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  #16   ^
Old Tue, May-16-06, 13:36
RobinB's Avatar
RobinB RobinB is offline
~writes for Him~
Posts: 6,419
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 120/120/120 Female 5'2"
BF:
Progress: 17%
Location: MD
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All good advice!

Plus, you can take Niacin, one of the B vitamins, every day as extra protection. Be sure to get the kind marked "Flush free" because it makes some people's faces feel flushed.
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  #17   ^
Old Tue, May-16-06, 13:59
edie's Avatar
edie edie is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 4,626
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 173/127.2/123 Female 5'1&1/2"
BF:
Progress: 92%
Location: Ma.
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I had a 389 cholesterol a few years back, and the Dr. wanted me on statins. I asked her to give me a few months to see what I could do and on the second test they went down over 100 points. The only change I made was no dairy!
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  #18   ^
Old Tue, May-16-06, 20:38
allibaba's Avatar
allibaba allibaba is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 2,198
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 279/247/180 Female 5' 4"
BF:Way/too/much
Progress: 32%
Location: Upstate New York
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I would continue eating LC the way you ENJOY it for the next 3 months and then get retested. NO CHEATS of course . If they're still high, then worry about it.
Alli
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  #19   ^
Old Wed, May-17-06, 05:37
Enomarb Enomarb is offline
MAINTAINING ON CALP
Posts: 4,838
 
Plan: CALP/CAHHP
Stats: 180/125/150 Female 65 in
BF:
Progress: 183%
Location: usa
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Going LC just 3 days before the test may have contributed to your high numbers too.
Do you exercise? One of the best ways to raise HDL (the good stuff) is both cardio and strength training- really.
Dr. Atkins says it can be at least 6 months until blood lipids normalize- for me it was a year and I'm all normal now.The advice people are giving you about being on plan- really good advice.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing-
E
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  #20   ^
Old Thu, May-18-06, 08:14
egnue's Avatar
egnue egnue is offline
WONJ #7Snoopy Lover
Posts: 4,119
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 177/135/128 Female 5"4
BF:less than before
Progress: 86%
Default still need input

Thanks for eberyones support and suggetions....


I would also so appreciate a list of the meats you that are watching your cholesterol eat.

Do you eat red meat, pork??? Or just turkey and chicken??

Any food recommendations would be so wonderful!!!

Thanks,
Gen

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  #21   ^
Old Thu, May-25-06, 13:47
egnue's Avatar
egnue egnue is offline
WONJ #7Snoopy Lover
Posts: 4,119
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 177/135/128 Female 5"4
BF:less than before
Progress: 86%
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I really need input on what you all eat out there. Please help me with the types of meat you eat!!!
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  #22   ^
Old Thu, May-25-06, 14:29
treefrog's Avatar
treefrog treefrog is offline
Finding Balance
Posts: 6,093
 
Plan: Atkins/PP Maint, IF24/24
Stats: 162/123/120 Female 63.5 inches
BF:~50%/23.9%/20%
Progress: 93%
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
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My cholesterol also went up after I started LC. My doctor wanted to put me on statins, but I talked her into waiting to see if they would come down. My total was still high (close to 300), but my HDL was high, and the ratio's were good. Triglycerides were under 100. *I don't have the actual numbers in front of me.

I am going to have my cholesterol checked again in the next few weeks.

I haven't eliminated anything from my diet. I still eat eggs, three every morning. I eat beef and pork, although I do eat more chicken, but only because of the cost.

I have been taking flush free niacin for a while now, and I'm hoping that will improve my numbers even more. I also take fish oil every day.

I also read Protein Power, and the arachidonic acid thing is of interest to me. AA is in egg yolks and red meats. Protein Power Life Plan suggests that you can break down the AA in meats by soaking/marinating steaks in a mixture of wine vinegar and olive oil. The vinegar draws out the AA, replacing it with olive oil. I haven't tried it, but they said it also tastes great.

I'll try to get back here with my numbers, and especially when I get new numbers.
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  #23   ^
Old Thu, May-25-06, 14:51
treefrog's Avatar
treefrog treefrog is offline
Finding Balance
Posts: 6,093
 
Plan: Atkins/PP Maint, IF24/24
Stats: 162/123/120 Female 63.5 inches
BF:~50%/23.9%/20%
Progress: 93%
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
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Here is an old post with my cholesterol numbers here for reference.
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  #24   ^
Old Thu, Jun-01-06, 08:51
egnue's Avatar
egnue egnue is offline
WONJ #7Snoopy Lover
Posts: 4,119
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 177/135/128 Female 5"4
BF:less than before
Progress: 86%
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Thanks so much, I would love to know your new numbers when you get them Cathy!!
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  #25   ^
Old Sat, Jun-03-06, 20:16
Citruskiss Citruskiss is offline
I've decided
Posts: 16,864
 
Plan: LC
Stats: 235/137.6/130 Female 5' 5"
BF:haven't a clue
Progress: 93%
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Egnue,

Sorry to hear that you're having to worry about this. While I don't have the exact numbers (I'll be sure to ask my husband to get the exact breakdown of numbers next time he sees the doc), my husband had "high cholesterol" (over 350 total, I recall) back when we were first dating. I didn't know much about low-carb back then, but we did a lot of things to try and bring this number down. At the time, he was put on Lipitor too.

Fast forward to the fall of 2005, his cholesterol was down to 209 total, and I recall very clearly the HDL being around 80-something (quite good).

Despite this, my husband's doc wanted him on Vytorin. I guess it's the latest and greatest cholesterol lowering medication (it's got two things in it...the statin and something else, but I can't recall right this minute). The doc was of the whole mindset that it had to be "below 200" - which was pretty new to my husband, because back when he was diagnosed with "high cholesterol", he was told it had to be 240 total or lower.

Funny how things change.

Anyway, he went on the Vytorin, and ultimately had a bad experience.

That's neither here nor there, because I'm sure just a small percentage of people end up with some side effects. At least, that's what I hope!

Anyway...the things we did to help (and there's NO WAY Lipitor reduced his cholesterol that much, it apparently will reduce a person's cholesterol by 20-25% at the most) are the following:

1. olive oil
2. blueberries - every single day!
3. flax seeds - ditto
4. fish oil capsules - ditto
5. niacin - and we had to get the flushing kind, since we got the idea somewhere that the non flushing kind isn't as effective at increasing good cholesterol. This is a pain to take, because the flushing side effect is annoying and uncomfortable. Husband started out with just a hundred milligrams and worked his way up to 1 full gram daily. This was done over weeks, working through the flushing thing bit by bit. By the way, if and when a person does get the flushing (it doesn't happen every single time), it lasts for about 20 minutes.
6. an 81mg "baby" aspirin per day (don't think this actually affects cholesterol, but acts as a mild blood thinner)
7. started eating a lot more fish
8. almonds, walnuts, avocadoes too
9. stopped drinking beer and switched to red wine
10. Eventually went on low carb with me and off the Vytorin. We figured 209 was "good enough".

He doesn't worry about red meat or eggs. What we really, really worry about are things like trans fats and trying to get a decent balance of omega 3 fats vs. omega 6's. It's not that we try to necessarily eliminate sat fats, but that ADDING in lots of the other fats is a good idea (nuts, avocadoes, olive oil, fish etc).

His cholesterol is down to 184 now. That's after going off the Vytorin and going low-carb. This being said...still continuing with niacin, and all the other stuff I mentioned.

The blueberries are a very good deal - low carb and great for cholesterol. Filled with anti-oxidants and since you're at goal weight anyway, you can eat those berries without too much worrying over the tiny amount of carbs in them.

Don't stress - you'll get a handle on this. It's not always about lowering the overal total (though that's a good idea at 300), but rather about increasing HDL and lowering triglycerides.

Hang in there...get some berries, fish, nuts and niacin. Ask the doc about the niacin, whether you need the regular or "non flushing" kind and how much to take etc.

Do you like salmon? I hope so

Talk to you soon, take care.
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  #26   ^
Old Sat, Jun-03-06, 20:38
Citruskiss Citruskiss is offline
I've decided
Posts: 16,864
 
Plan: LC
Stats: 235/137.6/130 Female 5' 5"
BF:haven't a clue
Progress: 93%
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Quote:
Originally Posted by treefrog
I also read Protein Power, and the arachidonic acid thing is of interest to me. AA is in egg yolks and red meats. Protein Power Life Plan suggests that you can break down the AA in meats by soaking/marinating steaks in a mixture of wine vinegar and olive oil. The vinegar draws out the AA, replacing it with olive oil. I haven't tried it, but they said it also tastes great.

I'll try to get back here with my numbers, and especially when I get new numbers.


Treefrog,

That's interesting about the vinegar & oil thing, I didn't realize that the vinegar could draw out the AA - and this is particularly interesting to me because my husband has osteoarthritis, and I've heard that sometimes AA can exacerbate flare ups.

Ironically - we've been marinating our chicken and most meats in a wide variety of oil & vinegar based dressings. Stuff like Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar or Light Italian (same brand). Tonight, we just had chicken tenders that were marinated in T. Marzetti's Greek Feta dressing (also oil and vinegar based), and then skewered and grilled on the BBQ - tasted great!
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  #27   ^
Old Sun, Jun-04-06, 09:24
treefrog's Avatar
treefrog treefrog is offline
Finding Balance
Posts: 6,093
 
Plan: Atkins/PP Maint, IF24/24
Stats: 162/123/120 Female 63.5 inches
BF:~50%/23.9%/20%
Progress: 93%
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
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CitrusKiss:
Whew, I was trying to find where I had read about marinating steaks to reduce AA, thinking it was in Protein Power Lifeplan, but it was in Protein Power.

First off, they recommend that you trim all the visible fat from steaks. And that grilling steaks can reduce the AA in beef by about 35%.

The method for marinating a steak to reduce AA also starts with trimming visible fat. Place the steak in a large resealable plastic bag along with a mixture of 1 cup of red wine and 1 cup of olive oil or light sesame oil (or any other oil, as long as it doesn't contain alpha-linoleic acid). Allow the meat to marinate in the refrigerator for a full 24 hours, flipping the bag and contents several times. Take the steak out, drain it for an hour or so, discard the marinade. Rub the beef with some pepper or other spices, then grill it.

The wine acts as a solvent to leach out a fair amount of saturated fat in the steak (also taking the AA in the fat with it), which is replaced in part with the olive oil.

You can use this technique with roasts as well. Although the reduction in AA isn't as good as with the steak, because of roasting versus grilling.

** Sorry about my mistake, it is red wine, not wine vinegar.

And egnue:
I should be having my blood work done on Tuesday, and the doctor thought the results would be back by the end of the week.

I think my advice for you would echo what other's here have said and that is to stick to eating LC for a good period of time (a few months) before getting re-tested.
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  #28   ^
Old Tue, Jun-06-06, 15:04
treefrog's Avatar
treefrog treefrog is offline
Finding Balance
Posts: 6,093
 
Plan: Atkins/PP Maint, IF24/24
Stats: 162/123/120 Female 63.5 inches
BF:~50%/23.9%/20%
Progress: 93%
Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
Default

Remarkably enough I got my results back today, the day I had my blood drawn. They probably thought they needed to rush the results to the doctor.

My total, LDL and HDL have all gone up, and my triglycerides have come down. Here are the numbers with all my old results as well.

.........3/04....7/04....11/04...3/05...6/06
Total...215.....273.....294.....276.....352
LDL.....125.....173.....192.....163.....240
HDL......71......69.......73.......92.....100
Tri.......94......153.....146.....105......62

My total/HDL is still below 4 (3.52)
and LDL/HDL is less than 3 (2.4)
But the numbers seem scary.

The first set of numbers from 3/04 were before I started LC, and are very indicative of what my cholesterol numbers had been for years.

I have been taking Cod Liver Oil, Vitamin E, and Flush-free Niacin. My doctor suggested that the niacin probably helped to reduce my triglycerides, and to keep taking them. I buy Flush-free Niacin at Target (500mg), take 1 twice a day (for a total of 1000mg/day).

She told me that I should stop taking the fish oil and Vitamin E and have my cholesterol checked again in 3 months. The other suggestion was to start me out on a baby-dose of Lipitor (10mg) and recheck my lipids and liver function. I told her that I would stop taking the fish oil and Vitamin E, and recheck in three months. I do not want to take statins.

I think that I will also see about getting the particle size of my LDL checked. I gave the doctor some information about this technology, and all she said was that they don't do the test. I guess I will have to have it done on my own, or see if I can get the company to help me have my insurance pay for it. Luckily there is a company that does the test close to me.

I was also thinking I might stop eating any dairy (except a small amount of cream for my coffee). Anyone else have an opinion on this?

I have done some research, but I think I need to do some more. I want to believe that my LDL is not a concern. And I want to have enough data to support my view, so that I can rationally explain my position to my doctor, and my family (mother is a nurse and has said I should take the drugs that doctors want to give me).

Any opinions would be appreciated.
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  #29   ^
Old Tue, Jun-06-06, 15:24
arc's Avatar
arc arc is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 1,186
 
Plan: Meat Only
Stats: 200/169.6/175 Male 5'11''
BF:
Progress: 122%
Location: Eastern WA
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Personally, Cathy, I think your numbers are great. To have your HDL higher than your trigs is really good.

Dodger recently posted articles on the Media subforum about two studies that basically proved that LDL has nothing to do with cardiovascular disease. Have you read the cholesterol articles on Anthony Colpo's site and Dr. Mike Eades blog ?

IMO, following your doctor's advice would damage your health, not improve it. In The Cholesterol Myth, Dr. Ravnskov points to some studies that show cholesterol is protective as we get older, especially in women.

However, it's ultimately up to you and what you feel the most comfortable with as stress is probably the worst thing we can do to ourselves.
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  #30   ^
Old Tue, Jun-06-06, 15:53
Whoa182's Avatar
Whoa182 Whoa182 is offline
Registered Member
Posts: 1,770
 
Plan: CRON / Zone
Stats: 118/110/110 Male 5ft 7"
BF:very low
Progress: 100%
Location: Cardiff
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wow, i'd be crapping myself with a cholesterol number that high! and regardless of particle size! IMO you should just limit Saturated fat and stick with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Quote:
The Cholesterol Myth, Dr. Ravnskov points to some studies that show cholesterol is protective as we get older, especially in women.


and there are studies showing the total opposite.

I guess you could put all your faith in a cholesterol myth website/book and see what happens... your life

Last edited by Whoa182 : Tue, Jun-06-06 at 16:13.
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