HDL cholesterol levels

[namtrag]

I am at a loss. I am lifting hard 5 days a week, doing an hour a day of cardio 5 days a week.

My resting pulse is 56, my total cholesterol is 187, and my triglycerides are 60.

It all sounds good until I reveal that my HDL cholesterol is only 37.

Under 40 on HDL indicates a very high risk of heart problems. Mine has consistently been around or under 40 every time I get checked.

WTF is wrong with my body and how can I get the level up?

[IdahoViking]

Originally Posted by namtrag

I am at a loss. I am lifting hard 5 days a week, doing an hour a day of cardio 5 days a week.

My resting pulse is 56, my total cholesterol is 187, and my triglycerides are 60.

It all sounds good until I reveal that my HDL cholesterol is only 37.

Under 40 on HDL indicates a very high risk of heart problems. Mine has consistently been around or under 40 every time I get checked.

WTF is wrong with my body and how can I get the level up?

When you find the answer, let me know as well. My total choleserol is around 70, my triglycerides are in the 30's, ironically though my HDL is about the same as yours.

[CapitalJay]

Originally Posted by namtrag

I am at a loss. I am lifting hard 5 days a week, doing an hour a day of cardio 5 days a week.

My resting pulse is 56, my total cholesterol is 187, and my triglycerides are 60.

It all sounds good until I reveal that my HDL cholesterol is only 37.

Under 40 on HDL indicates a very high risk of heart problems. Mine has consistently been around or under 40 every time I get checked.

WTF is wrong with my body and how can I get the level up?

+

Originally Posted by IdahoViking

When you find the answer, let me know as well. My total choleserol is around 70, my triglycerides are in the 30's, ironically though my HDL is about the same as yours.

Please don't hate me for saying this: cardio!! Aerobic exercise increases your HDL's significantly. You could also try adding fish oil to your diet.

[StartinOver-68]

Whats more important is what were your numbers BEFORE you started training. Some people are predisposed to higher numbers through heredity, diet, lack of exercise, etc. Also an increase in exercise activity increases testerone, and without cholesterol tests levels would be much lower.

[Minotaur]

More olive oil, more fish oil, less carbs.

My HDL was always below 40, but after a year of low carb, fish oil capsules and salmon a few times a week, my HDL finally hit 45. And my triglycerides dropped from 210 (high of 300+) to 114.

[m1k3g0rd]

Three quick ideas from About.com:Heart Disease

http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/cho...a/raiseHDL.htm

Increase the monounsaturated fats in your diet. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil, avocado oil, or olive oil and in the fats found in peanut butter can increase HDL cholesterol levels without increasing the total cholesterol.

Add soluble fiber to your diet. Soluble fibers are found in oats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and result in both a reduction in LDL cholesterol and an increase HDL cholesterol. For best results, at least two servings a day should be used.

Other dietary means to increasing HDL. Cranberry juice has been shown to increase HDL levels. Fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can also increase HDL levels. In postmenopausal women (but not, apparently, in men or pre-menopausal women) calcium supplementation can increase HDL levels.

I've also been using cinnamon (1 teaspoon) daily for several years now.

[lukamar]

Hi Mike.. Mine was the same last month. HDL only slightly low 1 point. My doc is having me take Niacin (B3) 1000mg/day to see if it will raise it. Other than that is to raise your good fats.

[gbg]

If everything checks out dietary wise then as StartinOver stated it could be familial, back track to mom and dad any siblings see what history has to say.

[namtrag]

Thanks guys, I am taking 12 g per day of fish oil, eating about 140-150g of monounsaturated fat a day, and am low carbing. I have been doing this for 6 weeks. Like I said, I am also doing an hour a day of cardio. May step up to 7 days a week.

The levels are approximately the same as they were at my fall physical, except my triglycerides, which have dropped about 30-40 points since I went on this high fat diet.

Marty, I will think about niacin, but I heard it was only effective in pharmaceutical grade, that the stuff you buy at GNC, etc was not the right type. Is this true?

The hereditary issue is probably the source. My dad died at 44 from heart problems. I have no idea what his HDL was, they didn't really test it back then. I am trying not to get the heart problems that are associated with low HDL

[namtrag]

Originally Posted by m1k3g0rd

Three quick ideas from About.com:Heart Disease

http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/cho...a/raiseHDL.htm

Increase the monounsaturated fats in your diet. Monounsaturated fats such as canola oil, avocado oil, or olive oil and in the fats found in peanut butter can increase HDL cholesterol levels without increasing the total cholesterol.

Add soluble fiber to your diet. Soluble fibers are found in oats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, and result in both a reduction in LDL cholesterol and an increase HDL cholesterol. For best results, at least two servings a day should be used.

Other dietary means to increasing HDL. Cranberry juice has been shown to increase HDL levels. Fish and other foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can also increase HDL levels. In postmenopausal women (but not, apparently, in men or pre-menopausal women) calcium supplementation can increase HDL levels.

I've also been using cinnamon (1 teaspoon) daily for several years now.

I take a couple of fiber caps a day, maybe I will raise the amount.

I will take a look at the article.

I have also heard that guggelsterones might help.

[lukamar]

Originally Posted by namtrag

Marty, I will think about niacin, but I heard it was only effective in pharmaceutical grade, that the stuff you buy at GNC, etc was not the right type. Is this true?

I get mine from the pharmacist as it's OTC here but not prescription, so it's probably pharmaceutical grade. There is also flushing and non flushing types, my doc recommended the non flushing.

[phikappa]

Originally Posted by IdahoViking

When you find the answer, let me know as well. My total choleserol is around 70, my triglycerides are in the 30's, ironically though my HDL is about the same as yours.

I'm the same way. I have a few family members (who carry much more weight than I do) who have low cholesterol. Much of it is genetics.

Have you spoken to your doctor about it? What are his recommendations?

You might want to read this for clues...
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA40028...ng-cholesterol

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by IdahoViking

When you find the answer, let me know as well. My total choleserol is around 70, my triglycerides are in the 30's, ironically though my HDL is about the same as yours.

With cholesterol that low, you probably can't expect HDL to be much higher. It's already 1/2 your total.

That's the lower number I've seen, insanely low in fact. Do you or or doc have any concerns?

[IdahoViking]

Originally Posted by Jules Verne

With cholesterol that low, you probably can't expect HDL to be much higher. It's already 1/2 your total.

That's the lower number I've seen, insanely low in fact. Do you or or doc have any concerns?

Yes, many concerns, particularly in my bodies natural defense mechanisms (white blood cell mobilization, platlette formation, collagen formation, etc.) and the associated 'fatty liver'.

I've even been to specialists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, apparently there is not much that can be done other than dietary restrictions.

[PROT]

its a fukking myth. Triglycerides are and if they are down you are doing the right thing. This whole cholesterol and heart disease is a mirage and not real science. Do not ask your doctor because he will be totally ignorant on the subject. Read GOOD CALORIES, BAD CALORIES by Gary Taubes and relax. You are doing everything right by eating lowcarb. All that aerobics is totally unneccesary but do it if you like. The medical community is totally ignorant on this and it is "conventional wisdom" that cholesterol is involved in heart disease but not scientific. Acceptable levels of cholesterol used to be 225 or lower..people in normal range were having heart attacks so they lowered it to 200, now they have lowered it to 180 for the same reason..that reason being that lowering cholesterol did not prevent heart disease or heart attack. The experts than focussed on HDL and LDL as they were stuck on the cholesterol hypothesis. Its all total bull****. Triglyceride levels are associated with heart disease but cholesterol, is not.

The statin drug makers would like you to take their drugs even though 50% of patients report muscle weakness and 60% report mental decline when taking lipitor and other statins. No one who takes drugs is "healthy. They are treating symptoms of "disease" in the body. A whole food diet with lots of good protein and fats and NO grains will keep you healthy. Low cholesterol is associated with early death in study after study.

[fireman9170]

I added 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil to my bedtime shakes helped mine come up. I would say just to add healthy fats. Flax, olive, nut oils, fish

[namtrag]

Like I said, I am taking 9g of fish oil a day, 2g of primrose oil, and I am eating another 125g of healthy fat a day on top of that, so I think I have the healthy fats covered...lol

[Bob45]

For me losing bodyfat usually straightens out my numbers.

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by PROT

The experts than focussed on HDL and LDL as they were stuck on the cholesterol hypothesis. Its all total bull****. Triglyceride levels are associated with heart disease but cholesterol, is not.

BUT. IF you get heart disease, I would strongly suspect your going to be much more likely to have a heart attack if your LDL:HDL ratio is out of whack. In addition for most people it is an indication of overall nutritional/exercise health.

Also, if your total is say 300+, or less than 120, it might well be an indication of heath issues. So it's still good to get it checked.

But, yes if I were eating well, HDL ~= LDL, Tris lowish and total 240, I wouldn't personally be worried. Not many people who have a good diet and exercise have totals above 230-250 though.

This is one reason even the docs that 'know', still support regular cholesterol checks. It's something they can get easily from the insurance too.

[PROT]

[QUOTE=Jules Verne;129583311]BUT. IF you get heart disease,


Thats the problem with relying on any of these numbers. Most heart attacks occur in people with "normal" cholesterol. Thats a fact. You are correct that most exercising and health conscious people have "good" numbers. Thats why I think its good to ignore the HDL/LDL ratio and concentrate on triglycerides, which have been shown to be related to cardiac events. My cholesterol was 182 last time it was checked and they said it was too high..total bull****. My HDL has been low for years and I have not died not had heart disease. Its often hereditary and means nothing.

[Reality_Check]

This is about the millionth time I've posted this link, but for anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to investigate the cholesterol skeptics view

http://www.thincs.org/news.htm

Funny thing is the stress (which does cause heart disease) of worrying about cholesterol levels has probaly caused more heart attacks to people over the years than cholesterol levels (which as far as I can gather doesn't).

[Mark1T]

Originally Posted by Minotaur

More olive oil, more fish oil, less carbs.

My HDL was always below 40, but after a year of low carb, fish oil capsules and salmon a few times a week, my HDL finally hit 45. And my triglycerides dropped from 210 (high of 300+) to 114.

Add Green Tea, as well.

[bodyhard]

man I didn't even see this thread and I wrote one about my 19 year old daughter in law

[tomdana]

I am there with you despite eating healthy, exercise and watching carbs with good fats, I am in the thirties as well. Genetics are my excuse. Ask your doc about a cardiogenic crp that can help add perspective to whether your low hdl is a bigger issue or not. The HDL as others have said does not correlate well with cardiac disease though triglycerides do. Take care and good luck.

I hate to say it but my total CHL is over 450 and my good CHL is off the chart low. I hope that PROT is right if not I am in deep. My tri, bp and resting heart rate are at very good levels so I am hoping those are more important. So OP your probably ok if I am still alive and kicking. My older brother has a couple of years on me and is in the same boat.

My doctor probably would not agree totally with PROT but he told me that alone those numbers mean nothing. I have 7 siblings and all the males are in the same boat. He told me about a family that all is in there 90's with CHL levels just like mine. I dont take CHL meds becuase they can cause muscle aches and weakness and my doctor told me that I should not due to other health conditions. He told me pretty much all you can do is exercise and eat healthy which I already do. I asked about niacin and he laughed at me and said it was like putting a glass of water on a towering inferno. He told me to take a baby asprin per day and drink 3 glasses of red wine per week. He was of the opinion that stress, inactivity, high body weight and poor diet are the real things that cause heart problems.

[labradarep]

Here is a portion of an article By Dr Johnny Bowden:

" Meanwhile, a whole industry has sprung up around the lowering of cholesterol, even though it?s only one of many risk factors for heart disease, and not a very good one at that. Half the people who get heart disease have normal cholesterol levels, and half the people with elevated cholesterol stay perfectly healthy. That?s not to say we should ignore cholesterol ? just that we don?t need to make such a fetish out of lowering it.

As you may know, cholesterol is conventionally divided into two components: LDL (considered ?bad?) and HDL (considered ?good?). We now know that it?s even more complicated than that. There are at least two major subdivisions of the LDL (?bad?) kind ? LDLa and LDLb ? and only one of them is atherogenic. The other (LDLa) is pretty harmless. The point is, just looking at cholesterol as a number and mindlessly prescribing a drug to bring it down is pretty short sighted.

Remember ? you ultimately don?t care about your cholesterol level. You care about your risk for heart disease. They?re not necessarily the same thing. The ratio of triglycerides to HDL predicts heart disease way better than cholesterol (if you?ve got a 5:1 ratio you?re at risk). Other things to look at: C-Reactive protein, a measure of inflammation, homocysteine, and fibrinogen. And of course, triglycerides and blood sugar. "

Hope this helps?

[Jules Verne]

Originally Posted by Reality_Check

Funny thing is the stress (which does cause heart disease) of worrying about cholesterol levels has probaly caused more heart attacks to people over the years than cholesterol levels (which as far as I can gather doesn't).

My dad died of a heart attack when he was 45. His diet was not great (I inherited his sweet tooth and love for deserts), he smoked and did little exercise although he wasn't way overweight.

BUT still, it was clear to us at the time that he basically died of stress. So I really do agree with stress being a major - if not THE major contributor to a host of heal issues.

Unfortunately I've also inherited his 'stress'. I've developed several medical conditions which on reflection were almost certainly either caused or become apparent/inflamed from stress. The strange thing is that most often I did not think or feel like I was particularly stressed at the time. Only looking back after a year or so did I realize just how stressed I must have been at that time.