My cholesterol is REALLY high - can i fix this?

That is well above the level at which lifestyle changes can help, and your diet seems fine. If the number is correct you need a statin at the very least.

All viscous fibre is a type of soluble fibre. But that is the type you should be targeting yes.

I was first tested in my 20s, after my father had a heart attack at 52 (I'm slightly older than that now.) At the time, I was in a house share with a hospital dietician, so I couldn't lie about my diet, whuch was quite good, and I didn't have a car, so cycled everywhere. The numbers have been such that once when I got 12, I said, "oh that's quite good..." as the previous reading had been 17.

I have never drunk tea or coffee, and I haven't drunk alcohol since my late 20s. I have been in some research programme testing for familial hypercholesterol, and apparently mine isn't genetic, but it is high anyway, however much fibre and low fat and exercise I consume. I stopped caring for many years, because it didn't seem to make a difference, whatever I tried, so there wasn't any point stressing over it, and I like to eat lots of veg and stuff anyway (not fish though, as I've never liked it.)

I started taking statins about a decade ago, and readings have been pretty much normal since.

Take the statins.

Viscous fibre as well.

You might be genetically unlucky and are predisposed to high cholesterol. I would suggest dropping all milk and dairy and the fish and trying that for a month or so to see if it makes a change.

Drop all alcohol.

Your diet does seem very healthy so maybe it’s a combination of genetic plus your health history that is causing it so you have to go a bit further on the healthy diet unfortunately.

Are you also doing any cardio exercise like cycling or jogging?

Only soluble fibre, anything else does nothing at all.

I think your unlikely to bring your cholesterol down significantly with the dietary changes you have made and TBH your GP should have been more realistic about that. It increases with age too, so a statin may be necessary. The main thing is you get it down to a safer level.

Several years ago I brought my total cholesterol down from 7 to 5 but it took 6 months and I was very strict with myself. I'd highly recommend a Phytosterol supplement - far more concentrated (and cost effective) than Benecol drinks.
Best of luck OP!

My family history is entirely high cholesterol and heart disease. I didn’t realize it until it was too late. I have had a double bypass, have a pacemaker, etc., and people and doctors who see me say I do not present as a cardiac patient. I look healthy, slim, active. But inside, I’m a ticking time bomb. My cardiologist says it doesn’t even matter what I eat ( very low cholesterol for many years. No pork, no beef) because it is entirely genetic. Statins have brought the numbers down. Don’t hesitate. If the numbers are still high, take the statins. It may save your life.

@CholesterolHelp

To me "genetic" applies to people who have always had high cholesterol, at a young age, and independent of their diet.
Yours - as you said - was OK a few years ago. And rose recently - with age.

I had something similar. My LDL - (the bad cholesterol) has been quite low for years. HDL was high as I exercise a lot - but that one is actually protective, and is called "good cholesterol".

With age - my LDL slowly increased. It started after I had kids and put on a bit of weight. But then stayed at that level even after I lost baby weigh.
But it edged close to recommended (and a bit above) level in peri/menopause.

So - it's age appropriate genetics, I presume. I have nothing to cut out out of my diet as I have not had meat since I was 18, and consume barely any animal fat products. But this has been consistent for most of my life. So - age and hormones is the main driver of cholesterol changes for me.

So - do please discuss it all with your GP, and hopefully you can get to a better plan that waiting for over a month.

OP - personally, with a cholesterol level of 11 - I'd be getting onto statins ASAP. Why wait? Even if you manage to lower it with dieting - it's unlikely to get to below 4.

I'd be going back to the GP and stressing that you already are eating a healthy diet that does not have much potential for reducing your cholesterol.

Cholesterol often raises in menopause as oestrogen falls. Statins are well tolerated and have lots of benefits. Why do they want you to wait and put you at risk of clogging your arteries???

Take statins.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. I would assume it's either a genetic or underlying condition.

There was a podcast on this recently, I'm not sure if it would tell you anything new though. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nb0q62?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

You can get plant sterols as a supplement, cheaper and more effective than the drinks.

This! Fiber is so good for many reasons but also reducing cholesterol. Most people do not eat the recommended amount of fiber per day.

oestrogen and cholesterol

This is mad, the OP is hardly eating any meat. OP you need to go on statins.

I haven’t read all the posts. HRT is proving highly effective in maintaining women’s cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, bone density protection. You absolutely must start it as soon as possible unless there is a concrete reason you cannot (e.g. diagnosed with oestrogen fed breast cancer). Cholesterol jumps in menopausal women not taking HRT. Get current and and factual information, do not rely on any doctor who is not up to date on current findings re: women’s health and HRT.

also, Google “45 grams nuts and cholesterol” to find the studies showing that consuming 45 grams of nuts daily lowers cholesterol. Additionally, Benecol is an expensive way to get plant sterols in your system — look into tablets / capsules online, aiming for 2 grams (2000mg) daily. Wishing you the best. The above combination has been working for me.

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This OP. Every time my cholesterol has gone up it has been because I was either subclinical hypothyroid or actually hypothyroid. Once the hypothyroidism was treated, my cholesterol returned to normal.

If you find you have a low thyroid issue, it is worth also looking at levels such as vitamin D3, B12, ferritin and folate. If any of them are out, then even if you start treating your thyroid, you may find it does not lead to optimal levels. Ideally they all need to be balanced. Thyroid UK forum on Health Unlocked at good at helping explain this better than me and will help with thyroid results if you get the results from your GP.

I’ve only read the first page so apologies if you’ve answered this already do your soups have coconut milk base?

High cholesterol increases with age, it's much harder to control through diet as we get older and your diet seems pretty good on the fats front. I would take statins and get it lower. They work really fast. You can always have bloods down the line after you've done your diet goals and see where you are at. If worried about side-effects, even a low dose statin can do wonders.

OP I haven’t read the full thread but my husband has generic high cholestoral and yours looks like it could be the same. He has a condition called familial hypercholestorial or something like that which needs medication for treatment. You can be tested for the gene to check if you have passed it down to any children as they may need early medication to manage it.

The consultant told me if it’s genetic changing your lifestyle & diet won’t make a huge difference.

Try 3 tablespoons of milled flaxseed per day.. google it..