Cholesterol numbers moving the wrong way on low carb/ high protein diet

2

Replies

  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    Great. Please report back what you learn!
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    OP, are those fasting numbers?

    How long have you been eating this way?
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    I had this man's book on my shelf many years before I recently read it. He has a chapter on how dehydration is the cause of high cholesterol. Simply rehydrating the body (especially drinking 2C of water about 20min before a meal to hydrate digestive organs prevents the body from building up cholesterol on the arteries. To reverse cholesterol build up, add in walking 1hr 2X per day (or equivalent exercise) to keep a 24/7 metabolic burn. Here's the link if you want to check it out:
    The book is called The Body's Many Cries for Water, and was very interesting/helpful to me!
    http://watercure.com/

    That guy also claims that dehydration contributes to cancer and AIDS. He has no peer-reviewed research. I would proceed with extreme caution.

    I would proceed with absolute ridicule.

    That guy's a nutter, for sure.

  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    The most accurate measure of risk for heart disease is your triglycerides to HDL ratio.

    Ideally it should be kept below 2. If it's around 3.5 is at risk, 7.3 is very high risk.

    SO lets do some math

    At the start your triglycerdes are 214, and HDL is 48.

    214/48 = 4.75 This is pretty bad.

    After
    132/43 = 3.07

    A lot better, you're doing good, so don't stress it. Keep doing what you're doing.


    Oh so you're a doctor now. Cool.
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  • hhnkhl
    hhnkhl Posts: 231 Member
    edited March 2015
    You are eating the wrong proteins...maybe stop the fried eggs, pork, etc. and go for the low fat high protein?
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Check here: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Nutrition-Center_UCM_001188_SubHomePage.jsp
    If you take some time to read, it is their job to know how to protect your health, and they have very detailed answers to lot of questions and detailed quidelines. In brief, they are not pro high protein or high fat diets.
    I know there will be a ton of posters disagreeing, but if I had health concerns of the type "am I eating my way to death", I would trust the American Heart Association over any stranger on the internet or real life.
  • mokaiba
    mokaiba Posts: 141 Member
    edited March 2015
    pwrchrd wrote: »
    Dietary cholesterol has been pretty high, but I read that consuming cholesterol isn't as bad as once thought. Most likely from the up tick in egg consumption for the morning protein.

    6na1eij5p5hl.png

    When your blood cholesterol is high, you should reduce your dietary cholesterol to help you (mainly to prevent other issues) if youre a hyper-responder.

    Also, try to eat less than 500mg dietary cholesterol if your blood cholesterol is normal (i know food places say 250mg but they forget that merely 500g of chicken breast has 426mg dietary cholesterol). When you eat 500mg or less dietary cholesterol a day you should lift weights (if your body has no use to for it then dont eat that much dietary cholesterol). It will cause conversions to happen instead of leaving it just as cholesterol. you can look it up for more info.

    things to google:

    cholesterol conversion to testosterone
    conversion of cholesterol to vitamin d3
    et cetera.


    on the topic of your levels: http://chriskresser.com/the-diet-heart-myth-cholesterol-and-saturated-fat-are-not-the-enemy http://chriskresser.com/heart-disease
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    The triglyceride numbers show real improvement. Keep at it, two measures only confirm the issue, not the trend.

    Keep losing the weight - likeliest element to improve blood markers. You can also play around with diet styles, if that is your thing, I personally wouldn't for the time being.

    Don't be depressed, stick with what you are doing, give your modified lifestyle time to achieve results. It isn't going to take place overnight.
  • Burt_Huttz
    Burt_Huttz Posts: 1,612 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    The most accurate measure of risk for heart disease is your triglycerides to HDL ratio.

    Ideally it should be kept below 2. If it's around 3.5 is at risk, 7.3 is very high risk.

    SO lets do some math

    At the start your triglycerdes are 214, and HDL is 48.

    214/48 = 4.75 This is pretty bad.

    After
    132/43 = 3.07

    A lot better, you're doing good, so don't stress it. Keep doing what you're doing.


    Oh so you're a doctor now. Cool.

    It would take a doctor to know that? Only a doctor?

    No. It takes someone better than a doctor.
  • crunnerwv
    crunnerwv Posts: 32 Member
    While it is true that genetics play into your numbers, most people can lower them with diet/exercise. Limit saturated (animal fats) - will help lower ldl, and get more polyunsaturated/monounsaturated (plant-based fats) - will help raise you hdl. It makes since that your triglycerides were lowered, carbs have a direct effect on that number. So try lean meats, non-starchy veggies, low fat diary, fish, nuts, avocado, olive oil, ect - see after a few months if that makes a difference.
  • kramrn77
    kramrn77 Posts: 375 Member
    The one thing that really helps to remove cholesterol from your diet is nonsoluable fiber. Which you get from fruits and veggies. Which a "low carb/high protein" diet typically excludes because people tend to focus on protein, and fatty proteins at that.

    Fiber, when eaten, acts like a pipe cleaner to the gut. The cholesterol actually binds to the fiber and gets passed too quickly for the body to reabsorb it. Yes, you can get fiber through supplements. However, if you don't drink enough water fiber supplements turn into cement for the gut. My recommendation (as a nurse) is to increase the amount of fruits, veggies and whole grains in your diet. Also, look at switching some of your fats to plant based fats.
  • pollypocket1021
    pollypocket1021 Posts: 533 Member
    Honestly, the glucose level is far more troubling. Is that a fasting bg?
  • kramrn77
    kramrn77 Posts: 375 Member
    Honestly, the glucose level is far more troubling. Is that a fasting bg?

    Erm. Why? It's within normal limits.
  • mburgess458
    mburgess458 Posts: 480 Member
    kramrn77 wrote: »
    The one thing that really helps to remove cholesterol from your diet is nonsoluable fiber. Which you get from fruits and veggies. Which a "low carb/high protein" diet typically excludes because people tend to focus on protein, and fatty proteins at that.

    Fiber, when eaten, acts like a pipe cleaner to the gut. The cholesterol actually binds to the fiber and gets passed too quickly for the body to reabsorb it. Yes, you can get fiber through supplements. However, if you don't drink enough water fiber supplements turn into cement for the gut. My recommendation (as a nurse) is to increase the amount of fruits, veggies and whole grains in your diet. Also, look at switching some of your fats to plant based fats.

    It's actually SOLUBLE fiber that does what you describe in terms of lowering cholesterol. Non-soluble is good for many other things but it is the soluble type that binds with cholesterol in the digestive tract.

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/art-20045192
  • pwrchrd
    pwrchrd Posts: 25 Member
    To all, thank you for the many responses. I've decided to see my original dr. who is also a nutritionist. I would like one more opinion on this strategy and these numbers. I will open my diary for public access if you want to see my details. I agree the triglycerides are moving in the right direction which is hopeful. I have a family history of heart disease so I know what's in store for me if I don't make these changes. Again, this is a wonderful community with many knowledgable people. Thanks gain. Kurt
  • HeySwoleSister
    HeySwoleSister Posts: 1,938 Member
    Consider that maybe low carb/high fat/high protein isn't for you.

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    edited March 2015
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    Burt_Huttz wrote: »
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    The most accurate measure of risk for heart disease is your triglycerides to HDL ratio.

    Ideally it should be kept below 2. If it's around 3.5 is at risk, 7.3 is very high risk.

    SO lets do some math

    At the start your triglycerdes are 214, and HDL is 48.

    214/48 = 4.75 This is pretty bad.

    After
    132/43 = 3.07

    A lot better, you're doing good, so don't stress it. Keep doing what you're doing.


    Oh so you're a doctor now. Cool.

    It would take a doctor to know that? Only a doctor?

    No. It takes someone better than a doctor.
    Yes, this stuff is pretty complicated. Not everyone can use google.

    Sure, the OP is concerned about his health and his alarming lab results, but the dr is not qualified to help him, because years of studying and practising cannot match up to your skills at googling. I am sure that a 30 year old student (and not a medical student) with the help of dr google can help OP save his life better than a dr (yes, sarcasm here). I understand that dropping down from morbidly obese to normal is a major accomplishment and it means there a lot if questions regarding to weight loss you can answer from personal experience. However it does not mean you are qualified to give medical advice and that weight loss is the beginning and end of health. I understand why it feels this way to you, and to many of us, but it is not. There still is a need for drs...
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  • Burt_Huttz
    Burt_Huttz Posts: 1,612 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    Burt_Huttz wrote: »
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    The most accurate measure of risk for heart disease is your triglycerides to HDL ratio.

    Ideally it should be kept below 2. If it's around 3.5 is at risk, 7.3 is very high risk.

    SO lets do some math

    At the start your triglycerdes are 214, and HDL is 48.

    214/48 = 4.75 This is pretty bad.

    After
    132/43 = 3.07

    A lot better, you're doing good, so don't stress it. Keep doing what you're doing.


    Oh so you're a doctor now. Cool.

    It would take a doctor to know that? Only a doctor?

    No. It takes someone better than a doctor.
    Yes, this stuff is pretty complicated. Not everyone can use google.

    Sure, the OP is concerned about his health and his alarming lab results, but the dr is not qualified to help him, because years of studying and practising cannot match up to your skills at googling. I am sure that a 30 year old student (and not a medical student) with the help of dr google can help OP save his life better than a dr (yes, sarcasm here). I understand that dropping down from morbidly obese to normal is a major accomplishment and it means there a lot if questions regarding to weight loss you can answer from personal experience. However it does not mean you are qualified to give medical advice and that weight loss is the beginning and end of health. I understand why it feels this way to you, and to many of us, but it is not. There still is a need for drs...

    You're completely missing the point.

    I know I am.
  • mbarnson
    mbarnson Posts: 14 Member
    I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice.

    Dude. Your triglycerides have dropped through the floor. Your HDL ratio is getting awesome. Your VLDL is damn near perfect and has dropped substantially (and it's only the small, dense LDL that are problematic anyway).

    Total cholesterol is proven to have 0 correlation to total mortality. It's up, down, and sideways, and the only way anyone has ever proved a "correlation" is to cherry-pick populations that have both low cholesterol and low mortality; you can cherry-pick similar areas with high cholesterol and low mortality to create an opposite result.

    I say pop 3-5 fish oil pills a day and enjoy your ongoing success. Your relevant markers -- triglyceride, LDL/HDL ratio, and VLDL numbers -- are GREAT. If you're on low-carb, your total cholesterol will go up, but all the biomarkers of early mortality go DOWN. This is a truly radical transforamtionin the right direction.

    Total cholesterol is -- at present, due to lack of evidence -- not an indicator of overall health.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    Burt_Huttz wrote: »
    MrM27 wrote: »
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    The most accurate measure of risk for heart disease is your triglycerides to HDL ratio.

    Ideally it should be kept below 2. If it's around 3.5 is at risk, 7.3 is very high risk.

    SO lets do some math

    At the start your triglycerdes are 214, and HDL is 48.

    214/48 = 4.75 This is pretty bad.

    After
    132/43 = 3.07

    A lot better, you're doing good, so don't stress it. Keep doing what you're doing.


    Oh so you're a doctor now. Cool.

    It would take a doctor to know that? Only a doctor?

    No. It takes someone better than a doctor.
    Yes, this stuff is pretty complicated. Not everyone can use google.

    Sure, the OP is concerned about his health and his alarming lab results, but the dr is not qualified to help him, because years of studying and practising cannot match up to your skills at googling. I am sure that a 30 year old student (and not a medical student) with the help of dr google can help OP save his life better than a dr (yes, sarcasm here). I understand that dropping down from morbidly obese to normal is a major accomplishment and it means there a lot if questions regarding to weight loss you can answer from personal experience. However it does not mean you are qualified to give medical advice and that weight loss is the beginning and end of health. I understand why it feels this way to you, and to many of us, but it is not. There still is a need for drs...

    You're completely missing the point.

    No, I am not. I see a lot of advice on MFP by people who are not qualified to give such advice, based on the fact they have lost weight or changed in other ways their appearance. Which is at times like this even dangerous. Losing weight means you know how to eat at a deficit and it also means you know how to mentally get there. It does not mean you can reassure someone concerned for his health that he is doing things right. Because you really have no clue. Linking to medical research so the poster can further investigate, yes it is good advice. Giving medical advice with no medcial qualifications, it is extremely irresponsible.
  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    I work in medical publishing but I have no clinical experience and cringe whenever I see medical advice given or accepted over the Internet. There is no substitute for seeing your doctor and, if you have any doubts about your physician, getting a second opinion or finding a new doctor with more specific credentials in the area of concern.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Robertus wrote: »
    How much dietary cholesterol are you eating?

    giphy.gif


    31157-Sweet-Dee-NO-gif--Its-Always-S-EYGJ.gif


    Eating cholesterol does NOT affect serum cholesterol.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Robertus wrote: »
    How much dietary cholesterol are you eating?

    giphy.gif


    31157-Sweet-Dee-NO-gif--Its-Always-S-EYGJ.gif


    Eating cholesterol does NOT affect serum cholesterol.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Robertus wrote: »
    How much dietary cholesterol are you eating?

    giphy.gif


    31157-Sweet-Dee-NO-gif--Its-Always-S-EYGJ.gif


    Eating cholesterol does NOT affect serum cholesterol.
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    Listen to your Doctor and not random people on the interwebs.

    Doctors always want to put people on statins meds. Statins are known to be dangerous. Cholesterol can be changed with diet and exercise.
  • Robertus
    Robertus Posts: 558 Member
    Robertus wrote: »
    How much dietary cholesterol are you eating?

    giphy.gif


    31157-Sweet-Dee-NO-gif--Its-Always-S-EYGJ.gif


    Eating cholesterol does NOT affect serum cholesterol.
    I know there are people who say this, but there are also those who with expertise who strongly dispute this. There are obviously other factors. What are your best scientific sources to support your view?

  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    edited March 2015
    OP, eat a lot of fruits and veggies. Avoid trans fats (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils) (there are some in your coffee creamer) and increase your ratio of omega-3/omega-6.

    ETA: stop with the fried food.
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