Supplements to lower cholesterol

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I will most likely need to be on medications at some point due to my genetics and family history but I'm kicking that can down the road a ways with diet and exercise. So far I've been able to get all of my numbers into the "normal" range with diet and exercise.

- I supplement with plant sterols (I use Cholestoff Plus)

- I supplement with fish oil...pretty high dosage

- I eat salmon about twice per week and fish in general on a regular basis

- I keep my saturated animal fats to a minimum...I try to keep them at 20g or less daily on a 2500 calorie diet

- My fiber intake is generally 35 - 40 grams daily

- I eat food high in soluble fiber regularly...i.e. oatmeal and fruits that are high in pectin (apples, nectarines in the summer, etc)

- I eat 4-6 servings of vegetables daily (I drink some of these as well...I regularly consume low sodium V8 which is a great source of heart healthy lycopene...I eat a lot of tomato products as well for that express purpose. Basically I make sure I have a serving or two of vegetables or fruit with every single meal and snacks as well. I am most certainly not a vegetarian but my diet is highly veg and fruit centric.

- I eat a lot of heart healthy fats. I generally have a serving of almonds on most days and usually eat 1/2 an avocado on most days. I cook primarily with olive oil and avocado oil.

- I avoid commercial baked goods; many will say "no trans-fats" but they use partially hydrogenated oils at a level low enough to say "no trans-fats" legally...but they still have trans-fats and if you eat those goodies the way most people do then your'e going to get a good whollop of trans-fat in your multiple servings.

- I try to eat as whole as possible and keep my highly processed intake to a minimum. It is not always practical to eat 100% whole foods, but I try to choose minimally processed options when I have to go that route...except hot dogs...I love hot dogs and have to have at least one good dog monthly.

- I generally don't eat out often...maybe once or twice per month and I don't do fast food save for here and there when on a road trip or something...I'd say I eat fast food maybe 3 times per year or so.

- I exercise regularly. I lift 3x weekly and cycle a lot. Even on my rest day I make sure I go for at least a 30-60 minute walk. I would estimate that I get around 6-8 hours of exercise weekly.

Great advice for anyone and everyone, not just for someone trying to lower their cholesterol! Thanks for the input! Happy New Year!!

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Thanks for the explanation. I, too, think it's a bit premature for the doctor to want to put you on a statin the very first time you have blood work show high cholesterol, so I can most certainly understand not wanting to rush into that. What I didn't understand was the position of not taking statins, but instead taking something else that had the same purpose but was much less controlled and can have other less desirable effects.

Anyway, I understand your position now. Best of luck to you!

Premature, that's the word I was looking for! I am pretty determined and stubborn, so I hope between the two I can get some results.

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Update on cholesterol numbers:

Six months ago dr. was insisting that I go on a statin to help lower my cholesterol. I asked if I could try and lower it myself. Per the dr., I went on a low fat diet 40grams a day, in the process lost 13 pounds. I also started taking a supplement called Cholestoff. I had my cholesterol checked and the two numbers that were elevated are lower. They are still out of normal range, but I am confident that if I stay the course, they will eventually be with in normal range again. Will see again in six months.

Given the fact that I changed two things, lowered my fat intake and started a supplement it is hard to say what actually did the job. My thought is maybe a combination of both. As far as the weight loss goal, I was aiming for 5 pounds by June 3 of this year. I met that and then some, now just wanting to maintain.

A friend on here suggested oatmeal to help lower the numbers, so I am going to add that to my diet.