lisaj 77
09-19-2005, 09:47 AM
Hi,
Wanted to see what people think/know about realistically lowering cholesterol through diet/excerise if you're genetically predisposed to having it? Also, if you have that genetic predisposition, does it mean your cholesterol will keep going up?
Thanks,
Lisa
Wanted to see what people think/know about realistically lowering cholesterol through diet/excerise if you're genetically predisposed to having it? Also, if you have that genetic predisposition, does it mean your cholesterol will keep going up?
Thanks,
Lisa
Sponsor
Lenin
09-19-2005, 11:01 AM
It's tough. I inherited my mother's, and my father's siblings' tendency toward miserable cholesterol numbers. Diet and exercise helped me only very slightly, though in truth, I never tried a very low fat diet before I started statins...I found it just too hard to do. I love meat, cheese, and cream too much! When I was faithfully on Atkins for 18 months, I measured my cholesterol...benefits: NADA!
I'm better now with fat avoidance than I have ever been in my life, but there's no way I would drop the statin to test how "well" I'd do without it...too risky with an already installed stent.
Without the invention of statins, I'd be dead in the water.
I'm better now with fat avoidance than I have ever been in my life, but there's no way I would drop the statin to test how "well" I'd do without it...too risky with an already installed stent.
Without the invention of statins, I'd be dead in the water.
lisaj 77
09-19-2005, 11:18 AM
Thanks, Lenin.
My numbers aren't terrible--239 Total, 66 hdl, 156 ldl, 84 triglycerides, but high enough for concern.
My mom had high cholesterol--I always thought her numbers reflected her bad diet--tons of cheese, meat. She now has arterial stenosis, angina and has already had one heart attack (she's on lipitor among other meds.)
I'm on a very low-fat diet now--no red meat, barely any dairy (only non-fat yogurt and the occassional sprinkle of parmesean), soy mayo, organic veggies, whole grains etc. I happen to like to eat this way (though I'd be VERy happy if I could include cheese and ice-cream.) I guess I'll see what my numbers are in Feb. when I take my test again.
I'm very reluctant to have to start statins (my doctor didn't suggest them, said let's try diet & exercise first) but I guess I'll see what happens.
Lisa
My numbers aren't terrible--239 Total, 66 hdl, 156 ldl, 84 triglycerides, but high enough for concern.
My mom had high cholesterol--I always thought her numbers reflected her bad diet--tons of cheese, meat. She now has arterial stenosis, angina and has already had one heart attack (she's on lipitor among other meds.)
I'm on a very low-fat diet now--no red meat, barely any dairy (only non-fat yogurt and the occassional sprinkle of parmesean), soy mayo, organic veggies, whole grains etc. I happen to like to eat this way (though I'd be VERy happy if I could include cheese and ice-cream.) I guess I'll see what my numbers are in Feb. when I take my test again.
I'm very reluctant to have to start statins (my doctor didn't suggest them, said let's try diet & exercise first) but I guess I'll see what happens.
Lisa
ARIZONA73
09-19-2005, 01:14 PM
Lenin,
While you were on the Atkins' diet, did you notice any difference in your blood pressure readings?
While you were on the Atkins' diet, did you notice any difference in your blood pressure readings?
heart44
09-19-2005, 09:24 PM
My numbers aren't terrible--239 Total, 66 hdl, 156 ldl, 84 triglycerides, but high enough for concern.
I'm very reluctant to have to start statins (my doctor didn't suggest them, said let's try diet & exercise first) but I guess I'll see what happens.
Hi Lisa,
You are correct. Your numbers are not terrible, in fact your HDL of 66 and triglycerides of 84 are excellent. Your LDL of 156 mg/dL is only 26 points higher than the optimal for most people. <100 mg/dL is the range for those at high risk.
Another issue. Cholesterol lowering for women has not been shown to produce longevity. It's good that your doctor is willing for you to try diet & exercise 1st.
Recommendations:
Start taking omega 3 fish oil or cod liver oil. Make sure it is fresh and preferably "mercury free". Someone mentioned keep it in the frig or freezer..... great idea.
We usually get plenty of omega 6 oils, but not enough omega 3. Even beneficial olive oil is a 10:1 ratio - Omega 6: Omega 3. Dietary optimal is 1:1 or 2:1 ratio.
Completely avoid anything that has hydrogenated fat/oil. This is transfat and the most unhealthy form of fat, far worse than saturated fat, which really is not the bad guy everyone makes it out to be.
Ask your doctor to check your homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine is just as important and maybe even more important than cholesterol levels. Elevated homocysteine indicates inflammation. It's inflammation that causes all the trouble (heart attacks and strokes), not just elevated cholesterol levels.
There is no safe level of homocysteine, but optimal levels should be less than 6.2 although most labs say that as high as 11.4 or less is safe. Each 3 point increase above 6.3 is a 35% greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
The remedy for elvated homocysteine is the B vitamins, especially folic acid, B6 and B12....... and no side effects.
Frankie
I'm very reluctant to have to start statins (my doctor didn't suggest them, said let's try diet & exercise first) but I guess I'll see what happens.
Hi Lisa,
You are correct. Your numbers are not terrible, in fact your HDL of 66 and triglycerides of 84 are excellent. Your LDL of 156 mg/dL is only 26 points higher than the optimal for most people. <100 mg/dL is the range for those at high risk.
Another issue. Cholesterol lowering for women has not been shown to produce longevity. It's good that your doctor is willing for you to try diet & exercise 1st.
Recommendations:
Start taking omega 3 fish oil or cod liver oil. Make sure it is fresh and preferably "mercury free". Someone mentioned keep it in the frig or freezer..... great idea.
We usually get plenty of omega 6 oils, but not enough omega 3. Even beneficial olive oil is a 10:1 ratio - Omega 6: Omega 3. Dietary optimal is 1:1 or 2:1 ratio.
Completely avoid anything that has hydrogenated fat/oil. This is transfat and the most unhealthy form of fat, far worse than saturated fat, which really is not the bad guy everyone makes it out to be.
Ask your doctor to check your homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine is just as important and maybe even more important than cholesterol levels. Elevated homocysteine indicates inflammation. It's inflammation that causes all the trouble (heart attacks and strokes), not just elevated cholesterol levels.
There is no safe level of homocysteine, but optimal levels should be less than 6.2 although most labs say that as high as 11.4 or less is safe. Each 3 point increase above 6.3 is a 35% greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
The remedy for elvated homocysteine is the B vitamins, especially folic acid, B6 and B12....... and no side effects.
Frankie
Lenin
09-20-2005, 09:06 AM
ARIZONA,
Yes,
My blood pressure was better on Atkins, normal actually and no drugs needed. I never could figure out for sure why, although even now I find a tendency for sugar to retain water with a very high carb day similar to the effect of high salt. Maybe the depleted muscle and liver glycogen of low carbbing has something to do with it?
I think almost the whole time on Atkins, I was sans-alcohol so that was probably in the blood pressure's favor. At a low weight and 90 days without any alcohol my BP is perfectly normal on a balanced lowISH fat (25-30% calories?) diet also. I'm just about there so I will dump the drugs real soon (I tend to addict to thiazide so it's tough) and "go bareback!":D
edit: More thinking about it. The most likely scenario is that a high protein diet, especially with any ketotic wastes thrown into the mix is extremely dehydrating, thus the diet may have been acting like a diuretic (which is my most potent BP regulator.)
Yes,
My blood pressure was better on Atkins, normal actually and no drugs needed. I never could figure out for sure why, although even now I find a tendency for sugar to retain water with a very high carb day similar to the effect of high salt. Maybe the depleted muscle and liver glycogen of low carbbing has something to do with it?
I think almost the whole time on Atkins, I was sans-alcohol so that was probably in the blood pressure's favor. At a low weight and 90 days without any alcohol my BP is perfectly normal on a balanced lowISH fat (25-30% calories?) diet also. I'm just about there so I will dump the drugs real soon (I tend to addict to thiazide so it's tough) and "go bareback!":D
edit: More thinking about it. The most likely scenario is that a high protein diet, especially with any ketotic wastes thrown into the mix is extremely dehydrating, thus the diet may have been acting like a diuretic (which is my most potent BP regulator.)
hummingbirdkiss
09-20-2005, 10:53 PM
message deleted
lisaj 77
09-20-2005, 11:17 PM
Hi Hummingbirdkiss,
That's good to hear. One of the reasons I was concerned was because my mom has had high cholesterol and is on lipitor. She also has a few heart conditions: aortal stenosis & angina. She had a silent heart attack a few years ago, but she had been under horrendous stress for a number of years (caring for my dad who had dementia.) She's always had a terrible diet--tons of cheese and dairy and overeating. She's spent years being about 30 -40 pounds overweight and never exercising much. I think all of the above were factors in her heart problems, but I still want to play it safe in the event cholesterol had any role.
Lisa
That's good to hear. One of the reasons I was concerned was because my mom has had high cholesterol and is on lipitor. She also has a few heart conditions: aortal stenosis & angina. She had a silent heart attack a few years ago, but she had been under horrendous stress for a number of years (caring for my dad who had dementia.) She's always had a terrible diet--tons of cheese and dairy and overeating. She's spent years being about 30 -40 pounds overweight and never exercising much. I think all of the above were factors in her heart problems, but I still want to play it safe in the event cholesterol had any role.
Lisa