Keto and Cholesterol
Anikib
Posts: 76 Member
Hi everyone! I have been doing Keto for quite awhile and really liked it because I thought it was really easy to follow since haven’t eaten gluten in 4 years anyways. But, I just got my annual blood work done and my cholesterol was through the roof! I mean really super high!! It went up over 30 points!
High cholesterol runs in my family anyways and I’ve struggled with it in the past so I can’t have it being this high, so no more Keto for me. My question is, is this common with Keto? And, since I’m going back to regular dieting, what should my percentages be to get my cholesterol down.
Thanks a bunch ❤️
High cholesterol runs in my family anyways and I’ve struggled with it in the past so I can’t have it being this high, so no more Keto for me. My question is, is this common with Keto? And, since I’m going back to regular dieting, what should my percentages be to get my cholesterol down.
Thanks a bunch ❤️
4
Replies
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Cholesterol in the diet affects serum (blood) cholesterol in only a relatively small percentage of the population, so it's probably not that common with keto. If you're one of those for whom it does, however, it doesn't matter whether it's common in other people.
Macro percentages won't directly affect getting your cholesterol down. Losing weight, getting more exercise, and possibly in your case limiting dietary cholesterol are the best factors under your control. Cholesterol is found in fats from animals, so limiting yourself to plant foods and leaner animal foods will address that. You can have lean animal protein and plants on a wide variety of macro distributions.
Other dietary choices that can help reduce serum cholesterol in some people include getting more soluble fiber, which can be found in oats and legumes, and increasing the proportion of omega-3 fats in yours diet (sources include fish; meat, poultry, dairy and eggs from grass-fed or free-range animals; flax meal or flaxseed oil; canola or rapeseed oil).8 -
What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.28 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.7
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I have started doing Keto a couple of weeks ago and this is what I was thinking about too. It’s so hard to find a good balanced diet2
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What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.
Do you have a medical degree? What training do you have to say that something is or isn't a marker of CVD risk?
Some people react poorly to a keto diet. OP should listen to her DOCTOR and not keto dieters with Google U degrees. God it pisses me off when people deny each and every negative experience strangers have with their WOE because it challenges their magical thinking.39 -
What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.
No. Just no.
Please don't tell someone to ignore the results of their blood work just because the recommended course of action is to abandon your favorite diet. It's grossly irresponsible.
Recommending that they consult with their doctor about the results is fine. Telling them to wholly disregard them is not.
Besides, you're wrong. Total cholesterol is not something to completely ignore.36 -
lhanley163 wrote: »I have started doing Keto a couple of weeks ago and this is what I was thinking about too. It’s so hard to find a good balanced diet
A balanced diet isn't actually as difficult as one might think.
1) Find the right number of calories
2) Get enough protein
3) Get enough fat (50-75 grams and focus on non-saturated fats)
4) Get enough fiber
5) Get enough vitamins/minerals
A diet with a moderate amount of meats, veggies and whole grains will get you closer to the ballpark than you expect.15 -
For what it's worth, my RD at mayo clinic stated very bluntly that KETO is a therapeutic diet only for use in the most extreme circumstances. It definitely can shoot up cholesterol, especially if your genetics are not in your favor. I went on it for a month and my cholesterol was through the roof. Her answer and what worked for me was to eat the rainbow! The classic diet of whole grains, tons of fiber, tons of fruits and veggies was spot on. She also mentioned looking into the Nordic or Mediterranean ways of eating as they are some of the healthiest diets in the world. Don't do a fad diet, it will only bite you in the *kitten* (and the arteries).18
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lhanley163 wrote: »I have started doing Keto a couple of weeks ago and this is what I was thinking about too. It’s so hard to find a good balanced diet
@lhanley163 it's really not that hard to find a good balanced diet - eat things you like, everything in moderation. Watch calories for weight maintenance and macros/micros for nutrition.5 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
So your total cholesterol was 446, up from 381? At least your Cholesterol to HDL ratio is 1.7, which is really good. Ideal is less than 5.1. This is probably why your Dr. has not put you on medication to reduce total cholesterol yet.
You say you do keto because it is easy for you. You might want to rethink some of your foods. You can easily add carbs without adding gluten. Eat more fruit and vegetables, especially starchy ones. Add beans and legumes for fiber.
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lhanley163 wrote: »I have started doing Keto a couple of weeks ago and this is what I was thinking about too. It’s so hard to find a good balanced diet
How about just an actual balanced diet?7 -
This is why I am afraid to try Keto (aside from the fact that I just don't think I have the willpower to limit my carbs to that extreme).. I was pre-diabetic last summer and reduced my carb intake to around 100 (net) carbs a day and was able to bring my blood sugars back into the normal range. However, my cholesterol was up on routine bloodwork done a few months later. Coincidence, or was it all those eggs, cheese, etc I ate when trying to reduce the carbs? I don't know, but I am not willing to risk having it go higher.1
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happytree923 wrote: »What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.
Do you have a medical degree? What training do you have to say that something is or isn't a marker of CVD risk?
Some people react poorly to a keto diet. OP should listen to her DOCTOR and not keto dieters with Google U degrees. God it pisses me off when people deny each and every negative experience strangers have with their WOE because it challenges their magical thinking.
^ This exactly. Some people never fail to amaze me with their blatant ignorance, and this response to one of those people is spot on.11 -
BlessedMom70 wrote: »This is why I am afraid to try Keto (aside from the fact that I just don't think I have the willpower to limit my carbs to that extreme).. I was pre-diabetic last summer and reduced my carb intake to around 100 (net) carbs a day and was able to bring my blood sugars back into the normal range. However, my cholesterol was up on routine bloodwork done a few months later. Coincidence, or was it all those eggs, cheese, etc I ate when trying to reduce the carbs? I don't know, but I am not willing to risk having it go higher.
Can you get your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian? They may be able to help you find a healthy way to eat while managing your issues.4 -
ilovefoodalldamnday wrote: »For what it's worth, my RD at mayo clinic stated very bluntly that KETO is a therapeutic diet only for use in the most extreme circumstances. It definitely can shoot up cholesterol, especially if your genetics are not in your favor. I went on it for a month and my cholesterol was through the roof. Her answer and what worked for me was to eat the rainbow! The classic diet of whole grains, tons of fiber, tons of fruits and veggies was spot on. She also mentioned looking into the Nordic or Mediterranean ways of eating as they are some of the healthiest diets in the world. Don't do a fad diet, it will only bite you in the *kitten* (and the arteries).
Absolutely. Your opinion is worth it. When rigid eating rules your life, get ready for the food explosion that may sneak up on you out of the blue. Might be a year or two down the road but rigid eating, eliminating food groups for months or years can cause a course correction that will not be denied. The brain kicks into overdrive because those old neural pathways don't really die. They just go dormant until you fall asleep at the wheel. If it wasn't true, there would be no such thing as eating it all back with rebound weight gain.5 -
ilovefoodalldamnday wrote: »For what it's worth, my RD at mayo clinic stated very bluntly that KETO is a therapeutic diet only for use in the most extreme circumstances. It definitely can shoot up cholesterol, especially if your genetics are not in your favor. I went on it for a month and my cholesterol was through the roof. Her answer and what worked for me was to eat the rainbow! The classic diet of whole grains, tons of fiber, tons of fruits and veggies was spot on. She also mentioned looking into the Nordic or Mediterranean ways of eating as they are some of the healthiest diets in the world. Don't do a fad diet, it will only bite you in the *kitten* (and the arteries).
Absolutely. Your opinion is worth it. When rigid eating rules your life, get ready for the food explosion that may sneak up on you out of the blue. Might be a year or two down the road but rigid eating, eliminating food groups for months or years can cause a course correction that will not be denied. The brain kicks into overdrive because those old neural pathways don't really die. They just go dormant until you fall asleep at the wheel. If it wasn't true, there would be no such thing as eating it all back with rebound weight gain.
This may be true for some people but there are folks on these boards who have successfully maintained on low-carb/keto for upwards of 5 years or more.2 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
I had a 'nutritional' coach that I followed into keto/IF/primal/paleo eating for well over a year. I didn't read the fine print or ask enough questions. All of the coach's gluten/fodmap/autoimmune problems were self-diagnosed. The nutritional coach had no medical training whatsoever. Anyone can print up their business cards and hang out a shingle. My coach takes pride that children are now following the rigid eating rules. When I took a couple of steps back I saw disordered eating for no actual medical conditions. Buyer beware with food coaching, sometimes the rigid diet they're following is nothing but a cover for their own disordered eating. Moderation is not a dirty word. Find peace with food in the middle ground.16 -
Because the body needs cholesterol to make hormones etc, the body can make its own. It is possible for there to be a failing in the endocrine system which allows cholesterol production to go into over drive. Information found on medical papers, please do your own research. Cholesterol does not automatically come from ingested foods.2
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My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.2 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I'm guessing they meant total cholesterol went to 258 and LDL to 188, that would make HDL 70, which would make more sense.7 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I'm guessing they meant total cholesterol went to 258 and LDL to 188, that would make HDL 70, which would make more sense.
Fair enough0 -
ilovefoodalldamnday wrote: »For what it's worth, my RD at mayo clinic stated very bluntly that KETO is a therapeutic diet only for use in the most extreme circumstances. It definitely can shoot up cholesterol, especially if your genetics are not in your favor. I went on it for a month and my cholesterol was through the roof. Her answer and what worked for me was to eat the rainbow! The classic diet of whole grains, tons of fiber, tons of fruits and veggies was spot on. She also mentioned looking into the Nordic or Mediterranean ways of eating as they are some of the healthiest diets in the world. Don't do a fad diet, it will only bite you in the *kitten* (and the arteries).
Absolutely. Your opinion is worth it. When rigid eating rules your life, get ready for the food explosion that may sneak up on you out of the blue. Might be a year or two down the road but rigid eating, eliminating food groups for months or years can cause a course correction that will not be denied. The brain kicks into overdrive because those old neural pathways don't really die. They just go dormant until you fall asleep at the wheel. If it wasn't true, there would be no such thing as eating it all back with rebound weight gain.
This may be true for some people but there are folks on these boards who have successfully maintained on low-carb/keto for upwards of 5 years or more.
I like Carlos' way of thinking and eating. There are many debate threads for keto advocates but I'm over it. I like the new members opinions, too. Very much so.0 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I'm guessing they meant total cholesterol went to 258 and LDL to 188, that would make HDL 70, which would make more sense.
I think the triglyceride number is also included in the total cholesterol number, along with LDL and HDL, which would mean that HDL is probably not as high as 70.0 -
OP: How long were you on a keto WOE? I am not a MD but from my research HDL usually goes up and LDL goes down. There is a you tube video by fitterU that explains that in rare cases a person on keto or LCHF diet will see an increase in LDL. You may be one of these people. I myself am waiting for enough time to go by to check my blood cholesterol number to see how I am doing.8
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I'm guessing they meant total cholesterol went to 258 and LDL to 188, that would make HDL 70, which would make more sense.
I think the triglyceride number is also included in the total cholesterol number, along with LDL and HDL, which would mean that HDL is probably not as high as 70.
It is not. It is HDL + VLDL + LDL
These are my recent numbers:
7 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
Your HDL is 258? Could you have that mixed up with total cholesterol? Total cholesterol is HDL+LDL (approximate). If 258 is your total, and LDL is 188, then your HDL would be upwards of 65-70, which is quite good.
Do you know what your triglycerides did?
The Great Cholesterol Myth, Cholesterol Con or even Cholesterol Clarity are good books on the matter. So is Teicholz's Big Fat Surprise.happytree923 wrote: »What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.
Do you have a medical degree? What training do you have to say that something is or isn't a marker of CVD risk?
Some people react poorly to a keto diet. OP should listen to her DOCTOR and not keto dieters with Google U degrees. God it pisses me off when people deny each and every negative experience strangers have with their WOE because it challenges their magical thinking.
I denied her negative experience?
Hardly. You'll note the use of the word "usually" over and over? The use of IMO? The use of the word "vary"? I think you have greatly overreacted.
No, I am not a medical doctor but I am widely read on cholesterol and diets. I've read many books and journal articles and everything reputable says the same thing that I wrote.
I know keto is not for everyone, but the vast majority of low carbers have their cholesterol respond in a certain way. Having a HDL go down, triglycerides go up, and LDL turn into a less favorable particle size is not typical. That's just the way it is. It isn't magic. Just what modern science has shown.Carlos_421 wrote: »What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
HDL usually goes up.
LDL reactions will vary. Sometimes up, down or stays the same. For most people though, the particle size and density improves which is a sign of good health.
Triglycerides usually go down with low carb although while losing they may be temporarily elevated. HDL and tri ratio is an okay indicator of CVD risk.
So if HDL goes up, and LDL stays around the same, then total cholesterol does go up.... Its a really poor marker of CVD risk, IMO.
Fasting ends to raise cholesterol too. If you fasted over 12 hours or ate very little in the days prior to testing, that could raise cholesterol too.
If familial hypercholesterolemia runs in your family, then you may need to change your diet. If there is not a chance of FH, I would keep going. IMO.
No. Just no.
Please don't tell someone to ignore the results of their blood work just because the recommended course of action is to abandon your favorite diet. It's grossly irresponsible.
Recommending that they consult with their doctor about the results is fine. Telling them to wholly disregard them is not.
Besides, you're wrong. Total cholesterol is not something to completely ignore.
That's not what I said to do.
And no, I disagree. Total cholesterol is pretty weak as an indicator of CVD and can be often ignored - especially in women. HDL and triglycerides and LDL particle size are better indicators of health.
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I denied her negative experience? Hardly. You'll note the use of the word "usually" over and over? The use of IMO? The use of the word "vary"? I think you have greatly overreacted.
No, I am not a medical doctor but I am widely read on cholesterol and diets. I've read many books and journal articles and everything reputable says the same thing that I wrote.
I know keto is not for everyone, but the vast majority of low carbers have their cholesterol respond in a certain way. Having a HDL go down, triglycerides go up, and LDL turn into a less favorable particle size is not typical. That's just the way it is. It isn't magic. Just what modern science has shown.
Ok, so Google U degree as suspected. Regardless of your qualifiers you clearly were trying to defend extreme low carb diets as healthy even if someone's blood work does not reflect that. Adding "IMO" does not make it ok to tell OP to disregard medical advice as you did in your last sentence. Bye.
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Those books are all cherry picked one-sided hack jobs by cholesterol denialists. None of them remotely resemble reality. Teicholz book is probably the worst of the bunch. She has no formal education in science, research or medicine but somehow is a self proclaimed expert. She completely misrepresents the actual science.The Great Cholesterol Myth, Cholesterol Con or even Cholesterol Clarity are good books on the matter. So is Teicholz's Big Fat Surprise.
You are a perfect example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, if you don't know what it is, look it up. The problem is that you get your misinformation from cherry-picked books, keto propaganda websites and youtube videos that confirm your fixed ideology. Science is hard, books and videos are easy, that's why you choose books and videos.No, I am not a medical doctor but I am widely read on cholesterol and diets. I've read many books and journal articles
No, no it doesn't. Not even close. I'm not sure if you realize this but cholesterol denialist books and youtube videos are not reputable.and everything reputable says the same thing that I wrote.
No matter how many times you deny it, total cholesterol is a risk factor for cvd in both men and women.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27016614
Yes, it is. You said this:That's not what I said to do.
You have no knowledge of OP's clinical condition. To give advice like this is potentially dangerous. You have no idea what you are talking about.What went up? If it was total cholesterol, I would ignore it. Completely.
Disagree all you want, you are still wrong, very wrong. Please stop giving this advice. You have no formal education in science, research, or medicine. It is a very complex topic of which you have a very limited and grossly wrong understanding of. Just stop.And no, I disagree. Total cholesterol is pretty weak as an indicator of CVD and can be often ignored - especially in women.
I don't why I'm asking this, but here goes:HDL and triglycerides and LDL particle size are better indicators of health.
Do you have any proof to back up this assertion? like a peer-reviewed journal article?26 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I’m sorry, you’re right, that was my total cholesterol, not my HDL. Diet is very irritating to me because when I was younger I could eat anything. Everyone here has been amazing and I think that going the traditional way of eating is the better way of eating for me after all.
More fruits and veggies, less red meat, less fats, more legumes, everything in moderation ❤️20 -
My HDL went up from 225 to 258 and my LDL went from 156 to 188. My Dr said at 190, they put you on medication. That’s the last thinking I want is to be on medication. High cholesterol runs on both sides of my family.
How was your HDL this high? That seems astronomical for this particular type of lipoprotein.
I’m sorry, you’re right, that was my total cholesterol, not my HDL. Diet is very irritating to me because when I was younger I could eat anything. Everyone here has been amazing and I think that going the traditional way of eating is the better way of eating for me after all.
More fruits and veggies, less red meat, less fats, more legumes, everything in moderation ❤️
I wholeheartedly agree with this. If in doubt then you can always see a registered dietician for some sound advice. Good luck with reducing your cholesterol.1
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