Tuna - High Cholesterol Message Board

rachelh69 · 02-05-2004, 03:46 PM

I've been wondering if tuna is okay. The label says it has 30 mg of cholesterol. But I'm not eating any other kind of meat, don't tolerate soy very well and figured I probably need to get some protein from somewhere. I like peanut butter but only Peter Pan(don't like the natural stuff) and have heard it isn't good for you.
I used to eat alot of tuna and eventually stopped(I was feeding it to my cat and it started to smell too much like cat food, which BTW is bad for a cats urinary tract system). I like tuna though.
Anyway, does anyone know where tuna stands? Good? Bad? What?
What about Salmon? Other fish?

zip2play · 02-05-2004, 04:06 PM

Tuna and salmon are both excellent foods because of their high Omega-3 oil content.
Of course the fresh is better (in every conceivable way) than the canned ...but then what's new?
Enjoy it and ignore the dietary cholesterol; it really hasn't been much of a concern for a decade or two. I hope youn don't have to fight off kitty every time you open a can!<hsssst!>

Magpiezoe · 02-06-2004, 01:24 PM

Hello, I agree, but make sure your tuna is packed in water and not oil. I also have found that solid white tuna has less of a fishy taste than chunk tuna. You can also get protein from haddock, flounder, and catfish, which are almost fat free.

As for tofu...You might want to visit a local Chinese grocer, if you have one. You haven't lived until you see what they can do with tofu. Some of it tastes like beef! By-the-way, please don't eat your tofu raw. It really tastes better and is safer fully cooked. Also, I don't like that mushy soft tofu the American grocers call silken tofu. The firm, extra firm, or dried is the best.

Another idea for protein is an egg. You should be able to have one egg per week. Egg whites are never a problem...Eggbeaters are nothing more than salted eggwhites with food coloring added. The egg white also has protein. The yolk has lutein, which is good for you.

Then there just eating unadultrated, roasted nuts. Yep, a few almonds and walnuts are ok as long as you don't over do them. The natural oil in the nuts is supposed to be good for you just like olive oil is.

Beans are another choice for protein and so are dairy products that are made with skim milk.

So if you don't want to deal with meat, you don't have to. There's Dr. Dean Ornish's diet and Dr. Gabe Mirkin for you to choose from. Just type them into a search engine to see what thier diets are about. Both are into working with heart patients and lowering cholesterol. There's also Dr. Weil and Garry Null.

rachelh69 · 02-06-2004, 04:24 PM

Nope Zip, I don't have to fight off my cat. I have another cat now and he doesn't like canned human tuna. He'd have to be starving to eat human tuna. He only likes fancy feast tuna.

Mag, my weakness is chicken. I like beef occasionally.
I'm not much into any kind of soy products. It upsets my stomach. I don't know about tofu. Is it made with soy?
I tried some veggie cheese. It's okay but it's probably not something I'll buy again. I did find some fat free feta cheese. I don't know why they can't make all cheese fat free.
I've always been a junk food fanatic and until recently it didn't affect me. I always took it in spells though. I'd spend a month or two eating all the junk food I wanted then I'd quit and eat healthier.
My only healthy weaknesses are tuna(in water), salmon, salad with fat free dressing, baked potatoes, vegetarian soup, whole grains, fruit(just about any kind) and one or two cooked vegetables.
My Dad can eat anything he wants(no matter how bad it is) and his cholesterol is good. But he eats nuts, lecithin, flax seed oil, niacin and whatever else his health books say is good for cholesterol. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

I don't care much for catfish(and certainly not baked) but I like fresh salmon, halibut. I like eggs okay but only the yolks and only boiled.

I've never seen fresh tuna in the store.

jtu91952 · 02-07-2004, 03:38 PM

I eat a lot of beans for fiber and protein. I have high cholesterol too (ttl 335/ ldl 225) since I have done the low fat high protein it has dropped . I do not eat cheese or red meats or eggs. I have not had an egg in over 3 years. i am diabetic with hbp and high cholesterol. A year ago i was a sad case. Today 47 lbs later I must say I am doing so much better. I still have alot more to lose, but I know with smaller portions and better choices I will lost the remaining 48 lbs by summer. DID YOU KNOW EXERCISE ALSO LOWERS CHOLESTEROL....I didn't.