cholesterol

slasharine
slasharine Posts: 7 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Just looking for any advice....
I follow a vaguely paleo-esque diet (more like IIFYM but focusing on high fat/protein/moderate carbs and 'clean' as much as poss) so have been aiming for about 50g fat a day with plenty of butter/coconut oil/red meat/etc etc making up that total.
Earlier today I had an induction at my new flash gym. It included analysis of blood glucose and cholesterol, and my cholesterol was raised at 5.61 (should be <5).
They couldn't test HDL vs LDL.

Should I be worried? Paleo dogma tells me no, but I don't want to bury my head in the sand if this is actually a problem. And if it is, what is the best way to reduce my cholesterol? Or can I get my ratios checked on the NHS (UK folk only for that bit I guess :flowerforyou: )

Apologies if this has been asked a million times before!

Replies

  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    If they couldn't test your HDL vs LDL then it wasn't a true cholesterol test and no, I wouldn't be worried. If you are that worried then go to your doctor and have it tested properly.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    ......have been aiming for about 50g fat a day with plenty of butter/coconut oil/red meat/etc etc.....



    ......what is the best way to reduce my cholesterol?
    Stop eating the foods that are loaded with saturated fat.

    Google "Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn" He was a surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, In the 1980's, he did an experiment where he got a bunch of seriously ill cardiac patients, and put them on a diet with minimal fat, and a ton of plant food, like greens, fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc. Some of them were not expected to live another year, but are still alive today because of dietary changes.
  • kuolo
    kuolo Posts: 251 Member
    Go to your GP and explain the situation they will give you a blood test and then you can ask them about the breakdown when you get the results. You might need to specifically ask them to do a test that breaks it down.
    Umm yes that is v high for your age and gender I def would get it checked out. You can lower it through diet but you might have to make some changes. Try a few things then get it retested in a few months to see if it's working.
    Things that worked for my husband were eating oats and half a grapefruit every day, cutting out butter and cheese and cakes/sweet things, eating lots of veg and legumes, small amounts of healthy fats... His went down in a few months.
  • zillah73
    zillah73 Posts: 505 Member
    Definitely get your cholesterol levels checked by a doctor, not a gym, if you are concerned. Couldn't hurt – knowledge is power.
  • Fiercely_Me
    Fiercely_Me Posts: 481 Member
    Definitely get your cholesterol levels checked by a doctor, not a gym, if you are concerned. Couldn't hurt – knowledge is power.

    I couldn't agree more.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    ......have been aiming for about 50g fat a day with plenty of butter/coconut oil/red meat/etc etc.....



    ......what is the best way to reduce my cholesterol?
    Stop eating the foods that are loaded with saturated fat.

    Google "Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn" He was a surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, In the 1980's, he did an experiment where he got a bunch of seriously ill cardiac patients, and put them on a diet with minimal fat, and a ton of plant food, like greens, fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc. Some of them were not expected to live another year, but are still alive today because of dietary changes.

    Cool. My favorite plant based food is coconut. Love raw coconut meat...
  • slasharine
    slasharine Posts: 7 Member
    Cool, thanks everyone :) I'll speak to my doctor. Been following the 'fat does not make you fat' line of reasoning, but might have to rethink that...
  • kuolo
    kuolo Posts: 251 Member
    I think some people suit that kind of diet, some people don't. Everyone's bodies react differently to things, a lot of it is genetics. I know people who have done really well on it and others who have had their numbers go through the roof and had to stop on medical advice. Find what works for your body and go with that. Hope it works out for you!
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    Until you know the breakdown of HDL's, LDL's and Triglycerides there's not really much to comment on.

    However if you are eating high fat / lowish carbs in a calorie deficit (and yes sat fat), then it should help reduce your triglycerides and increase your HDL's.

    Good luck.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    Just looking for any advice....
    I follow a vaguely paleo-esque diet (more like IIFYM but focusing on high fat/protein/moderate carbs and 'clean' as much as poss) so have been aiming for about 50g fat a day with plenty of butter/coconut oil/red meat/etc etc making up that total.
    Earlier today I had an induction at my new flash gym. It included analysis of blood glucose and cholesterol, and my cholesterol was raised at 5.61 (should be <5).
    They couldn't test HDL vs LDL.

    Should I be worried? Paleo dogma tells me no, but I don't want to bury my head in the sand if this is actually a problem. And if it is, what is the best way to reduce my cholesterol? Or can I get my ratios checked on the NHS (UK folk only for that bit I guess :flowerforyou: )

    Apologies if this has been asked a million times before!
    Well the HDL and LDL's are the important part and without that measurement it's meaningless. Paleo type diets increases HDL's generally.

Categories