Cholesterol Levels

Leese · February 19, 2009

I just had my blood work done to check my cholesterol levels. They have gone up since a year ago.My current cholesterol is 239 and a year ago it was 191. My Ldl currently is 157 and a year ago it was 119. I have lost 53lbs in the last year and exercise regularly and feel that I eat healthy. I don't eat much red meat. I don't understand this. Has this happened to anyone else? Not sure if this could be a genetic thing or age factor? I am 46.

Jachut · February 20, 2009

Hmmmmm, could be a combination. High cholesterol levels are definitely genetic to some degree, some people struggle and need to be medicated even though their lifestyles are perfect.

What do you eat? Its more than just red meat. Now, I know I'm the resident anti low carb high Protein diets are unhealthy spoilsport on this board and I definitely believe that when people go on things like Atkins and their lipid profiles improve its more from weight loss than it is from something magic about the diet. Any animal fat has traditionally been thought to be a factor so you have to look at butter, eggs, processed deli meats, cheese, and ANY processed foods - lean cuisines, other boxed meals, snack foods, processed carbs - they can all contribute to high cholesterol levels.

There are some good foods that you can include more off that can help to improve lipid profiles. Fibre is your friend, a diet high in fruits and vegetables can help a lot - oats contain a special fibre that can help too - but REAL oats (I think you call them steel cut? we call them rolled oats) not processed quick ones. There's also various margarines and stuff on the market, not sure how effective they are though. Good fats like nuts, avocado and fish oils need to be part of your diet - this is where you should be getting your fat from, not from animal sources and if you do this, then you dont have to do a particularly low fat diet.

Exercise is also an effective weapon in improving your blood profile.

So, if you have a good diet made up in large part of fruit and vegetables, you limit animal fat but eat freely of good fats, you avoid processed foods and exercise regularly you are doing the most you can reasonably do, and if your cholesterol stays high then I guess you know that you will also need to take additional medical steps to control it.

CapitolChick · February 20, 2009

Yah, it happened to me too.

I have lost over 55 lbs and my bad cholesterol only went down like 4 points. So now I am taking a prescription medication (no side effects which is great!). I will go back into get my blood work done the end of march 09.

I also just had my gallbladder out last week and there is a correlation between high cholesterol and a gummed up GB.

Then there is the genetics - both my thin father and heavy mother have had struggles with their cholesterol levels at different times in their life.

It sucks tho. :tt2: I had hoped my cholesterol would improve after losing the wt. But I do have more to lose, so it may take longer for me to see results.