First week of high cholesterol diet and I'm depressed... Seeking advice

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Replies

  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,096 Member
    @sbrno1985 Also curious is this is a general practitioner/PCP making these recommendations or if it is another style doctor such as a chiropractor like asked above. I cannot imagine an MD making such recommendations or selling protein powders at their office. Sounds sketchy to me. I agree with @Mithridites that addressing your stress sounds more important IMO. When I was in my 40's I went to ER over "heart" issues. Turns out I was just crazy stressed, nothing else wrong.
  • Ddsb11
    Ddsb11 Posts: 607 Member
    HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »
    sbrno1985 wrote: »
    W... She didn't give me a calorie limit just a menu with choices and certain guidelines like aim for fat free or no saturated fats ...

    ...indicating her knowledge of nutritional needs and the latest science on the matter are sorely lacking.

    1. You can be overweight, underweight or a normal weight eating whatever is on her list. The important thing is not what you eat but how much. Also, just because something is on or off her list does not mean its magically good or bad food.
    2. The suspected link between dietary fat and serum cholesterol was greatly over hyped. More recent science indicates there is little link for most people. Only those who are genetically predisposed to have their serum cholesterol greatly affected by dietary cholesterol need to extremely limit dietary fats and those folks are only identified through trial and error research.
    3. Fat is an important part of our daily diet and is necessary for proper maintenance of cells in our bodies. Poly- and mono-unsaturated fats are considered to be good fats to consume but we need some saturated fats as well. Current recommendations are to limit but not eliminate saturated fats in the diet. The only fats you should avoid are transfats which are artificially created through hydrogenation.

    To learn more about nutrition -- easily more than your PCP knows -- go to https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ Start with the "What should I eat?" and go from there. For specific information about dietary fats, look at https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/ and https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2012/06/21/ask-the-expert-healthy-fats/

    You’re my spirit animal 👏🏻
  • wilsonunc
    wilsonunc Posts: 45 Member
    As a future medical provider, her comments and recommendations to you blow my mind and I would recommend you find a new provider who is going to have your best interests at heart.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    30 years ago when I first moved to town I went to a MD who was my parents’ neighbor. I weighed at low end normal BMI at the time. He sent me direct marketing for weight loss shakes. I didn’t go back, but yeah, it happens.
  • Bluetail6
    Bluetail6 Posts: 2,982 Member
    HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »
    sbrno1985 wrote: »
    W... She didn't give me a calorie limit just a menu with choices and certain guidelines like aim for fat free or no saturated fats ...

    ...indicating her knowledge of nutritional needs and the latest science on the matter are sorely lacking.

    1. You can be overweight, underweight or a normal weight eating whatever is on her list. The important thing is not what you eat but how much. Also, just because something is on or off her list does not mean its magically good or bad food.
    2. The suspected link between dietary fat and serum cholesterol was greatly over hyped. More recent science indicates there is little link for most people. Only those who are genetically predisposed to have their serum cholesterol greatly affected by dietary cholesterol need to extremely limit dietary fats and those folks are only identified through trial and error research.
    3. Fat is an important part of our daily diet and is necessary for proper maintenance of cells in our bodies. Poly- and mono-unsaturated fats are considered to be good fats to consume but we need some saturated fats as well. Current recommendations are to limit but not eliminate saturated fats in the diet. The only fats you should avoid are transfats which are artificially created through hydrogenation.

    To learn more about nutrition -- easily more than your PCP knows -- go to https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ Start with the "What should I eat?" and go from there. For specific information about dietary fats, look at https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/ and https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2012/06/21/ask-the-expert-healthy-fats/

    I always inspired when I read your posts. I love the Harvard and Mayo Clinic Sites. Also, I sincerely appreciate that you cite your information sources.
  • Rhumax67
    Rhumax67 Posts: 162 Member
    This has red flags all over it. First of all shortness of breath is not something to ignore. As far as the diet, 1/2 cup of beans will get you 5 g of protein - what's the point of the protein powder? except to enrich the seller?

    I'm with Malted Tea - get a second opinion from someone with the initials MD after their name
  • sbrno1985
    sbrno1985 Posts: 10 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    sbrno1985 wrote: »
    JessAndreia wrote: »
    What exactly do you mean by "lacking any protein source"? Not even plant proteins?
    Protein is an important nutrient, so I don't understand how a doctor would recommend a diet where most meals lack protein.

    So it goes like this. Her meal plan has 5 food groups.

    Group 1 is fiber/healthy carbs...whole wheat toast (x2), multigrain bread, 5 oz whole wheat pasta, 1 boiled potato, 2 oz oatmeal, 5 oz corn, or 5 oz cooked legumes.

    Group 2 is fruits. Group 3 is low fat/fat free yogurt, ricotta or cottage. Group 4 are whole protein sources like eggs, skinless chicken, etc. Group 5 is veggies.

    For me she crossed out groups 2 and 3 completely.

    BREAKFAST: 1 item from group 1, multivitamin

    LUNCH: 1 item each from groups 1 and 5, multi vitamin, omega 3 plus.

    DINNER: 1 item each from groups 1, 4, and 5. Omega 3 plus.

    SNACK: 2 calcium magnesium tabs.

    She also told me to have 1 protein smoothie a day with plant powder not whey. And she wanted me to buy her own expensive powder from her Amway business.

    Just to clarify, groups 1 and 5 do have protein-containing foods. There is protein in foods like bread, pasta, corn, legumes, and vegetables. Not all of these are high protein foods and I think this diet sounds really sketchy, but you can get protein from plants too.

    Definitely agree with you there. But does that work for someone who wants to build.muscle? That was my goal before covid shut the gyms down and thats still the goal im trying to get back to. I mean the protein found in those plant sources are like what 5-10g at most?

    Lean chicken breast is like 20-22g. But is eating animal sourced protein, such as this, everyday safe? I don't do fish, fish and seafood are not for everyone and im one of those people who just dont like it. So when it comes to high protein, i guess im stuck with either lean chicken or turkey and of course protein shakes.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    edited November 2020
    sbrno1985 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    sbrno1985 wrote: »
    JessAndreia wrote: »
    What exactly do you mean by "lacking any protein source"? Not even plant proteins?
    Protein is an important nutrient, so I don't understand how a doctor would recommend a diet where most meals lack protein.

    So it goes like this. Her meal plan has 5 food groups.

    Group 1 is fiber/healthy carbs...whole wheat toast (x2), multigrain bread, 5 oz whole wheat pasta, 1 boiled potato, 2 oz oatmeal, 5 oz corn, or 5 oz cooked legumes.

    Group 2 is fruits. Group 3 is low fat/fat free yogurt, ricotta or cottage. Group 4 are whole protein sources like eggs, skinless chicken, etc. Group 5 is veggies.

    For me she crossed out groups 2 and 3 completely.

    BREAKFAST: 1 item from group 1, multivitamin

    LUNCH: 1 item each from groups 1 and 5, multi vitamin, omega 3 plus.

    DINNER: 1 item each from groups 1, 4, and 5. Omega 3 plus.

    SNACK: 2 calcium magnesium tabs.

    She also told me to have 1 protein smoothie a day with plant powder not whey. And she wanted me to buy her own expensive powder from her Amway business.

    Just to clarify, groups 1 and 5 do have protein-containing foods. There is protein in foods like bread, pasta, corn, legumes, and vegetables. Not all of these are high protein foods and I think this diet sounds really sketchy, but you can get protein from plants too.

    Definitely agree with you there. But does that work for someone who wants to build.muscle? That was my goal before covid shut the gyms down and thats still the goal im trying to get back to. I mean the protein found in those plant sources are like what 5-10g at most?

    Lean chicken breast is like 20-22g. But is eating animal sourced protein, such as this, everyday safe? I don't do fish, fish and seafood are not for everyone and im one of those people who just dont like it. So when it comes to high protein, i guess im stuck with either lean chicken or turkey and of course protein shakes.

    You can certainly gain muscle with plants but you will need higher amounts. Plants have lower levels of L-Luecine which is a primary driver of muscle protein synthesis. And even then, not all plant based proteins are created equal.

    And yes, its completely healthy to eat meats daily. All the associations of "poor" health markers are associated with processed meats and fatty cuts of meat. I'll find the most recent data, but there is some data that suggest a combination of meats with fruits and vegetables provides a more favorable outcome than plant based foods only.

    Also, one of the primary functions for muscle growth will be a good lifting program. So if you don't have a structured program, it would be worth prioritizing that.

    Dr. Layne Norton has a good video and a link to the study. Unfortunately, there are a lot of variables.

    https://youtu.be/g-upzvuwAng
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    Wheat grass is good for helping destroy plaques and lower cholesterol and this diet seems questionable
  • Peachesanddinosaur
    Peachesanddinosaur Posts: 15 Member
    Whole food plant based diet can help. Get a nutritionist; doctors have very little training in nutrition.

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