Do you guys think it's ok to eat.......

I'll also recycle one of my answers to another post about what I've seen decent evidence for in terms of improving cholesterol:

First, if you're overweight, losing weight will tend to help. It will particularly help with triglyceride levels and LDL levels, which will lower total cholesterol. Extremely low calorie diets have a tendency to make HDL worse, but you shouldn't be doing one without a doctor's supervision, anyway.
Second, Exercise will help. There is more evidence for cardio in that realm over strength training, but a little bit of anything is better than a whole lot of nothing. It is particularly strong in helping raise HDL.
Third, eliminated trans fats to any extent possible. In particular, trans fats from hydrogenated oils are clearly and strongly associated with cholesterol. Natural trans fats occurring in some cheeses and meats are mixed.
Fourth, reduce saturated fats. The long term evidence of saturated fat in cardiovascular disease and long term cholesterol is a bit of a mixed bag, but there is clear evidence in the short term of it raising cholesterol. The biggest effect it has might be that every calorie of saturated fat is less calories from whole grains, mono unsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fats. If you regularly eat sour cream, a quick substitution is Greek yogurt, replacing saturated fats with protein.
Fifth, oatmeal, and possibly other unprocessed whole grains with high amounts of soluble fiber. There is evidence that oatmeal binds up bile released by the digestive system, forcing the body to replace it. The key ingredient to make bile is ... cholesterol, so your body has to use it up making new bile.
Sixth, plant stanols by eating more plants, soy in particular. Stanols are molecules in plants that work similar to cholesterol, so in humans they might trigger receptors that make your body think you have a high amount of cholesterol already, so that it doesn't need to make more.
Seventh, for low HDL, nuts, seeds, fish, flax, and things that contain omega 3's are noted to have some effects. In some rare instances a lack of some dietary protein might be the culprit.

OMP33 wrote: »

nvmomketo wrote: »

Sandytoes71 wrote: »

Do you guys think it's ok to eat one unhealthy meal a week or every other week if I'm trying to get my cholesterol down and improve my A1C number? I know I can eat whatever I want as long as it fits into my calorie goal for the day and still lose weight as that is how I lost weight before, but this time it's different for me. This time, i'm mostly eating to improve my horrible cholesterol and blood sugars (pre diabetic) and also lose weight. So, I've really turned my diet around and eat pretty healthy now. I started almost a month ago with lots of success, but I need to know if eating an unhealthy meal every now and then will keep my cholesterol from getting better. I'm wanting to eat chips and salsa and a taco tomorrow and am going to try to keep under my calorie goal, but I'm worried I will be screwing up my cholesterol and stuff. I mean, can I still be healthy and eat bad fats from time to time? I guess I'm looking for people who have experience with trying to get healthy on the inside?

I would say cheats are a bad idea. It is probably healthier to embrace a new way of eating and find treats within that woe than sabotage yourself once a week.

I eat a low carb high fat to treat my prediabetes. It works like a charm. Within days of switching my det my BG was normal. I also found that it cut my sugar and carb cavings after about a week, and reduced my appetite. I was able to cut calories and lost about 40 lbs fairly quickly... The weight loss did NOT help with my insulin resistance. My BG is only normal if I eat low carb and moderate protein. As soon as I go off plan my BG goes right back up. Not good. Elevated BG, even at prediabetic levels hurts the body and can even lead to kidney disease. It isn't worth it i my case.

Plus cheats would keep me missing sugar. No thanks. I would at her make myself some sugar free low carb treats like cheese cake, fat bombs, or cookies which won't hurt my health.

A LCHF det can help with cholesterol. Cholesterol is worsened by high carbs unless you are eating very low fat, especially triglycerides. Triglycerides generally go down on a high fat low carb diet. Also, HDL will go up, Lp(a) often drops, and LDL stays the same but switches to the larger fluffy pattern a - all good changes.

If interested in LCHF, I recommend reading Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. Bernstein is a T1D who has perfectly managed his diabetes with diet and very little insulin in an era when diabetics were nearing their life expectancy in their 40s. Really good plan. Also, cholesterol Clarity or the Great Cholesterol Myth are good books to read for patients who have doctors who still just look at total cholesterol.

Best wishes.

A whole food plant-based diet will surely reduce you chol. levels. Not eating a burger everyday, using oils, and loading up on dietary fats (sat. fats).

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/3/417.short
"CONCLUSIONS—Total and saturated fat intake were associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, but these associations were not independent of BMI. Frequent consumption of processed meats may increase risk of type 2 diabetes."

You're citing a paper on impact of fats on diabetes, to claim a plant based diets will lower cholesterol? Do you log that post in MFP exercise under stretching?