MY LDL is 247 and HDL is 103. Of course my doc wants to put me on statins, but I don't want to do this.
When I last posted I needed advice on gaining weight and I am happy to say I did, but it also raised my cholesterol which is understandable given all the lamb and dairy I've been eating so now I'm trying to go lower fat dairy, but I hope I can continue to eat the lamb.
Along with gaining weight my digestive issues disappeared as of June 3. Knock on wood so I have to think my diet healed me. I have even begun to eat new things such as yogurt and avocados. So, thank you Tex for your suggestion.
Noel
Tex High cholesterol advice needed please
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Tex High cholesterol advice needed please
MC diagnosed 2007
Noel,
I believe you are right, dairy will cause an increase in cholesterol level. With an HDL that high, ordinarily I would have said that you have nothing to worry about with an LDL level of 247. But I had a stroke last spring with an LDL of 168 mg/dL. My total cholesterol was 234 mg/dL and my HDL was 43 mg/dL. And I was taking a blood thinner (Plavix) at the time.
The reason for the stroke appears to have been a narrowing of a blood vessel where it forks in my brain. But even though that was the cause, it's possible that the stroke might never have happened if my cholesterol was lower. So I'm taking a statin. In 3 months (by June) it dropped my LDL to 72mg/dL and my total cholesterol to 131 mg/dL. My HDL was unchanged at 43 m/dL. I'm still taking the statin, so there's no telling how low my cholesterol level is by now. I have a blood draw scheduled on Friday.
I'm not sure if lamb raises cholesterol significantly, but if you can tolerate white meat (such as turkey), that would probably help to lower your cholesterol level. But I believe that if you are going to try to lower your cholesterol level by switching to low fat dairy products, that probably won't work. Research shows that people who drink low-fat milk hoping to lose weight crave more sugar so they eat more carbs to compensate (they gain weight, and they have a much higher risk of developing diabetes). Pig farmers have traditionally fed skim milk to their pigs to fatten them.
I have a hunch that you would have to cut out all dairy products to make a dent in your cholesterol level. If you can tolerate more fiber in your diet, fiber will help to lower cholesterol, but of course that's not MC-friendly for someone whose MC is active. I'm not a dietitian, but those are my thoughts, for what they're worth.
Tex
I believe you are right, dairy will cause an increase in cholesterol level. With an HDL that high, ordinarily I would have said that you have nothing to worry about with an LDL level of 247. But I had a stroke last spring with an LDL of 168 mg/dL. My total cholesterol was 234 mg/dL and my HDL was 43 mg/dL. And I was taking a blood thinner (Plavix) at the time.
The reason for the stroke appears to have been a narrowing of a blood vessel where it forks in my brain. But even though that was the cause, it's possible that the stroke might never have happened if my cholesterol was lower. So I'm taking a statin. In 3 months (by June) it dropped my LDL to 72mg/dL and my total cholesterol to 131 mg/dL. My HDL was unchanged at 43 m/dL. I'm still taking the statin, so there's no telling how low my cholesterol level is by now. I have a blood draw scheduled on Friday.
I'm not sure if lamb raises cholesterol significantly, but if you can tolerate white meat (such as turkey), that would probably help to lower your cholesterol level. But I believe that if you are going to try to lower your cholesterol level by switching to low fat dairy products, that probably won't work. Research shows that people who drink low-fat milk hoping to lose weight crave more sugar so they eat more carbs to compensate (they gain weight, and they have a much higher risk of developing diabetes). Pig farmers have traditionally fed skim milk to their pigs to fatten them.
I have a hunch that you would have to cut out all dairy products to make a dent in your cholesterol level. If you can tolerate more fiber in your diet, fiber will help to lower cholesterol, but of course that's not MC-friendly for someone whose MC is active. I'm not a dietitian, but those are my thoughts, for what they're worth.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
do you use Coconut oil at all?
proven to lower cholesterol
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/arti ... women.aspx
proven to lower cholesterol
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/arti ... women.aspx
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Thanks so much Tex. I'm glad you are ok after your stroke.
I am definitely not trying to lose weight as I am underweight from from restricted diet. So far, dairy is one of the few things I can eat and it appeared to help my digestive issues go away. Lately I've been getting my veggies in the form of vegetable flours (broccoli and squash)which are great for making muffins.
Do you know why dairy raises cholesterol?
I think I will try turkey, good idea, thanks
I am definitely not trying to lose weight as I am underweight from from restricted diet. So far, dairy is one of the few things I can eat and it appeared to help my digestive issues go away. Lately I've been getting my veggies in the form of vegetable flours (broccoli and squash)which are great for making muffins.
Do you know why dairy raises cholesterol?
I think I will try turkey, good idea, thanks
MC diagnosed 2007
Noel-
I had an appointment about a month ago to have my cholesterol tested. My Dr wants my LDL below 120 regardless of my HDL (82). I have it tested twice a year. It seems a bit extreme to me but she’s pretty adamant about it for all her patients and wants it lower for patients with more risk factors. My LDL is 136 but she wants it lower. She suggested Vascepa which is a prescription EPA only Omega 3. I refuse to pay $120/month for it given my LDL is not far off the mark. These prescriptions are really for those that have high triglycerides and mine are 112 so in range. She said they see decreases in LDL with Vascepa also.
I ended up buying Omegavia EPA 500 online after seeing many people saying Vascepa is too expensive. I pay around $26 for a bottle of 120. I take 4 a day. To equal the prescription, I would have to take 8. Too many pills for me. It’s free of gluten/eggs/dairy and soy.
I used to take Cholest-off supplements (plant sterols) before MC and it worked well for LDL but most have soy.
It seems the EPA only part is the key. There is another prescription fish oil called Lovaza that has EPA and DHA and it looks like they found that in addition to lowering trigs, it raised LDL. The EPA only does not raise LDL. We shall see. I go back early February for blood work.
Exercise helps LDL. Thyroid can affect LDL-that’s what started this whole circus with cholesterol for me. As for diet- I do eat some dairy and I do eat eggs. I eat a lot of fish, some beef, some chicken. Hard to know what affects what sometimes.
So I know our situations are different but maybe some of this will help or give you ideas!
Taia
I had an appointment about a month ago to have my cholesterol tested. My Dr wants my LDL below 120 regardless of my HDL (82). I have it tested twice a year. It seems a bit extreme to me but she’s pretty adamant about it for all her patients and wants it lower for patients with more risk factors. My LDL is 136 but she wants it lower. She suggested Vascepa which is a prescription EPA only Omega 3. I refuse to pay $120/month for it given my LDL is not far off the mark. These prescriptions are really for those that have high triglycerides and mine are 112 so in range. She said they see decreases in LDL with Vascepa also.
I ended up buying Omegavia EPA 500 online after seeing many people saying Vascepa is too expensive. I pay around $26 for a bottle of 120. I take 4 a day. To equal the prescription, I would have to take 8. Too many pills for me. It’s free of gluten/eggs/dairy and soy.
I used to take Cholest-off supplements (plant sterols) before MC and it worked well for LDL but most have soy.
It seems the EPA only part is the key. There is another prescription fish oil called Lovaza that has EPA and DHA and it looks like they found that in addition to lowering trigs, it raised LDL. The EPA only does not raise LDL. We shall see. I go back early February for blood work.
Exercise helps LDL. Thyroid can affect LDL-that’s what started this whole circus with cholesterol for me. As for diet- I do eat some dairy and I do eat eggs. I eat a lot of fish, some beef, some chicken. Hard to know what affects what sometimes.
So I know our situations are different but maybe some of this will help or give you ideas!
Taia
No, I was mainly going by my own experiences, back when I ate a lot of dairy products.Noel wrote:Do you know why dairy raises cholesterol?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi,
I read that high cholesterol may be a sign of inflammation in our body.
When our mitocondria for various reasons produce little energy (ATP), inflammatory conditions will take place, and make our body produce cholesterol as a controlling factor.
Because of that, we find high cholesterol in people with hypothyroidism, CFS, fibromyalgia as well as sclerosis, dystrophy and atrophy. High cholesterol shows that the body uses cholesterol as a mean to heal itself, and cholesterol is therefore a part of the solution, and not part of or the reason for the problem.
Lilja
I read that high cholesterol may be a sign of inflammation in our body.
When our mitocondria for various reasons produce little energy (ATP), inflammatory conditions will take place, and make our body produce cholesterol as a controlling factor.
Because of that, we find high cholesterol in people with hypothyroidism, CFS, fibromyalgia as well as sclerosis, dystrophy and atrophy. High cholesterol shows that the body uses cholesterol as a mean to heal itself, and cholesterol is therefore a part of the solution, and not part of or the reason for the problem.
Lilja
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Hi Lilja,
That's an interesting observation. I had never seen this before, but I believe you're right. Thanks for posting this.
Tex
That's an interesting observation. I had never seen this before, but I believe you're right. Thanks for posting this.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Noel,
I'm not pushing statins but here is my cholesterol history:
July 26, 2016
Tot. cholesterol - 234 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - 114 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -42 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - 162 mg/dL
On the day after the stroke:
March 30, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 221 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -87 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -43 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - 168 mg/dL
I started taking a statin (atorvastatin calcium) about two weeks later
June 16, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 131 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -79 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -43 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - -72 mg/dL
October 13, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 135 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -66 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -52 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - -70 mg/dL
This is for information only. Before I started taking the statin, I was having a mini-stroke about every three months, more or less. It seems to have stopped them, so far.
Tex
I'm not pushing statins but here is my cholesterol history:
July 26, 2016
Tot. cholesterol - 234 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - 114 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -42 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - 162 mg/dL
On the day after the stroke:
March 30, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 221 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -87 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -43 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - 168 mg/dL
I started taking a statin (atorvastatin calcium) about two weeks later
June 16, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 131 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -79 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -43 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - -72 mg/dL
October 13, 2017
Tot. cholesterol - 135 mg/dL
Triglycerides - - - -66 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol - -52 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol - -70 mg/dL
This is for information only. Before I started taking the statin, I was having a mini-stroke about every three months, more or less. It seems to have stopped them, so far.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I hope you remain mini stroke free.
Do you eat a high or low fat diet? My good cholesterol, HDL has doubled since I began eating lamb.
Also, my doc is checking to see what my LDL fractionation is before prescribing statins, not sure why.
Have you see this: https://www.bostonheartdiagnostics.com/
Looks interesting, but I don't if it's necessary.
Do you eat a high or low fat diet? My good cholesterol, HDL has doubled since I began eating lamb.
Also, my doc is checking to see what my LDL fractionation is before prescribing statins, not sure why.
Have you see this: https://www.bostonheartdiagnostics.com/
Looks interesting, but I don't if it's necessary.
MC diagnosed 2007
I took simvastatin when I had the second TIA, but I had to stop after about 8 or 9 months because my fingers would get stiff during the night and I couldn't fold them down. Tried atorvastatin this time and so far so good. My HDL cholesterol has never been above 43 ng/mL, previously. Now it's v52 ng/mL (without any diet changes).
I suppose I would have to classify my diet as a high fat diet. There's a lot more to cholesterol and triglyceries than the items that most hospitals check. Particle size for LDL cholesterol is important (the smaller the better), but my hospital doesn't even check that, so their test results probably aren't worth much.
Tex
I suppose I would have to classify my diet as a high fat diet. There's a lot more to cholesterol and triglyceries than the items that most hospitals check. Particle size for LDL cholesterol is important (the smaller the better), but my hospital doesn't even check that, so their test results probably aren't worth much.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.