Ok, so I just posted a response to someone else's cholesterol question here, because I thought I was finally getting a handle on the science behind the cholesterol myth.

I just had my lipid panels done on 8/26/12
Total Cholesterol = 165 = Good/Desirable?
HDL(Good) = 37 High Risk for HD?
LDL(Bad) = 91 = Very Good/Optimal?
Triglycerides = 184 Borderline High
Ratio = 4.5
Average Glucose = 249
Hemoglobin A1C = 10.3 VERY HIGH!

After 30 days on LC
(1) I've managed to bring my average BG# down. I've been testing like crazy, and my 30-day average BG is down to about 94 (n=191)

(2) However, I went to a free health fair today at work and my total cholesterol has actually dropped to 153 and my HDL dropped to 23. (They didn't do any other lipid tests). I actually expected for my total cholesterol to raise, because I expected my large-fluffy LDL to go up, but total went down instead?? Also, I would have thought that my HDL would have been stable or raised, but now lowered.

any thoughts? I'm still trying to absorb all of this info, maybe I need to go back to another pod cast and understand these cholesterol #s, BUT why would the 'good' stuff go down?

Julie

Exercise, eating saturated fat, staying low carb should all raise HDL. But don't get frustrated too soon. HDL takes a LOOOONG time to budge. Mine has gone from 40's to mid-80's but it took years. It could be a difference in testing labs or one of the labs is inaccurate.

Your diabetes may have something to do with it too. Get that under control and triglycerides and HDL will improve, but don't expect it to happen overnight.

Hi Nancy I remember you, when I was here last time!! how's it going?....

thanks for the info, I thought about that later...I haven't even LC'd this time around for quite a month yet, so I'm sure they'll get better with time... even after everything I've read, I still have to occasionally 'de-program' myself from the fat-phobia ....wow, it really is like coming out of a cult or brain-washing or something, it is sooooooooo deeply ingrained..(pun intended)

LOL! Good pun!

Nancy, you raised your HDL 40 points via LC? That's awesome. Much better than any pill modern medicine can offer right now, and proves to me that this diet is the healthiest way to eat.