How do you bring down your cholesteral?
- Thread starter darli ann
- Start date
Shelbygirl
Cathlete
I dropped my cholesterol from 195 to 155 (readings were a year apart) and the only thing I really changed was that I added an Omega 3-6-9 supplement, once a day. It mostly contains flax, fish and borage oils.
Shelbygirl
Shelbygirl
kathryn
Cathlete
You want to
>cut out fatty meats such as pork and ribeyes and stick to
>chicken breasts, lean beef, etc.
White meat chicken has almost the same amount of cholesterol as beef, so that's not a good switch. The cholesterol in meat is in the flesh itself, not in the fat.
All animal products have cholesterol in, so reducing your consumption of them will reduce the amount of cholesterol you are taking in.
Excess fat consumption of any kind (saturated, monosaturated, polyunsaturated) can cause your body to make too much of its own cholesterol, so a lower fat diet is a good idea. Avoiding added fats (even veggie oils) and just eating fats that come naturally in foods like avocados and nuts.
>cut out fatty meats such as pork and ribeyes and stick to
>chicken breasts, lean beef, etc.
White meat chicken has almost the same amount of cholesterol as beef, so that's not a good switch. The cholesterol in meat is in the flesh itself, not in the fat.
All animal products have cholesterol in, so reducing your consumption of them will reduce the amount of cholesterol you are taking in.
Excess fat consumption of any kind (saturated, monosaturated, polyunsaturated) can cause your body to make too much of its own cholesterol, so a lower fat diet is a good idea. Avoiding added fats (even veggie oils) and just eating fats that come naturally in foods like avocados and nuts.
Mckmain
Cathlete
>You want to
>>cut out fatty meats such as pork and ribeyes and stick to
>>chicken breasts, lean beef, etc.
>White meat chicken has almost the same amount of cholesterol as beef, so that's not a good switch. The cholesterol in meat is in the flesh itself, not in the fat.
>All animal products have cholesterol in, so reducing your consumption of them will reduce the amount of cholesterol you are taking in.
>Excess fat consumption of any kind (saturated, monosaturated, polyunsaturated) can cause your body to make too much of its own cholesterol, so a lower fat diet is a good idea. Avoiding added fats (even veggie oils) and just eating fats that come naturally in foods like avocados and nuts.
>Kathryn >^. .^<
I agree completely with Kathyrn. I have also read about 5 books in the past 18 months that support what she posted...
...Carole
>>cut out fatty meats such as pork and ribeyes and stick to
>>chicken breasts, lean beef, etc.
>White meat chicken has almost the same amount of cholesterol as beef, so that's not a good switch. The cholesterol in meat is in the flesh itself, not in the fat.
>All animal products have cholesterol in, so reducing your consumption of them will reduce the amount of cholesterol you are taking in.
>Excess fat consumption of any kind (saturated, monosaturated, polyunsaturated) can cause your body to make too much of its own cholesterol, so a lower fat diet is a good idea. Avoiding added fats (even veggie oils) and just eating fats that come naturally in foods like avocados and nuts.
>Kathryn >^. .^<
I agree completely with Kathyrn. I have also read about 5 books in the past 18 months that support what she posted...
...Carole
DB1
Cathlete
Hi all,
I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. Both of my parents suffer from morbid obesity and high cholesterol and though my brother is very thin and a runner; he too suffers from high cholesterol.
Knowing this, I have done many things to prevent this from happening to me (I do realize that genetics can over rule any prevention). I am 40 and here is what I have done to dodge the bullet:
1. Read lables carefully. Hydrogenated oils are in everything from "healthy" oatmeal to peanut butter, "healthy" crackers, "healthy" oatmeal bars, "healthy" breads, etc. etc. etc. They trans fats are soooo dangerous and lurk in just about everything. They are not cholesterol in and of themselves, however, they raise the levels of cholesterol in the body to all time high levels. Read every lable very carefully. If it says partially hydrogenated "anything" put it down and move on.
2. Fish. I eat it at least 5 times a week. My cholesterol dropped 20 points in 4 years (from 172 to 152) and the only difference is that I eat much more fish than I used to.
3.Red wine. 2 glasses a day religously (unless I'm sick of course)
4. Exercise. Of course.
5. Olive oil and nuts. I use these in moderation everyday. They are very good for the heart.
I realize some people have natural high levels of cholesterol. Everyone in my family does too (fat or thin). I decided a long time ago to try to not let this happen to me. I may be lucky, but my good cholesterol is 20 points above normal, bad cholesterol 35 points below normal, and triglycerides are so low...at 78 (150 is normal). I guess I am trying to say, try adding more healthy fats and really, really watch for those trans fatty acids. They are horrible for your health.
Good luck and I wish you the best.
Rhonda
I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. Both of my parents suffer from morbid obesity and high cholesterol and though my brother is very thin and a runner; he too suffers from high cholesterol.
Knowing this, I have done many things to prevent this from happening to me (I do realize that genetics can over rule any prevention). I am 40 and here is what I have done to dodge the bullet:
1. Read lables carefully. Hydrogenated oils are in everything from "healthy" oatmeal to peanut butter, "healthy" crackers, "healthy" oatmeal bars, "healthy" breads, etc. etc. etc. They trans fats are soooo dangerous and lurk in just about everything. They are not cholesterol in and of themselves, however, they raise the levels of cholesterol in the body to all time high levels. Read every lable very carefully. If it says partially hydrogenated "anything" put it down and move on.
2. Fish. I eat it at least 5 times a week. My cholesterol dropped 20 points in 4 years (from 172 to 152) and the only difference is that I eat much more fish than I used to.
3.Red wine. 2 glasses a day religously (unless I'm sick of course)
4. Exercise. Of course.
5. Olive oil and nuts. I use these in moderation everyday. They are very good for the heart.
I realize some people have natural high levels of cholesterol. Everyone in my family does too (fat or thin). I decided a long time ago to try to not let this happen to me. I may be lucky, but my good cholesterol is 20 points above normal, bad cholesterol 35 points below normal, and triglycerides are so low...at 78 (150 is normal). I guess I am trying to say, try adding more healthy fats and really, really watch for those trans fatty acids. They are horrible for your health.
Good luck and I wish you the best.
Rhonda
cwsoxfan
Cathlete
Thanks Robin for those links. I'll check them out when I have more time.
Thanks Kathryn for pointing that out about the chicken. I probably have one chicken breast a day either for lunch or dinner. I do eat a lot of fish. I forgot to mention that. Of course, then there's the mercury worry. :-(
I forgot who mentioned the flaxseed. I have added that in as well. I put it in my yogurt and oatmeal. I just have to figure out some more creative things to do with it.
Thanks Rhonda for mentioning about the hydrogenated oils. Something I learned on here a while ago. It has made grocery shopping such a lengthy process, but it's getting better. I have a handful of walnuts everyday. I've read they have the most Omega 3?
Dallas
Thanks Kathryn for pointing that out about the chicken. I probably have one chicken breast a day either for lunch or dinner. I do eat a lot of fish. I forgot to mention that. Of course, then there's the mercury worry. :-(
I forgot who mentioned the flaxseed. I have added that in as well. I put it in my yogurt and oatmeal. I just have to figure out some more creative things to do with it.
Thanks Rhonda for mentioning about the hydrogenated oils. Something I learned on here a while ago. It has made grocery shopping such a lengthy process, but it's getting better. I have a handful of walnuts everyday. I've read they have the most Omega 3?
Dallas
pink_fortitude
Banned
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fats.html
I found a site that goes into detail about the different kinds of fats and what all you can do to lower your cholesterol.
Saturated fat does raise blood cholesterol levels, so cutting out any fatty meat in favor of lean meats will help your liver to produce less cholesterol. http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/show/low-cholesterol-diet Here is just another link for lowering cholesterol
In addition to staying away from hydrogenated oils, stay away from transfatty acids. They are evil, too! And walnuts are sooooooo good for you! They are loaded with antioxidents.
Missy
I found a site that goes into detail about the different kinds of fats and what all you can do to lower your cholesterol.
Saturated fat does raise blood cholesterol levels, so cutting out any fatty meat in favor of lean meats will help your liver to produce less cholesterol. http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/show/low-cholesterol-diet Here is just another link for lowering cholesterol
In addition to staying away from hydrogenated oils, stay away from transfatty acids. They are evil, too! And walnuts are sooooooo good for you! They are loaded with antioxidents.
Missy
fox2star
Cathlete
If your total is high, isn't there some relationship to the HDL or LDL and if the "good" one, which I believe is the HDL is what is high, they say it's ok? Both my husband and his mother have high HDL, ( she weighs about 100 lbs!), and their doctors said they were ok, because the good number was higher.
pink_fortitude
Banned
HDL is the good one, and generally if that one is lower LDL (bad) climbs higher. An HDL number of 40 puts you at risk for high LDL, and HDL at 65 or more actually helps protect your heart against disease and keeps LDL low. You should research it. I grew up with this stuff, and that is all we talk about at the dinner table with my mom since DSD is a cardiologist and DM directs the cath, echo and radiology labs. We all have very healthy hearts. My mom did a great job of passing her knowledge down to us so that we don't end up being a patient someday.
It sounds like their doctor is on top of it and they are doing great!
Missy
I grew up with this stuff, and that is all we talk about at the dinner table with my mom since DSD is a cardiologist and DM directs the cath, echo and radiology labs. We all have very healthy hearts. My mom did a great job of passing her knowledge down to us so that we don't end up being a patient someday.It sounds like their doctor is on top of it and they are doing great!
Missy
kathryn
Cathlete
LDL carries cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries, HDL clears cholesterol out of the body. So if you have a high LDL, you're better off having a high HDL as well. If your LDL is low, you don't need that much HDL because there's less to clear.
Several studies (most notably the Framingham heart study, which took place over the course of 40(?) years) show that having a total cholesterol of under 150 virutually guarantees you will not have heart disease.
Several studies (most notably the Framingham heart study, which took place over the course of 40(?) years) show that having a total cholesterol of under 150 virutually guarantees you will not have heart disease.
wendybdh
Cathlete
What is the difference between cholesterol and triglycerides? I had mine tested and my cholesterol was 206, triglycerides 285, HDL 56, and LDL 93-Should I be worried? I was 5 weeks postpartum when I had mine checked and I heard that my readings can still be high from this, is that true and if so, how long will they stay raised?
My mom is taking lipitor and heart disease runs in her family. It's just scary. I watch what I eat but not always as close as I should.
I'm so glad someone brought up this topic, it's so nice to have so many educated people on these boards
My mom is taking lipitor and heart disease runs in her family. It's just scary. I watch what I eat but not always as close as I should.
I'm so glad someone brought up this topic, it's so nice to have so many educated people on these boards
pink_fortitude
Banned
Triglycerides:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4778
Cholesterol:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=180 this site describes the difference between tri and chol better.
I am curious what your doctor said about your reading. I know that hormones reek havok on our bodies when we are pregnant, but I would still try to get more information from your doctor and get tested again to make sure that it isn't really a problem. I honestly don't know how long numbers stay elevated after pregnancy, I would think that it shouldn't take too, too long, but there are those here better equiped to answer that.
"Cholesterol is high during pregnancy. Women should wait at least six weeks after the baby is born to have cholesterol measured." I took this from http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html so that may help a bit.
I would apply all the guidelines for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides (which is a healthier way of eating, anyways) to your diet until then, but I wouldn't be overly concerned about it just yet. Just because something runs in the family doesn't mean it isn't preventable.
Missy
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4778
Cholesterol:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=180 this site describes the difference between tri and chol better.
I am curious what your doctor said about your reading. I know that hormones reek havok on our bodies when we are pregnant, but I would still try to get more information from your doctor and get tested again to make sure that it isn't really a problem. I honestly don't know how long numbers stay elevated after pregnancy, I would think that it shouldn't take too, too long, but there are those here better equiped to answer that.
"Cholesterol is high during pregnancy. Women should wait at least six weeks after the baby is born to have cholesterol measured." I took this from http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html so that may help a bit.
I would apply all the guidelines for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides (which is a healthier way of eating, anyways
) to your diet until then, but I wouldn't be overly concerned about it just yet. Just because something runs in the family doesn't mean it isn't preventable. Missy