[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Cholesterol (what to do?) (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 10/1/2012 5:16:21 PM EDT
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference.
He recommends Crestor or something similar but to be honest I hate taking med's. What are my options? Cholesterol is 341 Triglycerides are 440 |
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference. It won't with those numbers. You need to exercise more, watch what you eat, and take medicine. Are you overweight? If you exercise and eat right get the weight down and you might get off the meds. |
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Before going on statins try a zero cholesterol, low fat diet combined with increased aerobic exercise. For breakfast eat Cheerios or oatmeal, 6 ounces of tuna with six crackers and water for lunch, low fat yogurt or pasta with little sauce for dinner. Grill chicken breasts with a little rice. Avoid red meat for a bit.
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference. He recommends Crestor or something similar but to be honest I hate taking med's. What are my options? Cholesterol is 341 Triglycerides are 440 Listen to your doctor. He is right. Medications are FAR more effective than diet and exercise. |
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What are you eating?
One of the first generations of anti-cholesterol meds were called bile-acid sequestration agents. They basically grab on to the cholesterol in your bile, so you can't reabsorb it in the lower G.I. It's been theorized that a mixture of soluble and in-soluble fiber can do the same thing. So increase your fiber intake. Metamucil is good, take 6 capsules with every meal. Chicoary root extract or "Inulin" is a good soluble fiber that you can add to most things and not taste it. Try it in your meals. You'll have to take Crestor or Lipitor to get real progress. You'll have to exercise regularly to get real progress. You'll have to eat right to get real progress. You'll have to limit alcohol to only one drink a day to make real progress. You need every piece of the puzzle to get complete results. (I'm a student Pharmacist) |
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Paleo/Primal. Gluten-free diet. Cholesterol does not form arterial plaque in the absence of systemic inflammation. FTMFW! I have genetically high cholesterol, thanks mom, RIP. I have not in ten years seen the "in range" numbers that I am now seing thanks to a diet change. I eat bacon and eggs damn near every morning and sausage on the others. Red meat fo supper and nearly everyday for lunch. I am down 30 lbs and maintaining. Easiest lifestyle change you could ask for. Wes |
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Quoted: Before going on statins try a zero cholesterol, low fat diet combined with increased aerobic exercise. For breakfast eat Cheerios or oatmeal, 6 ounces of tuna with six crackers and water for lunch, low fat yogurt or pasta with little sauce for dinner. Grill chicken breasts with a little rice. Avoid red meat for a bit. I have eaten a no fat diet and had a cholesterol level of 270 then ate a fat full diet of bacon, steak and cheese and had a level of 170. Sugar and carbs are the cause of high cholesterol. |
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference. It won't with those numbers. You need to exercise more, watch what you eat, and take medicine. Are you overweight? If you exercise and eat right get the weight down and you might get off the meds. I agree with this. Lose the weight, get in better cardio shape, and eat better. If the numbers still don't come down, you are going to need the meds. |
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Quoted: I 2nd this. Take Metamucil for a while and look at your numbers again. You will be surprised.What are you eating? One of the first generations of anti-cholesterol meds were called bile-acid sequestration agents. They basically grab on to the cholesterol in your bile, so you can't reabsorb it in the lower G.I. It's been theorized that a mixture of soluble and in-soluble fiber can do the same thing. So increase your fiber intake. Metamucil is good, take 6 capsules with every meal. Chicoary root extract or "Inulin" is a good soluble fiber that you can add to most things and not taste it. Try it in your meals. You'll have to take Crestor or Lipitor to get real progress. You'll have to exercise regularly to get real progress. You'll have to eat right to get real progress. You'll have to limit alcohol to only one drink a day to make real progress. You need every piece of the puzzle to get complete results. (I'm a student Pharmacist) Also try to replace any oils you can with a good first cold pressed olive oil. |
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Before going on statins try a zero cholesterol, low fat diet combined with increased aerobic exercise. For breakfast eat Cheerios or oatmeal, 6 ounces of tuna with six crackers and water for lunch, low fat yogurt or pasta with little sauce for dinner. Grill chicken breasts with a little rice. Avoid red meat for a bit. I have eaten a no fat diet and had a cholesterol level of 270 then ate a fat full diet of bacon, steak and cheese and had a level of 170. Sugar and carbs are the cause of high cholesterol. +1 Cholesterol and its causes seem to be wildly misunderstood. Eat fat, drop grains and sugar = boom, lower cholesterol. Weird huh? |
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference. He recommends Crestor or something similar but to be honest I hate taking med's. What are my options? Cholesterol is 341 Triglycerides are 440 my wife is a lab tech when i told her your numbers she wants to know if you enjoy your heart beating. Take what ever your doc thinks you need your one wopper away from a quadruple bypass. What's your hdl and ldl? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
Paleo/Primal. 
Primal Blueprint 101 Robb Wolf We even have our own Paleo Thread. |
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Your doc says that eating better won't make a difference? You might want to find another doc. Go watch 'Knives over Forks' and go to the web site http://www.forksoverknives.com/ to find the titles of the books that you need to read.
My pal started on this diet and his cholesterol total is I think 135 with no meds, that is he is taking no meds for cholesterol. Try the diet for 16 weeks and your numbers should be much lower. I am doing it myself and have lost about 20 pounds and want to lose another ten at least. Oh almost forgot, I take Crestor and have no side effects that I notice and it does lower my cholesterol very well. I take ten mg per day which seems low to me. But with this diet I hope to lower my numbers and stop taking the Crestor. |
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To bring up an idea for a similar type of thread...why should I have to pay high insurance premiums to cover your cholesterol pills when not eating crap is free? Look at it this way. If he dies young you will not have to pay him for 30 years of SS payments and medicare 
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My wife is a lab tech when i told her your numbers she wants to know if you enjoy your heart beating. Take what ever your doc thinks you need your one wopper away from a quadruple bypass. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Thanks. I didn't want to be quite that emphatic. We all make our own choices. |
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Quoted: You will hate the consequences of ignoring numbers like that (at your age) a hell of a lot more than taking meds. Oh, and you'll end up taking the meds anyway. Lots of them. He won't have to. I was on Lipitor for 7-8 years and switched Dr's. My new Dr took me off and encouraged me to eat better and lose weight. Once I started Paleo, the weight came off and the cholesterol came down. Pills are not the answer if you can take care of yourself.
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You will hate the consequences of ignoring numbers like that (at your age) a hell of a lot more than taking meds. Oh, and you'll end up taking the meds anyway. Lots of them. He won't have to. I was on Lipitor for 7-8 years and switched Dr's. My new Dr took me off and encouraged me to eat better and lose weight. Once I started Paleo, the weight came off and the cholesterol came down. Pills are not the answer if you can take care of yourself. This. No pill has been invented that can come close to the effect that Atkins and Paleo will have. |
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I am not really overweight and I do a lot of physical labor and walking for work. I am 6'1 and weigh 200lbs I eat a lot of carbs and always have. I do not eat seafood so that limits my options to Beef, Chicken, Pork, etc. I also don't drink that often, maybe twice a month I will have a few drinks (beers). My Mother has high cholesterol so I am guessing that this is a genetic thing. The doc basically laid it out for me by saying that diet and exercise alone will not really change things enough for me and that I am gonna need Med's. I thought it was Crestor but maybe it was Lipitor. Either way I am willing to start eating a little better, but would prefer to do this with out Med's. If that is not possible than I will do the right thing and take the pills.
Thanks for all of the insight. |
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I am not really overweight and I do a lot of physical labor and walking for work. I am 6'1 and weigh 200lbs I eat a lot of carbs and always have. I do not eat seafood so that limits my options to Beef, Chicken, Pork, etc. I also don't drink that often, maybe twice a month I will have a few drinks (beers). My Mother has high cholesterol so I am guessing that this is a genetic thing. The doc basically laid it out for me by saying that diet and exercise alone will not really change things enough for me and that I am gonna need Med's. I thought it was Crestor but maybe it was Lipitor. Either way I am willing to start eating a little better, but would prefer to do this with out Med's. If that is not possible than I will do the right thing and take the pills. Thanks for all of the insight. Your doctor is an idiot. MILLIONS of people have gone from higher levels than you have to normal by cutting out carbs. |
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I am not really overweight and I do a lot of physical labor and walking for work. I am 6'1 and weigh 200lbs I eat a lot of carbs and always have. I do not eat seafood so that limits my options to Beef, Chicken, Pork, etc. I also don't drink that often, maybe twice a month I will have a few drinks (beers). My Mother has high cholesterol so I am guessing that this is a genetic thing. The doc basically laid it out for me by saying that diet and exercise alone will not really change things enough for me and that I am gonna need Med's. I thought it was Crestor but maybe it was Lipitor. Either way I am willing to start eating a little better, but would prefer to do this with out Med's. If that is not possible than I will do the right thing and take the pills. Thanks for all of the insight. Your doctor is an idiot. MILLIONS of people have gone from higher levels than you have to normal by cutting out carbs. Well, he IS right in that the traditional diet advice offered to people with high cholesterol wouldn't work. 
Seriously OP, eat meats (don't have to be lean), vegetables (not just green beans), cut out grains and most sugars, add coconut oil to your coffee every morning, cook with olive oil and lard and have those numbers re-checked in 6 months. Your doctor will be shocked. |
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Quoted:
What are you eating? One of the first generations of anti-cholesterol meds were called bile-acid sequestration agents. They basically grab on to the cholesterol in your bile, so you can't reabsorb it in the lower G.I. It's been theorized that a mixture of soluble and in-soluble fiber can do the same thing. So increase your fiber intake. Metamucil is good, take 6 capsules with every meal. Chicoary root extract or "Inulin" is a good soluble fiber that you can add to most things and not taste it. Try it in your meals. You'll have to take Crestor or Lipitor to get real progress. You'll have to exercise regularly to get real progress. You'll have to eat right to get real progress. You'll have to limit alcohol to only one drink a day to make real progress. You need every piece of the puzzle to get complete results. (I'm a student Pharmacist) As an MD dealing with this type of problem every day, this post is the only one that really makes any sense. The rest are, I'm sure, well-intentioned, but incomplete, uninformed or misdirected. Good luck, OP. |
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Paleo/Primal. Gluten-free diet. Cholesterol does not form arterial plaque in the absence of systemic inflammation. Carbs are the devil. They are what are killing your numbers. My dad went from worse numbers than that to to awesome numbers going Carb free 9 years ago. He is approching 80 to boot. The doctor gave him 5 years to live in 2003 because his liver numbers were so bad. Now he has healthy liver numbers, and John Hopkins Hospital can't understand what happened and refuses to believe giving up carbs saved his life. His family doc says John Hopkin's won't ackwoldge anything they can't make money on. 
He calls his diet "Cave man Food". He grows all his own vegtables to boot. |
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Why does alcohol have an effect on cholesterol? (I understand why beer would.) Why hard liquor? Any Carbs or Sugar (Alchohol is turned in Sugar) become LDL and Triglycerides by the Liver. What you want are HDL (Arterial Scrubber) such as Cod Liver oil. You can eat all the Fatty meat you want and never clog your arteries, but Carbs will kill you quick. You body was never designed to process High Dense Carbs such as bread, potatoes, and Sugars. |
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I won't suggest no meds. I would suggest avoiding them at first and try fixing your diet first. Include more fats in your diet, less carbs. Up the protein and LIFT weights. Just 30min every other day if you want.
See what happens from there. Hang out in the fitness forum. |
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Do research and talk to your doc on what may help. I would also invest in a BP cuff and take your BP and pulse and record it in a log.
Even though I am not crazy about taking pills etc etc, at some point in your life will be on them, but the later the better if your numbers are within the limits. Good luck! |
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I am not really overweight and I do a lot of physical labor and walking for work. I am 6'1 and weigh 200lbs I eat a lot of carbs and always have. I do not eat seafood so that limits my options to Beef, Chicken, Pork, etc. I also don't drink that often, maybe twice a month I will have a few drinks (beers). My Mother has high cholesterol so I am guessing that this is a genetic thing. The doc basically laid it out for me by saying that diet and exercise alone will not really change things enough for me and that I am gonna need Med's. I thought it was Crestor but maybe it was Lipitor. Either way I am willing to start eating a little better, but would prefer to do this with out Med's. If that is not possible than I will do the right thing and take the pills. Thanks for all of the insight. I have elevated cholestrerol, no where near as high as you. I can bring it down to nothing with diet and exercise. You will most likely need to radically change your eating and lifestyle. I talked to my doc about meds and asked him if it would chamge my heart disease risk and he said there is no evidence to suggest that lowered cholesterol through statins changes your heart disease risk. So i decided not to take them. Ymmv. |
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I never heard this about carbs before. It is all over the net at reputable sites.
Carbs decrease the size and increase the densitynof HDL. Think of it like a sponge. If it isn't big and fluffy, instead small and saturated, it can not absorb LDL. No more carbs for me. I get retested on my numbers in 3 months. |
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I never heard this about carbs before. It is all over the net at reputable sites. Carbs decrease the size and increase the densitynof HDL. Think of it like a sponge. If it isn't big and fluffy, instead small and saturated, it can not absorb LDL. No more carbs for me. I get retested on my numbers in 3 months. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't lived it. |
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I never heard this about carbs before. It is all over the net at reputable sites. Carbs decrease the size and increase the densitynof HDL. Think of it like a sponge. If it isn't big and fluffy, instead small and saturated, it can not absorb LDL. No more carbs for me. I get retested on my numbers in 3 months. Also Omega-3 fats have been shown to basically do the same. The take home message is that anti-inflammatory foods will improve your lipid profile, which is while highly inflammatory grains, legumes, and dairy are a great way to die early. From Natural Standard: "In hypertriglyceridemic men, DHA decreased fasting plasma remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C) and improved the red blood cell omega-3 index, novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease (397). In hypertriglyceridemic men, DHA decreased levels of triglyceride as well as small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (138). In healthy volunteers, DHA improved lymphocyte activability (increased IL-2 mRNA following stimulation) and increased monocyte resistance to oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis (497). Supplementary DHA and arachidonic acid (omega-6) resulted in increased coronary flow velocity reserve in Japanese elderly individuals." |
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Quoted: Quoted: I never heard this about carbs before. It is all over the net at reputable sites. Carbs decrease the size and increase the densitynof HDL. Think of it like a sponge. If it isn't big and fluffy, instead small and saturated, it can not absorb LDL. No more carbs for me. I get retested on my numbers in 3 months. Also Omega-3 fats have been shown to basically do the same. The take home message is that anti-inflammatory foods will improve your lipid profile, which is while highly inflammatory grains, legumes, and dairy are a great way to die early. From Natural Standard: "In hypertriglyceridemic men, DHA decreased fasting plasma remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C) and improved the red blood cell omega-3 index, novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease (397). In hypertriglyceridemic men, DHA decreased levels of triglyceride as well as small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (138). In healthy volunteers, DHA improved lymphocyte activability (increased IL-2 mRNA following stimulation) and increased monocyte resistance to oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis (497). Supplementary DHA and arachidonic acid (omega-6) resulted in increased coronary flow velocity reserve in Japanese elderly individuals." Also the reason why there is a correlation between gum disease and heart disease. Gum disease is chronic long term inflammation. (although folks who don't take care of their teeth likely also don't take care of the rest of their body). |
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I am 37, in pretty good shape physically. Sure I could eat better but the doc says that it won't make a difference. He recommends Crestor or something similar but to be honest I hate taking med's. What are my options? Cholesterol is 341 Triglycerides are 440 Did you fast for 12 hours before the test? |