First week of high cholesterol diet and I'm depressed... Seeking advice
Replies
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@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.3
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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/
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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.
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I'm 35/male, 5'8, 160 lbs. I dont smoke/drink.
I went to a cardiologist because i had some shortness of breath episodes on/off for like 2 weeks on left side of my chest, but it subsided. She told me My LDL is high at 123, HDL is low 34. I also have a "minimal" plaque in my carotid arteries.
I've been stressed this year and haven't took my eating habits seriously (mcdonalds, pizza, soda, etc). Not every day but enough. I couldn't go to the gym because they were closed most of the year
So this doc said she's gonna treat this with lifestyle change. ...
I'm generally all for lifestyle changes as a first attempt whenever possible.
I had a lot of stress this year too - the pandemic, lost my job in mid-June, found out my anemia was out of control in late June, had one blood transfusion at an ER and four scheduled iron infusions over the last few months.
Oh, and an Urgent Care visit in July because my primary WAY overprescribed an iron supplement which caused me agonizing stomach pain >.<
After that Urgent Care visit, I started having tightness in my chest. EKG and cardiac enzymes normal. But still, cardiac issues are nothing to mess around with. I was 99% convinced it was stress, and sure enough, after I decreased consumption of caffeine and news, upped yoga, and continued with therapy, the chest tightness went away (although I did continue to get pangs from time to time, almost always when listening to the news.)
Oh, I was also unable to exercise for a period of time due to the anemia, and regular exercise is crucial to my mental health.
I encourage you to get a second opinion, and discuss normal lifestyle changes with that person.
Unrelated to the above, my regular doctor did not make dietary recommendations to me - she referred me to a registered dietitian.5 -
HeidiCooksSupper 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 👏🏻3 -
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.4
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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.3
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HeidiCooksSupper 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.1 -
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 name2 -
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.
I think I would have a discussion with the local medical association as well as the management of clinic the doctor is associated with if not in a private practice.
Ethics issue.5 -
janejellyroll 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.0 -
janejellyroll 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 3 -
Wheat grass is good for helping destroy plaques and lower cholesterol and this diet seems questionable0
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Whole food plant based diet can help. Get a nutritionist; doctors have very little training in nutrition.1
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