Cholesterol

[satehen]

I went for a blood test for my thyroid (it’s under active) and they tested a few other things. My cholesterol and blood sugar levels were high. I was told to go on a diet and start exercising straight away. My old diet was awful. Despite being vegetarian for 4 years I ate high fat take aways, processed foods, chocolate etc. and didn’t exercise. I know.

I received the phone call 8 days ago and have since radically changed my diet, reducing my calorie intake to 1800 a day max (now in week 2 reduced again to 1700). I’ve been keeping a log and have eaten 43 portions of fruit and veg in the first 7 days, 22 different types. I haven’t eaten any chocolate, high fat foods, fried foods or processed foods since I started. I also joined a gym and have been twice. Mixing cardio (treadmill, rowing machine, cross trainer etc) with weights/ resistance training.

I also drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin, an omega supplement and B vitamins. I’ve been looking into supplements for cholesterol and found psyllium husk can be effective so I’ve ordered some online.

Has anyone else got or had high cholesterol? Is there anything else I can do to help? I’ve been referred for a scan at the hospital and was told I’d have a repeat blood test in a year’s time. No medication (yet). I want to lose weight and get my levels down to normal before that blood test.

[RedRosa]

I had high cholesterol and my doctor told me that I could change my diet or take Lipitor, so I told her I'd change my diet.

I had to eliminate all dairy products (milk, cheese, cream, ice cream, eggs, etc.) and all meat. Fish is allowed.

For butter I substitute olive oil (a natural cholesterol reducer) and added cholesterol reducing ingredients to my diet.

Although I'm not a foodie, I never liked processed foods, fast foods, junk food, etc.

Here's a link to "10 Tips to Lower Cholesterol With Your Diet": https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lo ... ITLE_HDR_2

I found it useful, so maybe it will be of some good to you.

[satehen]

Thanks Red Rosa. I’m cutting down on dairy anyway, mostly use vegan alternatives and I don’t eat meat (or fish). I use olive oil in my cooking rather than vegetable oil. I’ll take a look at that link.

[Kea]

I am borderline currently but had abnormal results sometime in the past. Not too high but still not within the normal limits that alarmed me.
No ice cream? No cheese? No French fries? Waaaaa!

[MarieGreen]

Did you get the ratio of HDL to LDL? Mine looked high until it was broken down and actually it was fantastic because I have high HDL which is what you want.

Some of it is just luck and genetics but my diet is pescatarian/ mostly Mediterranean with lots of olive oil and I exercise a lot. That said I'm still annoyingly overweight since peri menopause hit.

This podcast has some really interesting stuff on nutrition generally but the did an episode on cholesterol.

https://zoe.com/learn/podcast-foods-to- ... sterol.amp

The key takeaways they had were not cutting out fat completely but switching to unsaturated alternatives but also being careful with refined carbs. On the former if you've switched to vegan fats they will still not be quite as good as things like olive oil. So if you can cut out margarine as well as butter that would be good.

[MarieGreen]

No ice cream? No cheese? No French fries? Waaaaa!

I could and mostly do all of that apart from the cheese. It's controversial and I'm not a dietitian but the evidence on cheese being good or bad for you is mixed and there are some thoughts about it being a probiotic... but there is cheese and cheese... I'm not talking Kraft slices here but naturally matured blue cheese or unpasteurised hard cheeses.

[Mintcake]

My knowledge of cholesterol is limited. That is for a doctor and dietician to advise.
What I do know however is my medical field, optometry. We are very often the first people to detect early signs of high cholesterol and diabetes. The majority of patients are totally unaware. They rock up for eye tests, with eye infections or other such issues and some go home with more bad news! Not wanting to bore you with facts, early detection of either condition can show up in the cornea.

What's extremely worrying is, and I see it personally on a weekly basis, is the increasing number of young people, kids even, who are showing the same signs.

All I can do is deal with their eyes. But it's my duty to recommend they go see a doctor.

[MarieGreen]

Oh my god that's crazy!