Modified Ornish diet, cholesterol is higher - High Cholesterol Message Board

LovelyOne · 08-15-2007, 04:51 PM

I started the Ornish diet about 1 1/2 months ago. The only modification I applied was not eating as many whole grains (eating a lot of veggies and fruits), and I have eaten avocados and all natural peanut butter. I am exercising about 25 mins a day (slowly building up to 1hour) 7 days a week, I have quit smoking, I don't drink, I am more active generally. My old numbers were HDL 29 LDL 110 new numbers (2 months later) HDL 30 LDL 131.

My question is why the increase in LDL when I have cut out all "bad" fats except the avocados and peanut butter?

She said my liver enzymes were still elevated (beacuse of fatty liver) but she has decided to put me on 10mg of Lipitor. I am assuming my cholesterol is high because of my fatty liver, my gallstones I have, and genetics (mom and dad had high cholesterol, grandma passed from hardening of arteries). Because it can't be my diet and I am exercising MORE than I did before. Meh.......

Lutheran122 · 08-15-2007, 05:27 PM

Thats discouraging for me to read since I just started doing this diet as well , maybe in some people the genetics ( your family history ) of the situation just requires the statins or supplements like Niacin or Red Yeast Rice to combat the cholesterol that your liver is overproducing?

Mark1e · 08-15-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovelyOne

... My old numbers were HDL 29 LDL 110 new numbers (2 months later) HDL 30 LDL 131.

My question is why the increase in LDL when I have cut out all "bad" fats except the avocados and peanut butter? ....

There are lots of different opinions on this, but IMHO Ornish got it all wrong. The only bad fat is trans fat. And depriving your self of adequate fat screws up the lipid profile. All those carbs you replace the fat with increases triglycerides. And HDL comes down.

LDL of 131 really isn't that high. It has been found that the optimal level of LDL from a longevity perspective is 80-160. Your LDL of 131 is comfortably within that range. And it may have gone up simply because your body needs more of it to function properly. Your HDL of 30 is way too low, however, probably because you eat so little saturated fat. Eggs are a very healthy superfood. And, as you are very active, are you getting enough protein?

Mark

LovelyOne · 08-15-2007, 08:04 PM

I don't want to discourage you from dieting, so please don't be discouraged, what does not work for me might work for you and vice versa. I have a lot of health problems for my age (26) which might be reasons why my cholesterol is wacky.

I don't eat meats in general and I didn't eat cheeses/milk but I have incorporated fat free cheese (moderation) into my vegan diet. I don't eat that many carbs either, I modified his diet because I am diabetic and incorporated more fruits/veggies.

Typical daily diet:

irish oatmeal with unsweetened soy milk and no sugar added strawberries

vegetarian cassarole "thing" (4 corn tortillas, soy meat substitute, spinach, homemade pinto beans, homemade tomato sauce) *id eat about 2 cups of this stuff in 2 diff meals*

and SOMEtimes, sugar free applesauce

so basically I get proteins from beans, and soy substitutes, I am not sure how much protein I should have, could you give me a guideline?

chj · 08-16-2007, 07:21 AM

Yes, it is all confusing with so many different opinions, speculations,vested interests etc. Going by my own experience is that after being on a low fat diet because of being diagnosed with high cholesterol and going back to a more "normal" diet of animal fat, my HDL went from a low of 42 to 67. It seems to me that a high carb diet, trans fats, processed food in general are far more damaging to our health than animal fat.I feel there is so much hype regarding cholesterol and the drug companies have scared us half to death with their guidelines.The lower numbers all the better for them. We are all different and what works for one person does perhaps not work for someone else.My grand and great parents grew up on a diet high in animal fat and lived a long and healthy life. Must mean something!