Is anyone trying to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol with diet?
Replies
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My husband and I do a juice fast (see: Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead on Netflix/YouTube) every few months or so for a week since September 2011... Since starting this periodic week long juice fast and of course, watching what we eat... My cholesterol has significantly improved:
Total cholesterol: 165 (01/2011) down to 135 (01/2012)
LDL: 97 (09/2010) down to 87 (01/2011) down to 57 (01/2012)
HDL: 40 (01/2011) up to 51 (01/2012)
My LDL was almost the same as my HDL!!!!!!!
Just had my labs done, and... Needless to say, I was so impressed!!! Also, my liver enzyme was slightly elevated in 2011 also (most likely due to fatty liver) and is now back down to normal!
Good luck!!
Oh.. Forgot to mention... We do the juice fast JUST because we feel so much better afterwards!0 -
I went from 239 to 191 with only diet and exercise. I lost 17 lbs in 3 months. I tried to limit saturated fat and anything hydrogenated. I upped the good fats using olive oil or canola only, eating more nuts, eating more fiber, and watching the sugar. My triglycerides were the biggest factor for me.0
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I'm also trying to lower my cholesterol with diet and exercise. My cholesterol was borderline high and my doctor put me on a statin. Unfortunately, I had the side effect of muscle fatigue and pain. I went off the statin and feel much better! My triglycerides are good and my total cholesterol was 204. Personally, I think doctors push the statins too quickly. There are lots of benefits to eating a healthy diet and lower cholesterol is just one of them!
Glad you got off the drugs. I am avoiding it unless there is some solid proof that it will keep me from heart disease or stroke. I am now awaiting the result of the carotid artery ultrasound to see if my arteries are pushing enough blood through (my non-scientific explanation).0 -
I went from 239 to 191 with only diet and exercise. I lost 17 lbs in 3 months. I tried to limit saturated fat and anything hydrogenated. I upped the good fats using olive oil or canola only, eating more nuts, eating more fiber, and watching the sugar. My triglycerides were the biggest factor for me.
That is great! I am still struggling to keep sat fat down. I didn't realize how much I was eating. I guess awareness is the first step. I need to build a list of good things to eat. I am getting there!0 -
Watch your carbs! Carbs are what make triglycerides high. That's the new research out. It's not about fat.
too much to count and track! Ahh!
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Dietary cholesterol from foods have almost no impact on your cholesterol levels. But saturated fats do. High cholesterol has more to do with:
Being overweight
Being sedentary
Smoking
Genetics.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
well it must be genetic for me because I have never smoked, I have always been athletic and I am not overweight (not much any way... ). I still don't think it is a reason to take meds yet. I will see what the next test results say. Thanks!0 -
mine greatly improved after i cut out almost all bread and other carb type products.0
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I have a lot of health problems and yes my LDL is very high and my doctor said that I had to watch my diet but I am also on cholesterol meds too. It can be done. I am also pre diabetic so I also have to watch fat intake for that too.
Bev0 -
One of the main reasons I'm on this getting healthy thing is to get the heck off these statins. I'm on the lowest dose of this drug that rhymes with schripitor. I was able to lower it enough to get off it last year, but then I fell off the diet and exercise wagon and she put me back on it (both my parents have been on statins since they were my age).
So, I go back in 2 months and I'm going to say it's lower because of diet and exercise, she's going to say it's the statin, and we're going to be at a standstill. I'm considering cutting the pill in half (because I have some muscle pain and fatigue, but I don't know if it's the drug or my working out hard). I guess I will make that decision in two months, but I don't want to be on these ANYMORE!
I track my saturated fat and cholesterol on MFP and exercise daily. I just hope it's enough!0 -
I succeeded. Results from most recent blood test:
LDL - 58
HDL - 71
Triglycerides - 35
Total Chol - 157
Some things I've incorporated into my diet that researchers have said may correct cholesterol levels:
Raw unsalted nuts - mostly walnuts but almonds and pecans too
Milled/ground flax seed. Don't use the whole seed - it needs to be ground.
Avocado
Salmon and Tuna (stay away from high sodium prepackaged stuff though)
Chicken or turkey breast - stay away from the fatty thigh meat
Oatmeal
Veggies
Berries
I don't eat much red meat eat or eggs, and can't have cowmilk or wheat due to problems with my digestive system. (Just figured this out within the past few months.)
Raising HDL is supposed to help lower LDL, too. Exercise is known to raise HDL.
I got a lot of tips on how to control cholesterol from my doctor and from www.realage.com. <-- if you sign up for their email tips they'll send you links to short articles daily with info on topics you select (like cholesterol, weight loss, exercise, etc)0 -
My LDL dropped 51 pts in 8 months.It is now only two points above the recommended leve. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and lean chicken breast. I cut out junk food (like chips, Little Debbies, cookies, dips, etc). I splurge on ice cream sometimes. I don't take any supplements (except iron) and I don't eat flax seed or chia seeds or anything like that. I didn't try to stick to any diet (like Mediterrean or South Beach), just tried to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meat.
Good luck. You can do it.0 -
I was told to start taking cholesterol meds and refused until trying to lower LDL with diet.
Has anyone done this successfully?
I saw a dietician and she said I need to limit saturated fat to 11g per day and calories to 1500 so I lose a few pounds.
Thoughts?
I get blood work done today and hope to be below target now. Weight loss, good food and daily exercise brought mine down significantly. Maybe you want to check my profile. It's worth it, believe me. I do NOT have to take statins and my doctor is happy for me :bigsmile: s0 -
I succeeded. Results from most recent blood test:
LDL - 58
HDL - 71
Triglycerides - 35
Total Chol - 157
Some things I've incorporated into my diet that researchers have said may correct cholesterol levels:
Raw unsalted nuts - mostly walnuts but almonds and pecans too
Milled/ground flax seed. Don't use the whole seed - it needs to be ground.
Avocado
Salmon and Tuna (stay away from high sodium prepackaged stuff though)
Chicken or turkey breast - stay away from the fatty thigh meat
Oatmeal
Veggies
Berries
I don't eat much red meat eat or eggs, and can't have cowmilk or wheat due to problems with my digestive system. (Just figured this out within the past few months.)
Raising HDL is supposed to help lower LDL, too. Exercise is known to raise HDL.
I got a lot of tips on how to control cholesterol from my doctor and from www.realage.com. <-- if you sign up for their email tips they'll send you links to short articles daily with info on topics you select (like cholesterol, weight loss, exercise, etc)
That is fantastic! Congrats! I need to schedule my follow up blood test, however the results of my calcium test and carotid artery tests showed I have zero calcium deposits on my arteries and zero blockage or narrowing, so I am not planning to take any meds.0 -
My niece, who inherited high cholesterol, said she has had good results with niacin capsules. My husband is taking them now. Luckily for me, my cholesterol is in a healthy range.0
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My husband was taking cholesterol and high blood medication, until I started the south beach diet. He had to eat what I made ( kind of like collateral damage). Similarly, I had surgery that year, and he was forced to get off the couch and walk with me so I don't fall with my crutche. Part of my therapy included walking to strengthen my leg muscles.
To make a long story short, he reaped the benefits and have been off his cholesterol and high blood medicine since 2008. He is still going to the gym 3-4 times a week and maintained his good eating habits. Good luck!0 -
For me meds would not be an option.
Based on all the research i've done, Statins (Lipitor being one) have not been proven to increase life expectancy execpt in men under 70 and with pre-existing heart.
They didn't even do a study on women so why are women taking this drug when there is no proof it makes them live longer. they sell a false sense of security that they've lowered your cholesterol. But lowering your cholesterol, unless you fit into that group of men with preveious herat conditions, it won't make you live any longer and isn't that the point0 -
Flaxseed and walnuts are really good for you and will make your oatmeal taste great and also fill you up!0
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Dietary cholesterol from foods have almost no impact on your cholesterol levels. But saturated fats do. High cholesterol has more to do with:
Being overweight
Being sedentary
Smoking
Genetics.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
OP, read this and take heed.
I have taken statin drugs, Omacor (prescription fish oil) and cholesterol-lowering medications. Not to be too anecdotal here, but in MY case, weight loss, smoking cessation, and regular exercise has done more for me in the last six months than all those medication has for the last 10 years.
That said, I am still on a statin until we can determine the significance of the genetic factor.0 -
I did lower my LDL cholesterol 60 points by diet. I did this by going mainly vegetarian and eating fish. Since then I have stopped smoking and drinking and added a organic boneless skinless chicken to my diet and every once and a while, a steak.
Statin drugs are poison.0 -
Glad to see so many people succeeding on lowering that cholesterol with diet. New doc will likely want me on statins as my life has changed significantly in the last 2 years; +20 lbs, high stress, low exercise.....
I'll be visiting here again.0 -
For me meds would not be an option.
Based on all the research i've done, Statins (Lipitor being one) have not been proven to increase life expectancy execpt in men under 70 and with pre-existing heart.
They didn't even do a study on women so why are women taking this drug when there is no proof it makes them live longer. they sell a false sense of security that they've lowered your cholesterol. But lowering your cholesterol, unless you fit into that group of men with preveious herat conditions, it won't make you live any longer and isn't that the point
I totally agree with you. Unless you have high LDL and low HDL and bad triglycerides and high blood pressure, etc - most things can be managed better by improving diet and regular exercise0 -
Losing weight alone helps to improve your LDL some, but the biggest thing you want to try to limit is saturated fats. That said, genetics have a lot to do with your cholesterol levels more than food from what I've come to understand.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
My cousin with similar problems told me that he found on http://cholesterol-lower.info/ the help for his problems.I heard the tips from here are very goo to combat cholesterol problems.
I hope this helps.0 -
Watch your carbs! Carbs are what make triglycerides high. That's the new research out. It's not about fat.
This. High glycaemic carbohydrates are about the worst thing you can put in your body next to trans fats.
http://www.njmonline.nl/getpdf.php?t=a&id=100007560 -
My partner lowered his cholesterol from very high to normal levels. He exercised 3-4x a week (up from zero times) and lost 40 pounds, we cut out all fast food, we eliminated bacon and limit eggs to 2-3 a week. He is a huge dairy lover, but he switched to soy milk, veggie cheeses, and eats the occasional yogurt. He added fish oil, almonds, oatmeal for breakfast, high fiber products (bread, pasta, cereal, etc.), but used minimal carbs, regular fish, and olive oil. We no longer use butter, margarine, processed crackers, chips or sweets and we limit red meat. It took about 8-9 months, but he did it through lifestyle instead of pills.
Note-neither one of us smokes or drinks, but cutting those out will help too.0 -
Good news update! I just had my bloodwork done again and got my LDL down to 100 from 145 with no drugs, so I am no longer considered to have high cholesterol! Yippee!! So, I have answered my original question - YES it can be done with just diet and exercise.
Thanks for all the comments, tips and info! I am excited.0 -
I intermittent fast for this type of reason.
Bad cholesterol runs in my family.
Well...not with me.0 -
Good news update! I just had my bloodwork done again and got my LDL down to 100 from 145 with no drugs, so I am no longer considered to have high cholesterol! Yippee!! So, I have answered my original question - YES it can be done with just diet and exercise.
Thanks for all the comments, tips and info! I am excited.
:flowerforyou:0 -
Good news update! I just had my bloodwork done again and got my LDL down to 100 from 145 with no drugs, so I am no longer considered to have high cholesterol! Yippee!! So, I have answered my original question - YES it can be done with just diet and exercise.
Thanks for all the comments, tips and info! I am excited.
Congrats!0 -
Did your doctor do a small particle LDL test? These are the dangerous part of LDL. The other portion of LDL is relatively harmless. Also, many tests are not really testing for the LDL cholesterol, but are a formula to determine LDL from your HDL and cholesterol numbers (maybe triglycerides too?).
It just helps to get the most accurate info about health that you can 0
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