cholesterol

[Skizicks]

My husband & I habe been on the diet since Oct. Both of us have lost about 30 lbs each. My husband just had his cholesterol taken for the first time since starting the diet. He was running just under 200 and now it is up to 272. We thought that this diet was to help lower cholesterol. He is now very concerned. LDL level is also way up to 217. Chol/hdl rish is 5.8. He is ready to abandon this diet. He gains weight easy and I don't want to see him put it back on. I am on Zocor and am having mine done next month. I am very concerned that mine will be up too. Are we doing something wrong?

[MyJourney]

First I want to congratulate you both on losing 30 lbs each. Thats a great accomplishment!

There is a lot of controversy over cholesterol these days.

Please check out http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

and

http://www.thincs.org/

I wouldnt be concerned about cholesterol levels themselves being a problem, but perhaps they are an indicator of something else?

The cholesterol increase could be due to a lot of things. Try reading those links first before you get too concerned.

also... Have you been eating a lot of hydrogenated oils or Veg oils (aside from olive oil)?

[Angeline]

Take a look at this link http://www.health911.com/bookreviews/bookr1.htm it's a review of Ravnskov book but it's so long as to be almost a summary. Very interesting !

[Skizicks]

Thank you both for your response. Will read the article. I appreciate your help.

[CindySue48]

Skizicks: "I am on Zocor"

Curious how long you've been on the Zocor and how you're tolerating it. I tried the Lipitor and it lowered by lipids.....way too low tho (IMHO). I had all kinds of side-effects. Not anyting that would cause the doc to take me off them....but nasty enough that I stopped it and refuse to go back on.

My cholesterol went up on LC....but it also went up on LF. I've been reading a lot on cholesterol and statins and LC and LF.....man I've read a lot lately!

I've decided to follow LC, eat as few processed foods as possible and let nature take it's course!

[Monika4]

There are a bunch of ex-Atkiners in the South Beach forum who switched because their Cholesterol and other blood values went up. South Beach isn't as different from Atkins than the author makes it sound (read the forum organizer's comments at the beginning!), but it seems to have helped some who switched. There are studies showing that inspite of what conventional Doctor's say, Atkins often improves cholesterol, especially the "good" cholesterol, but everybody is different. I would try switching plans before giving up, especially since low carb does work for him.