Hi! I'm a 41 year old male. 5'10" 150lbs. Total cholesterol 220. I forget my HDL number, but its good (ratios are good) so my doc says meds not needed. Otherwise great health. My question is about diet. I am a devout cyclist. Ride about 2500 miles a year. When I can't ride outside I train about an hour a day - 6 days a week. I need carbs for energy - lots of pasta, but I'm thinking they may be pushing up my numbers? I don't eat meat, and want to get the number lower than 200 if possible. What do I eat for this level of activity and not bonk when I'm riding?
Since you regularly engage in strenuous physical activity, you are evidently burning off those carbs rather quickly, which is good. So, in your particular situation, carbohydrate intake is not nearly as detrimental as it would be if you were less physically active. As far as your pasta intake is concerned, why not substitute more beef, chicken, or fish instead?
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"Men and nations will act rationally when all other possibilities have been exhausted."
My wife is a vegetarian, so I am by default and I am somewhat nervous of meat in general (another post) I do eat tuna 1-2 times a week, and a fair amount of beans. Breakfast is oatmeal, raisins & soy milk, eggs on Sunday. Very little dairy. I try to avoid sat. fats & hydrogenized oils. Lots of water, no booze. 2-3 fruits every day. Despite this I can't seem to crack the 200 mark. Wondering if fish oil or flax would help?
I don't know what your HDL is, but if your TC/HDL ratio is good, then it is most likely over 50, since a TC/HDL ratio of 4 or less is desirable. So, if that is the case, then a total cholesterol level of 220 really isn't much of an issue. Sorry about my earlier post. I missed the fact that you weren't a meat eater.
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"Men and nations will act rationally when all other possibilities have been exhausted."
Yeah...I didn't mention I don't do meat -sorry. That's part of what bothers me. Despite what I consider a relatively healthy diet and lifestyle, I still have 200+ cholesterol. Knowing that my cycling burns alot of what I'm eating I would hope my numbers would be lower than they are. I'm scared that if I don't keep up this level of physical activity my count will sky rocket. Should I be considering suppliments or more diet modifications?
diet 
and I am somewhat nervous of meat in general (another post) I do eat tuna 1-2 times a week, and a fair amount of beans. Breakfast is oatmeal, raisins & soy milk, eggs on Sunday. Very little dairy. I try to avoid sat. fats & hydrogenized oils. Lots of water, no booze. 2-3 fruits every day. Despite this I can't seem to crack the 200 mark. Wondering if fish oil or flax would help?
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