High Cholesterol

[DaneMcCloud]

Wow Smitty, this is something you don't want to mess with, at all.

750? First, did your doctor tell you to fast for at least 8 hours before having your cholesterol level checked? That can make an enormous impact on your reading. If they didn't tell you to fast, you need to call back and have them re-test after you've fasted. They should also re-test at no charge if this is the case.

Secondly, diet and exercise will certainly help but there's no way that doing that alone will help your levels drop 500 points.

Cholesterol is created by the liver. Most likely, this is genetic. I had my blood work done two and half years ago and everything was perfect save for my cholesterol. It was 294 and I'm in perfect health and eat very healthy (lots of salads, sushi, chicken, fish, etc.). They told me come back and re-test in 5 days and during that time, I ate only organic berry smoothies and no cholesterol soup. I again tested at 291.

I called everyone in family and begged them to get tested because none of them, including parents ever go to the doctor. It turns out that everyone had numbers in the high 200's or 300's and now they're all on Simvastatin (that's what I'm taking as well). My numbers are now around 160 and it's all good. No side effects.

If you don't like this doctor's advice, go see another doc to confirm. All I can say is take the meds, clean up your diet and get it down.

Best of luck!

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Wow Smitty, this is something you don't want to mess with, at all.

750? First, did your doctor tell you to fast for at least 8 hours before having your cholesterol level checked? That can make an enormous impact on your reading. If they didn't tell you to fast, you need to call back and have them re-test after you've fasted. They should also re-test at no charge if this is the case.

Secondly, diet and exercise will certainly help but there's no way that doing that alone will help your levels drop 500 points.

Cholesterol is created by the liver. Most likely, this is genetic. I had my blood work done two and half years ago and everything was perfect save for my cholesterol. It was 294 and I'm in perfect health and eat very healthy (lots of salads, sushi, chicken, fish, etc.). They told me come back and re-test in 5 days and during that time, I ate only organic berry smoothies and no cholesterol soup. I again tested at 291.

I called everyone in family and begged them to get tested because none of them, including parents ever go to the doctor. It turns out that everyone had numbers in the high 200's or 300's and now they're all on Simvastatin (that's what I'm taking as well). My numbers are now around 160 and it's all good. No side effects.

If you don't like this doctor's advice, go see another doc to confirm. All I can say is take the meds, clean up your diet and get it down.

Best of luck!

Thanks, I fasted for 12 hours before. They made me an appointment with a nutritionist, so I hope that will help as well.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

Thanks, I fasted for 12 hours before. They made me an appointment with a nutritionist, so I hope that will help as well.

You are not going to believe what they tell you, it is probably going to be a real shocker. It is total reprogramming of the way we eat.

I was in a meeting with probably 30 people(part of our heart rehab program) when the nutritionist said 8 oz. of red meat a week.

I exclaimed rather loudly, I have at least that every day for lunch.
She said, "and that is why you are here."

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You are not going to believe what they tell you, it is probably going to be a real shocker. It is total reprogramming of the way we eat.

I was in a meeting with probably 30 people(part of our heart rehab program) when the nutritionist said 8 oz. of red meat a week.

I exclaimed rather loudly, I have at least that every day for lunch.
She said, "and that is why you are here."

Yep.

[Brock]

Mine was at 270 when I first got it checked, then I started exercising heavily, and after six months it was only down to 220. Had to go on medication. I'm tempted to try some kind of supplements and get rid of the medication, anybody had any luck with anything?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Brock

Mine was at 270 when I first got it checked, then I started exercising heavily, and after six months it was only down to 220. Had to go on medication. I'm tempted to try some kind of supplements and get rid of the medication, anybody had any luck with anything?

You can try Red Wheat. They sell it at Costco. It's essentially Simvastatin, in its natural form.

It's been a staple of Chinese food for thousands of years and is one of the reasons why Chinese people generally don't have issues with cholesterol.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You can try Red Wheat. They sell it at Costco. It's essentially Simvastatin, in its natural form.

It's been a staple of Chinese food for thousands of years and is one of the reasons why Chinese people generally don't have issues with cholesterol.

But what is it?

[Pants]

Originally Posted by RJ

But what is it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yeast_rice

[RJ]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_yeast_rice

I had never seen or heard of this type of rice before today

[DaKCMan AP]

If you are serious about lowering your cholesterol and keeping it low then consider a plant-based, whole foods diet.

[smittysbar]

I am going to have to go by the nutritionist, because I evidently don't have a clue.

My biggest problem is going to be the fact that I don't like many of the foods they will suggest.

I used to use the low carb diet to control my weight, thinking that may have been a big contributor also.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I am going to have to go by the nutritionist, because I evidently don't have a clue.

My biggest problem is going to be the fact that I don't like many of the foods they will suggest.

I used to use the low carb diet to control my weight, thinking that may have been a big contributor also.

Without me getting into it if I were you I would do a significant amount of due diligence on this subject. Research cholesterol and how much it really does contribute to heart disease. I guarantee you will find some interesting information there. Also do a background on the drugs that they are giving you. Do not just do whatever your doctor says without questioning it. Get as much information from as many good sources as you can find. A nutritionist is a great place to start BTW. Good luck.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Without me getting into it if I were you I would do a significant amount of due diligence on this subject. Research cholesterol and how much it really does contribute to heart disease. I guarantee you will find some interesting information there. Also do a background on the drugs that they are giving you. Do not just do whatever your doctor says without questioning it. Get as much information from as many good sources as you can find. A nutritionist is a great place to start BTW. Good luck.

You're talking to a person who's cholesterol came back at 740. I don't think you understand what that entails.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I am going to have to go by the nutritionist, because I evidently don't have a clue.

My biggest problem is going to be the fact that I don't like many of the foods they will suggest.

I used to use the low carb diet to control my weight, thinking that may have been a big contributor also.

Smitty, once you start eating a more veggies, you should start liking them much better.

I am the guy that used to think a balanced meal, was a double cheeseburger in each hand, with fries in your lap.

It worked for me, I get cranky if we don't have at least two veggies with every meal.

[Iowanian]

change this man's name to gravyblood

You should buy a box of cheerios and tampax.

The Cheerios will fix your food problem and the tampax apparently take you kayaking, canoeing, mountain climbing and horse back riding for the exercise.


Solved.

That will be $300.