At a loss - need advice - High Cholesterol Message Board

yock · 02-23-2006, 08:18 AM

Last Sept my cholesterol tests came back TC 236 - HDL 44 LDL 171 and Tri -104 - I decided to start a good health regime to try and lower it myself. I started eating salmon 2 to 3 times a week, and I consider myself a healthy eater with servings of vegetables and fruit (like an apple) everyday. I already take 1000mg flaxseed oil a day. I already excersize everyday- walking everyday, cardio class 2x a week, abs tape every am. I eat a non-sugar oatmeal packet atleast 4 times a week sprinkled with cinnamon. I drink 2 cups of green tea a day. I also started taking CholestOFf by NatureMade. I limit red meats to about 2x a month. I am about 20lbs overweight. Female, 47 yrs old. I just got my results back - TC 270, LDL 182, Tri 180. I'm stunned. You'd think I was eating McDonalds everyday with these results. What the heck happened? I was expecting lower numbers, not drastically higher ones. Any thoughts, anyone?

janeslk · 02-23-2006, 01:27 PM

Are you starting to go through menopause? Some women have reported higher cholesterol readings during this time. Sorry, I don't have any specifics. Jane

gardeninggal · 02-24-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yock

Last Sept my cholesterol tests came back TC 236 - HDL 44 LDL 171 and Tri -104 - I decided to start a good health regime to try and lower it myself. I started eating salmon 2 to 3 times a week, and I consider myself a healthy eater with servings of vegetables and fruit (like an apple) everyday. I already take 1000mg flaxseed oil a day. I already excersize everyday- walking everyday, cardio class 2x a week, abs tape every am. I eat a non-sugar oatmeal packet atleast 4 times a week sprinkled with cinnamon. I drink 2 cups of green tea a day. I also started taking CholestOFf by NatureMade. I limit red meats to about 2x a month. I am about 20lbs overweight. Female, 47 yrs old. I just got my results back - TC 270, LDL 182, Tri 180. I'm stunned. You'd think I was eating McDonalds everyday with these results. What the heck happened? I was expecting lower numbers, not drastically higher ones. Any thoughts, anyone?

I'm no expert but I know you want some responce to your post, so I will share some thoughts, my husband and I tried to take the Cholestoff and we found we forgot to take it in time like it said to do and we decided it was not something that worked into our eating schedule so don't really know how well it works. So many things can influence a test, for instance what did you eat the day before and were you fasting when the test blood was drawn. Do you have a thyroid problem because if it is hypo then it's being low will cause your cholesterol to rise. I have found that eating eggs or meat will not make that much difference because your liver makes most of the cholesterol and when you cut back on cholesterol in the food then it just makes more to make up the difference. The fats you do eat can make a difference though because hydrogenated fats are deadly so read labels carefully. Don't use anything like corn oil or the poliunsaturates they have proven to be bad, use olive oil or even natural fats like butter but in lesser amounts. I would recommend that you research the flush-free niacin because you need to get your HDL up. The whole entire cholesterol number is not as important as having a high HDL. I also read that for every 2 lbs of weight you lose your HDL will go up and the LDL goes down. Good luck to you

lane413 · 02-24-2006, 04:26 PM

Are you taking bp meds? Some bp meds can cause cholesterol to rise inspite of a healthy diet and exercise. My mom went thru the same thing. She has stopped taking the bp med but is considering taking zorcor. Her numbers are just too high and she is diabetic.

Stumper · 02-24-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yock

Last Sept my cholesterol tests came back TC 236 - HDL 44 LDL 171 and Tri -104 - I decided to start a good health regime to try and lower it myself. I started eating salmon 2 to 3 times a week, and I consider myself a healthy eater with servings of vegetables and fruit (like an apple) everyday. I already take 1000mg flaxseed oil a day. I already excersize everyday- walking everyday, cardio class 2x a week, abs tape every am. I eat a non-sugar oatmeal packet atleast 4 times a week sprinkled with cinnamon. I drink 2 cups of green tea a day. I also started taking CholestOFf by NatureMade. I limit red meats to about 2x a month. I am about 20lbs overweight. Female, 47 yrs old. I just got my results back - TC 270, LDL 182, Tri 180. I'm stunned. You'd think I was eating McDonalds everyday with these results. What the heck happened? I was expecting lower numbers, not drastically higher ones. Any thoughts, anyone?

Hello Yock,

To be honest? You like myself and many others have a genetic problem. At least that is what my doc told me. You are just a couple of years younger than I and although my cholesterol was "borderline" O.K. at the age of 42 it is no longer O.K. now without meds. The old genes (defective) are starting to show themselves.
You have done everything right and yet your numbers climb.
What did I do? Well the doc gave me a warning and put me on Vytorin. The best thing I ever did and now I never really worry to much about my numbers anymore as they are really really good. Also, I eat like a human being again.

I don't like eating like a rabbit, that's a bunch of BS (brown sugar)