My Cholesterol Levels - Oh-Uh

[RexFeral]

Ive always had high cholesterol, triglycerides, etc. High cholesterol runs in my family. When I went on a no grain/sugar diet, my tryglecerides dropped like a rock. Now they are a normal level and my blood pressure is actually low for the first time in my life. I dropped a lot of weight as well. My a1C is normal. 

My total cholesterol though, is another story. It has shot up by quite a few points. Its currently at 297. This reading kind of freaked me out until I realized that they consider anything above 240 high. Mines has always been above that.

My ratio level is good though. 3.0. My good cholesterol keeps going up, so the ratio keeps getting better with each bloodwork but nothing wants to go down. My LDL is going right up with the HDL. The ratio between my Tryglecerides and my HDL is in the ideal range, below 2. 

But I want my cholesterol to go DOWN. I know I am going to catch hell from my doctor next week. Im also worried about the total being that high. 

Anyone else with cholesterol issue. Should I skip my morning egg? 

[iMike]

I would recommend asking your doctor to set you up with a nutritionist.  Many people with cholesterol issues require special dietary needs.  You mention you have a grain free diet.  There are healthy grains out there, perhaps a nutritionist could recommend a couple to slowly incorporate back into your life that won't wreck your nutrtition.  Definitely seek out help from a nutrtionist, it will help eliminate the guess work.

[RexFeral]

Well, grains are completely out of the question for me. I have 0 glucose tolerance. One slice of thin, whole wheat, organic bread, with flaxseed and everything nice, takes my sugar level to 150 two hours postprandial. I absolutely can not eat sugar or grains, of any kind. I am already insulin resistant. I have one foot in the diabetic diagnoses range and the other on a banana peel. I'm really teetering over here.

I've improved so many things that I would hate for the doctor to set me back and I know shes going to focus on that total number even though I basically have the same cholesterol ratio as my husband, who happens to have exceptional cholesterol numbers.

[cotonpal]

RexFeral - I eat a low carb paleo diet too. I suspect that some people will disagree with me, but I have decided to simply not worry about my cholesterol. Many years ago I took Lipitor and it caused disabling joint pains so I have no intention of taking a stain drug again. Also I believe my low carb paleo diet to be the perfect diet for me so there is no way I will change how I eat. Like you it keeps my bg's low and my A1C normal. I have not had my cholesterol checked in more than 10 years. I've read a lot that has convinced me that the importance of cholesterol testing is greatly overblown. Malcolm Kendrick's "The Great Cholesterol Con" and Jimmy Moore's "Cholesterol Clarity" are 2 of the books that have convinced me not to focus on cholesterol. I'm not sure my doctor agrees with me but she has stopped asking me to get it checked. I think she understands that I am doing more than most people to stay healthy and that I am not going to take any medication unless the benefits far outway the risk. I believe that your focusing on lowering your insulin resistance is about the best thing you can be doing for your health.

[RexFeral]

Thank you so much for the support.

Many years I was put on Baycol and I hadn't even been on it for a month when I saw on the news that it was being recalled. I stopped it immediately and I was really terrified of what it could have done to me. Thankfully, it didn't harm me. Probably because I was only on it for about two weeks. I have a neighbor on Crestor that can hardly even walk to her mailbox. I certainly don't want that to me. Not now that I feel great.

I'm probably going to stop getting mines tested because it causes more stress for me than anything. The terror of the numbers, the constant checking of what it was last time it was checked and the ratio calculations are not doing anything to improve my health. Not to mention the debate with the doctor over it. It's just too much.

[SunsetRunner]

What a great post.  High cholesterol runs in my family and mine, without medication, is around 550.  All of my cholesterol levels are out of whack. I am 50 and I remember when I was 17 my parents getting a call from our doctor after I had blood work done (I was tired), and my dad took my mom into another room - I thought I was DYING!  Turns out, I had high cholesterol - back then!  I have been on and off statins and now I decided enough is enough.  Our bodies need a certain amount of cholesterol.  My dad and his dad died before 50.  I look at it that I passed my dad already.  The women on my dad's side have high cholesterol and lived into their 70s.  I'm okay with that.  I exercise, eat as healthy as I want to or don't want to.  I am doing a lot more than my dad or my grandpa (whom I never met) and even my grandma ever did.  Some day I may have a CT calcium scan just to "see" if there is anything there.  Time will tell.  I just don't want my doctor saying "well you won't do what I say so you'll have to find another physician."  But I WON'T be bullied!  

[Ozzie65]

Hi @RexFeral - I totally agree with @iMike. You mention a morning egg... You really should get some help with your diet. Ask around and find a great nutritionist with experience helping clients control cholesterol without medications. Right combination of diet and exercise will help you tremendously. Best of luck!

[RexFeral]

I agree. I don't want to be bullied either. If my doctor ever tells me that, I will find another physician. I don't want my doctor getting free diners from Big Pharma for dishing out statins to me.

There's so much more involved in heart disease, than high cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome, for instance, will destroy the cardiovascular system and its not caused by fat or cholesterol.

My ratios are good so I'm just going by that and the egg didn't cause my cholesterol problem because when I got rid of them for about two decades, my cholesterol was still high, higher in fact, than when I was eating eggs. So yes, eggs reappeared in my diet recently.

[IamRBrown]

What kinds of foods do you eat regularly?  Leafy greens(salads) & oily fish help cholesterol, red meats tend to raise it - the more fat, the faster it goes up...  you have to get protein to stay healthy & it does help you not get hungry as quickly.  Eggs have to be eaten in moderation.  I eat eggs a couple of times a week, but I "fry" them in the microwave rather than using oil in a skillet.  I like to beat them like I was making an omlet & mix in onions, peppers, celery, mushrooms, tomatoes.. then cook it in 1 minute increments in the microwave on high- stir it down between increments until it is done.  (makes a great breakfast sandwich when you are in a hurry, too)

[RexFeral]

Well, I eat all kinds of vegetables except for starchy ones. The starchy ones tend to raise my blood sugar. There isnt a single vegetable I dont like. Today, for example, I ate baby bella mushrooms, green beans, spinach, cucumbers, raw onion. I buy all of my veggies from the farmers market and if I can find them organic, I go for those first. I do tend to eat them in large quantities. I just love them so much. I tend to eat them all raw 80% of the time. 

I hadrly eat fruit. Maybe once or twice a week and only berries. I have all kinds of berries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries, cranberries. Because of there shelf life, I tend to buy them frozen unless I plan on consuming them immediately. The only other type of fruit I like are avacados, tomatoes and olives. I eat a ton of those too. 

I only eat red meat three times a month. I buy it grass fed only. The other days I have chicken, boneless, skinless breasts since I absolutely can not eat the fat skin. It makes me disgusted. I like my chicken very clean. I like turkey also. I eat pork once a month. Also lean. Unfortunately, I just can't stomach fatty meat. Sorry. I also eat tuna, salmon, sardines and shrimp. I buy all of the fish wild caught only. 

I don't drink milk. The dairy I have is half and half in my morning coffee only,  fresh mozerella, cream cheese and full fat yogurt. All organic, grass fed, no sugar or flavorings added. Plain everything. I don't have these items on a daily basis though. Maybe every few days. 

I eat nuts almost daily. I buy them raw, no flavor. I also buy almond butter, which I have every few days. I also buy it plain, no sugar or oil added. I buy it from the farmers market. I like pumpkin seeds. Plain as well. I do add flax seed to my yogurt on occassion and also to chicken meatballs. 

The only oil I use is extra virgin olive oil, organic, first cold press. No other oil. I make sure the sardines I buy, etc are in extra virgin olive oil and not any other. 

I have absolutely no sugar, not even artificial. No grains or root vegetables. Like I mentioned before, they raise my blood sugar. I do not by any pre-prepared foods, packaged, boxed, whatever, I dont eat it. The only exception I make is bacon. I buy Applegate Farms with no nitrates etc but I only eat it on the weekends. 

I do have two eggs in the morning which I load with spinach. I buy the Country Hen brand only. 

That's all I eat. My caloric composition is mostly fat, then protiens and the lowest is carbs. This is what I am striving for so I do it purposely. My plate is 80% vegetables and 10% protien. I just like veggies better than protien. 

I fast for 14 hours every 24 hour period. My ketones are about 3.

I don't even know if I am doing all of this correctly. I just know that when my cholesterol was in the 260 range, still too high, I had a higher A1C, lower HDL, very high triglyceride level, high fasting glucose, resting heart rate of 130, high blood pressure and I was 170 pounds overweight. I suppose the trade off of higher total cholesterol only hasn't been too bad. I fixed everything else. 

I see my doctor tomorrow so lets see how that goes. Shes not going to like those ketones any more than the cholesterol.