After Bypass surgery diet/Regarding eggs - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

GlendaNC · 11-30-2002, 07:36 AM

A surprise quad bypass, and now a month later, I count every calorie, every gram of fat and every mg. of sodium that goes into my husband's body.

I am confused about cholesterol. Fats MAKE cholesterol don't they? Or is it cholesterol makes the plaque that clogs? One recommendation says no more than one egg a week and another says four egg yolks a week is OK. I would love to be able to give him an egg a bit more often and bake with something besides Egg Beaters. HELP....I'm going crazy and need information on the Incredible Edible EGG!

arkie6 · 11-30-2002, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GlendaNC:
A surprise quad bypass, and now a month later, I count every calorie, every gram of fat and every mg. of sodium that goes into my husband's body.

More importantly, are you counting (and limiting) the sugar and starch that he is consuming? These have a far greater impact on cardiovascular health than dietary fat or sodium.

Quote:

I am confused about cholesterol. Fats MAKE cholesterol don't they?

Nope. Your liver makes the bulk of the cholesterol in your bloodstream, like 80-90% of it. The less cholesterol you eat, the more your liver makes, and vice versa. Cholesterol is a vital component in your body and is a part of every cell in your body. Without it you would die for sure. Actually, those with low cholesterol levels have a higher risk of mortality than those with elevated cholesterol levels. Cholesterol has gotten an undeserved bad rap.

Quote:

Or is it cholesterol makes the plaque that clogs?

Cholesterol is a component of arterial plaque, but cholesterol doesn't initiate the plaque formation. The plaque doesn't form on the inside of the artery like is commonly thought. It forms between the smooth inner lining of the artery (endothelium) and the structural wall of the artery. Cholesterol can't squeeze through a healthy endothelium. Something else has to be present to damage the artery lining to initiate plaque formation, such as smoking or chronically high blood sugar levels, or chronically high bloodpressure among other things. Once the lining is damaged, cholesterol and other clotting factors are shuttled to the site to plug and repair the damage. It is this repeated damage/repair mechanism that results in large plaque formations that can eventually plug the artery.

Quote:

One recommendation says no more than one egg a week and another says four egg yolks a week is OK. I would love to be able to give him an egg a bit more often and bake with something besides Egg Beaters. HELP....I'm going crazy and need information on the Incredible Edible EGG!

Eggs are fine and a quite beneficial source of protein and healthy fats, and much better for him than Egg Beaters. He can have 2-4 eggs per day and it won't have a measureble effect on his cholesterol levels because it is his liver that controls cholesterol levels. Without the cholesterol present to fix the arterial damage I previously mentioned, he likely would have had a hemorrhagic stroke before the heart attack (low cholesterol levels are strongly associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke).

What he needs to do is figure out what is causing the damage to his arteries and fix that.

Does he smoke? If so, he needs to quit. The evidence is very strong that smoking damages arteries (my father is a case in point with quad heart bypass surgery, surgery to open both carotid arteries, and peripheral bypass surgery to clear a blockage in his leg - all of this with normal cholesterol levels).

What about diabetes and/or bloodsugar levels? If he is diabetic he needs to closely control his bloodsugar levels. Both the high bloodsugar and the high insulin levels so common with insulin resistance and Type II diabetes damage the arterial lining. A strong marker for high insulin levels is extra fat around the waist. The best way to control bloodsugar and insulin levels is to limit the intake of sugar and starch (that means limit or avoid sugar, soft drinks, candy, cookies, cakes, pies, white bread/buns/rolls, white rice, potatoes, etc.) and eat more of the very foods that doctors tell these heart patients to avoid - meat and eggs. Plenty of fiberous low starch vegetables are beneficial also. Extra vitamin E and C are also beneficial since these antioxidants help to scavenge free radicals that can initiate arterial damage.

There was an interesting article in U.S. News & World Report dated Nov. 25, 2002 on heart disease and the risk marker C-reactive protein. It has diagrams on plaque formation that might be of some benefit. Unfortuantely, the article doesn't give much useful information on how to lower this risk marker other than drug therapy.

Alan

GlendaNC · 12-01-2002, 10:20 AM

Thank you so much for the lengthy reply which I have saved for reference. I "allowed" him two eggs for breakfast, poached over "lite" toast. Really getting into this nutrition thing. Today's research is on the good fats vs the bad ones. If anyone has a good site that lists foods that raise HDL [the good cholesterol], please post it. [monounsaturated]

People think I am carrying this diet thing too far but they are not the ones who almost lost their spouse. He is lucky he is walking and alive as his blockages were SEVERE. For everyone's information, a heart attack is not that sharp dropping to the ground pain everyone is thinking it is. It is more subtle. The best I can describe is a crushing/squeezing pain right in the middle of the chest that sometimes radiates into the shoulders. Assuming a massive attack would be what everyone has "heard" a heart attack is. He was having the sensation after doing minor yardwork like weedwhacking and had to sit down and rest. The squeezing/crushing is blood trying to get through the arteries and it can't. The proceedure to detect blockage is not all that bad. They have you out in la la land. He didn't know much except he knew he was going to have surgery the next day. Please don't hesitate if you think you are having this kind of problem. They found his through the differences in two blood tests that were taken on a Wed. and a Sat. and the Saturday one showed an elevation in the enzyme that the heart emits AFTER an attack.

rhody · 12-01-2002, 12:24 PM

My viewpoint is similar to Alan's, but just a little different. I eat eggs all the time, but little or no meat (I did have some turkey for Thankgiving, although

).

I found that non-processed foods are best, like whole grains (oats, wheat berries, brown rice, popcorn, flax seeds etc.), fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and meat etc. I personally stay away from all "sweets", sodas, and alcoholic beverages.

Do any of you remember Jack LaLane? I saw a story about him recently. He's as active as ever at 88 years of age and doing very very well. He says that if it is in a box, can or bottle, don't buy it. Stay with wholesome natural foods, not those processed foods with all those additives. Review that and see the value it might have for your husband.

I agree wholeheartedly with Alan's approach to avoid sugary foods. A lot those sugars are hidden in processed foods under other names such as "corn syrup". The sugars are not just in the obvious foods like cakes. They are "everywhere" and should be avoided in my opinion. Natural sugars in fruit are OK, although.

Also the toughest thing to do for some people is too quit smoking. I've seen so many people try, and fail. It's a horrible addictive drug. I wish I had an easy answer here for anyone that smokes. It's best to quit, but it takes a lot of fortitude and determination to be able to accomplish that.

I commend you for doing a great job in helping your husband. It will take some time and patience to learn what's best for him....