HELP . . . . .
I went this week for a routine check-up with fasting bloodwork and received a big shock. Last year my cholesterol was in the 190's with HDL and LDL within normal limits. However, this time the results were as follows:

Total Cholesterol: 400
HDL: 62
LDL: 299
Triglycerides: 197

Non HDL: 338

TC/HDL Ratio: 6.5

The doctor has put me on Pravachol 40mg with recheck of cholesterol in six weeks. I am 49yo F/not overweight. I do not eat fried foods or high fat foods. I eat alot of fruits and vegetables. I don't know what else to do!!
One other lab came back abnormal which the doctor has not addressed but has me a littled baffled is my albumin level which came back low at 3.2

What else can I do???????

First thing I would do is cut way back on carbs...

Fruit is good... but there is a huge range of glycemic differences between fruit. Low sugar fruit are berries and peaches.


Cut out crappy carbs... like all flour, potatoes, rice, pasta, and sugar. This means most bread, if not all of it. This would include fried foods as most are breaded or battered. This means to blow off the fried foods too.

You can eat most any and all veggies, mushrooms, and berries for fruit.

The hardest part is to only eat correctly.

Make sure you use butter and not margerine. Olive oil is wonderful... as are avacado's, for oil.

One last think... how had your diet changed since your last bloodwork. Something has... but only you will know.

Lastly, exercise will help a bit too. I'm not talking about pulling on the handle of your lazyboy chair or pressing the remote especially fast, or curling 12 ounces.

There is a lot to this. Diet should be your first step. Cut back, but don't restrict to where you can't stand your menu.

Thanks,
The thing that baffles me is the fact I have been watching my diet very diligently for the past couple years and have cut way back on carbs. I don't eat fried foods and when I do use oil, it is olive oil or canola oil. On the rare occasions that I eat bread, I eat whole wheat. Pasta is the same way with only whole wheat. Fruits consist of apples, oranges, and strawberries. I will start eating more berries and peaches.
My mother was diagnosed with high cholesterol about five years ago. However, she is overweight and does not watch her diet.
Thanks for the suggestion on ******* Juice. I will definitely look into it.
I really wish I could pinpoint something different I've done in the past year that would account for this huge jump!! :-(

... The thing that baffles me is the fact I have been watching my diet very diligently for the past couple years ....
Have you considered that, just maybe, the increase in LDL ovber such a short period has got nothing to do with what you have been eating. And that it is being caused by something else. Don't forget that cholesterol is used for a lot of things - making hormones, creating cell membranes, maintaining the central nervous system etc. And therr is a sophisticated system that regulates its synthesis.

Mark

Have you considered that, just maybe, the increase in LDL ovber such a short period has got nothing to do with what you have been eating. And that it is being caused by something else. Don't forget that cholesterol is used for a lot of things - making hormones, creating cell membranes, maintaining the central nervous system etc. And therr is a sophisticated system that regulates its synthesis.

Mark

The change in your lipids combined with the low albumin indicates some physiological changes are happening with you- probably with your liver. This is not from your diet. I'd discuss this further with your doctor or an internist and not just take medication for the TC.

Thanks,
The more research I'm doing has me agreeing with you that something else is going on. I am definitely going to talk to my doctor about this . . . .