High cholesterol

[chazbl]

Just got some test results saying I have high cholesterol.

Anyone have some ideas for what I can?

[Egghead68]

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935

[Seaweed42]

If it's a family trait then take a daily statin?

[OstrichRunning]

I got mine down from 6.8 to 5.4 in less than three months by following the portfolio diet (not religiously though, I kept eating some meat though cut out fatty meat).

www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/what-foods-are-included-in-the-portfolio-diet

www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/programs/diabetes/portfolio-eating-plan.pdf

I basically:
replaced soya milk for milk (in coffee and porridge, I stuck with regular low-fat milk in tea because tea tastes disgusting with soya milk) -there's some evidence soya products can help lower cholesterol,
I replaced butter and cheese with nut butters,
I had loads of almonds in my porridge and as snack later in day,
I upped my fruit & veg intake,
I upped my intake of tofu and pulses (beans, lentils etc) a lot.

Do all that and if it isn't the serious familial high cholesterol you've got, you'll almost certainly see a reduction.

Since then, I learned that coffee made in a French press (and also to a lesser extent in a stove top moka) contains oils that raise cholesterol.
(See www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-is-it-about-coffee, scroll down to near the end). Coffee made using a paper filter eliminates the oils so I've switched to an Aeropress, which basically makes paper filter coffee that tastes lovely. I haven't checked my cholesterol again since making this change.

Good luck!

[Whowantstogotothepark]

I dropped my cholesterol as well. Just by using all the healthy living guidelines that we are always given: eat more fruit and veg, exercise more, eat less sugar and drink less. Although going mostly vegetarian and switching to vegan alternatives, like soya milk, and eating more oats has probably helped alot (I snack on home-made museli, which is porridge oats with lsa mix, raisins and soya milk). I can't give up cheese though!

[Whowantstogotothepark]

Actually I should have explained myself better. I was at 6.8 and made the "healthy" changes - increased exercise, modified diet. My cholesterol went down to about 6.4. Then I went mostly vegetarian with vegan alternatives (apart from eggs and cheese and fish!). Then I went down to 6.0.

[goose1964]

I have high cholesterol and I'm on a low fat diet (for other reasons) and my cholesterol has fallen slightly, even on stations In on the high side of normal. Low carbong, which someone will suggest) sent me sky high. My gp was shocked at how fast it had risen.

[Egghead68]

Mine’s 4.0 on a low saturated fat vegetarian diet (with 20mg simvastatin) and 5.2 on a normal vegetarian diet (with statin). I think reducing animal fats (cream cakes, desserts and pastries in my case) can make a measurable difference.

[OstrichRunning]

I forgot to mention plant sterols. They really seem to make a difference too. You don't need to do the Bencol drinks etc, Boots do a capsule supplement that worked for me.