Cholesterol II

[Phattso]

Just had a follow up blood test ad everything looks good. My natural Test was even 650, so that isn't too bad.

My total cholesterol is 198, but the ratios are not that great. My LDL (bad cholesterol) was elevated and my HDL (good cholesterol) was not high enough.

So, for the very first time in my life I think I might have to take a med like this. My doctor has prescribed Genefibrozil to help that. I have never heard of it. I read a little about it, but I hope there are low sides to it.

Anyone here heard of this med or taking it?

Otherwise, life is great

[crupiea]

my 79 year old Mom went to the doctor and they told her she had high cholesterol and prescribed her some meds for it. She got to looking them up online and didnt like what she saw so she didnt take them

She didnt change her diet and just basically blew off what they told her.

She went back 6 month later and the doctor was very pleased that the pills must have worked because her numbers were within normal limits.

not saying this is always the case but if I was a doctor it would be an easy sell almost 100% of the time. Doctors are very knowledgeable about what they do not argueing that point but they are also on commission.

[Phattso]

Thanks crup. This particular doctor doesn't work on commission. I am sure this has something to do with my diet, but I eat fairly clean and very low fat. Maybe it is hereditary.

Your Mother is a smart lady

[SP1966]

The attempt to chemically control cholesterol is foolish. Almost every cell in our bodies can produce cholesterol if we aren't getting enough in our diets, its that important to our bodies. Thats also why eliminating it from your diet will often times have little or no effect on your measured levels, your body will make what it needs. The ratio of HDL to LDL is influenced greatly by your diet, removing fats, especially saturated fats will reduce your HDL levels while increasing your carb intake, primarily grains and sugars will both increase your LDL while also causing the LDL to be smaller and denser which is the opposite of what you want.

Statins typically have a mile long list of side effects and have never been shown to be of any benefit to people who've not had a heart attack and even in those cases the benefit is questionable at best.

Good luck with that.

Edit: Just noticed in your reply to Crup that you eat a clean (LOL) very low fat diet, low HDL and high LDL is the result of your diet. /End of story.

Total cholesterol is a number that is good for one thing and one thing only, prescribing statins. It has no value in determining your heart health so eating like you are in order to control that number is just causing you to have the HLD/LDL issues, and those are the ones that give some insight into your health.

[trickyB]

Doctors are very knowledgeable about what they do not argueing that point but they are also on commission.

Thats weird I haven't received a single commission check yet...
I must be doing something wrong

[Phattso]

Hey SP^^. Thanks for the notes. I honestly don't know what to do. My current bodyfat is about 13%, even. Oatmeal almost every morning with egg whites. Lean meats. Hardly any sugar at all. Very low sodium. Low starch. Low fat.

Sure, I guess I could probably even improve on that, but working 12 hour days doesn't help.

[SP1966]

Hey SP^^. Thanks for the notes. I honestly don't know what to do. My current bodyfat is about 13%, even. Oatmeal almost every morning with egg whites. Lean meats. Hardly any sugar at all. Very low sodium. Low starch. Low fat.

You're 5'10", 207 pounds and 13% body fat? Seriously?

Your avoiding fat is the reason you have low HDL. The LDL number is almost useless unless they measure the particle size.

Here is a Doc's blog that goes into many of the issues with our diets today and the effects on our health. You could do some reading there to start: http://eatingacademy.com/category/cholesterol-2

Sure, I guess I could probably even improve on that, but working 12 hour days doesn't help.

Stress does tend to raise cholesterol levels, though I'm not sure the effect on the HDL/LDL ratio/size issues.


Your cholesterol being below 200 should make any doctor happy. The ratio issue is one of diet, not drugs.

[Phattso]

^^^Currently 201lbs. Thanks for the comments.

[jtroster]

Are you taking fish oil? It helps raise HDL.

[Reality_Check]

I'd recommend watching this

[Phattso]

Are you taking fish oil? It helps raise HDL.

4000IU per day.

I'd recommend watching this

Thank you.

[KLMARB]

Thanks crup. This particular doctor doesn't work on commission. I am sure this has something to do with my diet, but I eat fairly clean and very low fat. Maybe it is hereditary.

Your Mother is a smart lady

Eating low-fat is the reason for your problem. This has caused an adaptation into a lipogenic hormonal state. High small particle LDL and high triglycerides are caused by a carb-based nutritional pattern, as well as the low HDL number. I suggest a few months of a low carb (fat based) pattern, so you can reduce your lipogenic adaptation and restore your insulin-glucagon balance. Your numbers will then be normal...

[Phattso]

Eating low-fat is the reason for your problem. This has caused an adaptation into a lipogenic hormonal state. High small particle LDL and high triglycerides are caused by a carb-based nutritional pattern, as well as the low HDL number. I suggest a few months of a low carb (fat based) pattern, so you can reduce your lipogenic adaptation and restore your insulin-glucagon balance. Your numbers will then be normal...

Good suggestions. Thank you.