Cholesterol
77 Trilicerides
63 HDL Cholesterol

"According to ATP-III Guidelines, HDL-c < 59 mg/dl is considered a negative risk factor for CHD"

159 LDL Cholesterol Calc

LDL/HDL Ratio is 2.5

85 Glucose Plazma

Those numbers are actually not horrible at all. Your HDL is over 50, which is good and protective against atherosclerosis. Triglycerides are under 150, also good. And your ratio of good to bad chol is very good.

So what you need to work on is that total cholesterol number, which isn't all that bad to start with. Making some moderate dietary changes should make a big difference within six months.

 

[JAXFLBAMAFAN]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I picked up some oatmeal today at the grocery store. I've been getting along w/o fried food for sometime and gave up potatoes for the most part a couple years ago when I was doing Atkins Diet.

Now if you can just give me some help with my hearing loss from Minears I would be forever thankful.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I picked up some oatmeal today at the grocery store. I've been getting along w/o fried food for sometime and gave up potatoes for the most part a couple years ago when I was doing Atkins Diet.

Oatmeal, the way I eat it, wouldn't help. :biggrin:

Now if you can just give me some help with my hearing loss from Minears I would be forever thankful.

Ouch. My SiL has this in one ear. For years she suffered from horrible vertigo (so bad that she would spend days in bed, or curled up on her bathroom floor). It got better as her hearing got worse. She is now deaf in that ear and the vertigo is gone - but there is a good chance that it could strike her right ear. You have my sympathy...

 

[It's On A Slab]

Had my yearly physical yesterday, and my cholesterol screen came back 206.

A little above normal. Though, 8 years ago, it was 199, so I figure I'm doing ok.

I'm pretty active, and try to eat well, but I can't give up bacon and eggs once a week, and beer and nachos on Friday night with the first wife.