Not sure what to do or where to start... - High Cholesterol Message Board

030free · 04-15-2009, 11:57 AM

Hi, my name is Laura and today my boyfriend who's 30 (no prior health problems) was told he has high cholesterol 280 level, I read about it, but im still confussed, he has gain weight in 2 years, but just about 40lbs. Dr. said low cholesterol diet. What should I do, what is the first step? his mom does have cholesterol, but not on prescriptions meds. will he need meds, which diet would help him, what constitute as a low cholesterol diet

Im so scared, any input will be helpful. Thank you

tjlhb · 04-15-2009, 12:24 PM

You didn't say what the component levels are -- HDL (good), LDL (bad), VLDL / triglycerides (bad).

To lower LDL:

Avoid trans-fats from hydrogenated oils.
Avoid saturated fats from red meat and dairy products (choose lean meat and skim dairy).
Replace with unsaturated fats (non-hydrogenated, from fish and vegetable sources other than coconut or palm oil).
Lose excess body fat.

To lower VLDL / triglycerides:

Avoid sugar and alcohol.
Lose excess body fat.
Eat fatty cold water fish with high omega-3 (DHA and EPA) content. (If you are vegetarian, you can get large amounts of the omega-3 ALA from flax oil, and smaller amounts from some other plant fats like walnuts, but the conversion from ALA to DHA and EPA in the human body is not that efficient.)

To raise HDL:

Increase exercise.
Avoid trans-fats from hydrogenated oils.

030free · 04-16-2009, 10:35 AM

I didnt mention those levels you said because the nurse told us the results over the phone, we dont know about cholesterol. I quess we need to go see him, but its all we know. Still your information is very helpful, thank you so much.