Hi guys,

I just wanted to check with you and see if you have any tips regarding how I could target my cholesterol more effectively, especially my LDL. I did LC last year for about two months in a strict form (from Sep to November, Thanksgiving), and after that I did it on and off... so these are my lipid profile results, which seem to be pretty good on some areas but not so much around my cholesterol. Any ideas, tips? I should clarify that I didn't write a journal, I pretty much avoided any type of carbs and ate protein, fat, vegetables, without much balance... as long there were no carbs...

My numbers BEFORE Low carbing (9/16/2014):
- Weight: 202 lbs
- Cholesterol: 277 mg/dL
- Triglycerides: 161 mg/dL
- HDL: 47 mg/dL
- LDL: 198 mg/dL
- Non-HDL: 230 mg/dL
- LDL/HDL ratio: 4.2
- HDL/CHOL ratio: 5.9

My numbers AFTER Low carbing (4/13/2015):
- Weight: 176 lbs
- Cholesterol: 273 mg/dL
- Triglycerides: 86 mg/dL
- HDL: 54 mg/dL
- LDL: 202 mg/dL
- Non-HDL: 219 mg/dL
- LDL/HDL ratio: 3.7
- HDL/CHOL ratio: 5.1

As I mentioned in my original post, I low-carbed most strictly the first two months... After Thanksgiving, I low-carbed on and off until this day. When I say on and off I mean something along the lines of low-carbing during the week and eating normal carbs one day of the weekend... at times I've gone two full weeks low-carbing and then on the weekend I would eat any normal food not limiting carbs at all, etc. My weight has hovered around 175 for the most part of 2015.
In retrospective, I acknowledge that sometimes my "fat/protein" intake was something along the lines of KFC, or fried chicken from the Deli in my local grocery store, etc., although not very frequently, maybe once every two weeks or so... Any basic tips that would help me target LDL and overall cholesterol while LC'ing? I plan to stick to it in a more strictly fashion and tell my doctor that I don't want statins (she's pretty insistent that I should take them)... or do you guys think I should take them?

ADDITIONAL NOTE: As I mentioned in my introduction post (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=467088), recently I've been eating a lot of eggs (they are delicious!), 6-8 daily... how bad do you think this is to my cholesterol levels? I still read a lot of debate around whether eggs (or cholesterol from food) negatively affect your lipid profile or not.

My physician said not to worry about eggs (my total cholesterol runs over 300 unmedicated), that food doesn't make more than about a 5% difference. I'm thinking he had more like 2 a day in mind, though.

All your tests improved except for ldl; that might be just a blip that could just as easily have gone down 4 points. Honestly I'd be thrilled to have your numbers!

There is great opposition to statins here on the boards. I have read many articles and videos saying why they are so bad; I've seen statistics showing benefit. I have chosen to stick with them. No one can make that decision for you. You have to do your research and consider the source of everything your read or hear.

In my case my family runs 300+ on both sides; those who have been on statins since they came out are alive, no side effects, and in their late 80's, or passed away in their late 80's or above. My father never took them and died of a heart attack at 56; so did 3 of my 4 grandparents (in their 60's though). So it seems to me they work pretty well for us. (Plot twist: I didn't start them until age 59.)

Anyway, I don't really want to offer myself up as a guinea pig for the opinions of people who are not in my shoes, Kwim? You may decide you would never ever take them. We are all individuals.

TBH, if mine was not so high...more like yours...I'd really have to give it some thought before jumping on the statin bandwagon. I'm just anti-pharmaceutical in general nowadays.

Go to google, and google scholar, and research. Statins + mortality, Statins + CVD events, Statins + side effects. Do an advanced search here on the boards.

I wish I could give you, and I, a definitive answer!

Part of my answer is on your intro thread. I think your lipid panel has been quite successful on low carb. Trigs under 100 and HDL over 50 is good, both headed in the right direction, though could be better if you actually ate LC consistently All of Zoe Harcombe's explanation about cholesterol was quoted there, but this is the point about LDL that you should understand;



The number of long articles and threads about cholesterol and statins are rather overwhelming here on this sub-forum, but there is a new website that has shorter list of her favorite explanations why we should be focused on Inflammation (caused by a diet with too much sugar and refined carbs) and not worry about cholesterol and dietary fats (eat your eggs )

Read this short explanation and dip into some of the resources:
https://lowcarbrn.wordpress.com/hea...sterol-and-fat/

Thank you guys very much for sharing with me. I'm definitely diving into this journey of acquiring new and correct knowledge with everything I have.
Thank you!

I've been collecting a list of links for quite some time. See my signature.