diet for someone who has high cholesterol - High Cholesterol Message Board

Tjay718 · 01-13-2008, 06:56 PM

hi everyone! I have high cholesterol and I wanted to know what types of food I can eat. I also would like to know what foods to buy and what diet to follow. thanks

Lulubells · 01-15-2008, 09:37 PM

I am no expert by any means but this is what I do.

I take 3 to 4 Omega 3 Fish Oil supplements a day

I eat Oatmeal for breakfast with walnuts (wanuts are good for lowering cholesterol in small amounts and oatmeal is good for it) , with cinnamon and honey every morning with a banana on the side.

I AIM for those 5 peices of fruit every day, whatever is in season or in good supply, apples, oranges, peaches, pears, fresh pineapple, strawberries.. whatever I can get a hold to.

I aim for a bowl of beans every day, cooked in smoked turkey sausage (Using only 1/4 a pound in the whole pot of beans instead of the whole pound like I use to)

I aim for a big salad every day.

I buy everything lo-fat, mayo ect and use olive oil now.

For the crunchy snacks I use cheero's or shredded wheat.

I make a lot wiser choices now than I use to, aim for NO carbs as I find carbs make me SO much more hungrier the next day.

I allow myself fried chicken ONCE a month (IF I want it) and red meat once a week but most of the time, I don't eat red meat at all, preferring chicken or fish. (I hardly eat meat anymore at all)

NO soda's PERIOD as they make me so much more hungrier the next day too.

What I was trying to do is eat like we did when we were kids and I have really enjoyed it and had no problem sticking to the new eating plan... My only weakness is SWEETS! I give in so easy to that but I have found that if I can go 2 or 3 days and not eat them, I quit craving them but that is the hardest part of this new way.... The last time I had my cholesterol checked summer of 2006, it was 253 but that was with only 1 omega 3 a day. I don't want my cholesterol under 240. I think they are wanting us to have it un-naturally low and the one time it was below 200, I felt awful!

The pay off is I am loosing weight since I started eating like this!

Tjay718 · 01-15-2008, 10:35 PM

thank you 4 your reply! I eat oatmeal every morning too! its just that this past month and a half ive been eating everything i want and not really paying attention to what i really should be eating. the last time my cholesterol was checked, it was 310. i know, pretty high right?

Lulubells · 01-16-2008, 07:06 AM

310?.... I think according to todays standards it is high but let me add this.. My Mothers was 365 for many years before she died and she never had any heart problems. We do not have heart problem in our family but have a history of being smokers. She died at the age of 81 of colon cancer. When I was put on statin drugs, mine was over 300 (but I forget the exact numbers) and felt fine. When it was 167, I was hardly able to walk across the floor. Back up at 253 (and off of statin drugs), I am back to feeling great again.

I think we just need to make wiser choices in what we eat and stop the fast food visits and junk. We need to get back to how nature intended us to eat. I do not use man made margarine but have went back to the real butter that we use to eat as kids. Man made to me, means bad for you! If they still sold real lard, that is whay I would buy.

I bargin with myself, if I eat that lasagna and hot roll, I can not have desert. I know if I am going out to eat, I have to really diet all week. I give myself choices so I don't have to never eat something again. I watch my weight close so I know when I have over done something. I watch that fat intake close. Moderation! Moderation! Moderation!

annmg · 01-16-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjay718

hi everyone! I have high cholesterol and I wanted to know what types of food I can eat. I also would like to know what foods to buy and what diet to follow. thanks

Hi...last July I had my cholesterol checked and it was 256. (prior to that I haven't had my cholesterol checked in 10 years and it was fine from what I remember). The Dr wanted to put my on medication. I said "no" I'll try diet and exercise. I ate a low fat diet, cut out all baked goods, all fast food, fried foods, no soda..etc. I had my cholesterol re-checked in Nov and it dropped 69 points. But my good cholesterol dropped a bit and my tri went up. So now I've added fish oil...flax seed...and olive oil and avocado every day. I ride my exercise bike every day (6 days a week) for 5-7 miles, and do floor exercises, and walk 1-2 miles a day. I don't mind my new eating habits, but the exercise I really have to push myself, but once it's done I'm glad I did it. I was never over weight, so I didn't have to worry about that. I may have lost 5 lbs with all that I'm doing. If you really stick with a healthy diet (definitely add cherrios, oatmeat, avocado and olive oil and flax seed, salad to your diet) I'm quite sure it will help. For some people diet and exercise does not work. I just don't want to go on statins, but if I do someday, I know that I gave the diet and exercise a good try. I actually love my new lifestyle and healthy eating habits. I do feel much better. I'm at a point right now, when I see something sweet, I think "Fat Food..not for me", and I don't have a problem at all. I don't crave anything sweet any more, I haven't baked anything since July.. WOW !! I get my cholesterol re-checked in March...so hopefully it will be somewhat better. Hope this will help..