CHOLESTEROL - has anyone lowered it naturally?

[CuriousMama]

Dp's had to go on statins as his cholesterol is 7.3. I'm pretty worried about the side effects as is he.

He wants to try to lower it without the statins if possible? Has anyone managed this? He'll talk to his GP about it just thought I'd ask on here first.

He did used to exercise a lot more a few years ago. So more exercise is on the agenda.

TIA

[addisontucker]

As you said you love veggies, I would try some asian herb tea like, try corander or cinnamon tea (www.fabhow.com/reduce-bad-cholesterol-level.html) it easy to make and very helthy to control bad cholesterol.
This is just a piece of useful information, I know, hope this will help.

[CuriousMama]

He hasn't taken it for a few weeks I'll get him to do it tonight see if it's lowered?

[digerd]

oops
140

[digerd]

40 at 57 is fine but the diastolic of 89 is a bit high. The one above fluctuates massively when exercising, stressed, angry etc. to when you are calm and relaxed.

[CuriousMama]

Glad to hear yours has gone down BIWI.

Yes we have a monitor and it fluctuates at home.

He does exercise, was dancing a lot last night, walks and cycles (not as much of that though) and I'm going to dig out the Shred for us both to do.

He could do with losing 2 stones perhaps? That'll help a lot.

[BecauseImWoeufIt]

Do you have a blood pressure monitor, CuriousMama? It's really worth buying one - Boots sell a range - and they're not necessarily that expensive.

140/89 is at the high end, and indicates a possible problem, but it's not actually high in itself. There is also always the risk of 'white coat syndrome' where BP is artificially raised by the stress of having it taken. (This is recognised by the medical profession as a real issue, btw!)

I had the same problem about 6 months ago, and it just didn't make sense - I'd lost (by then) 1.5 stones, and had been exercising hard for 6 months. I'd also cut down on the amount of booze I was drinking - all things that are supposed to lower your BP.

I have a home monitor, and started to monitor myself. The readings at home were always lower than when I was at the GP and now, a further 6 months on, another half a stone down and taking more exercise, my last reading was about 122/75 - so very acceptable. (I'm 53 by the way, so no spring chicken!)

Does your DH do any exercise? That really helps with BP.

[CuriousMama]

His bp was over 140/89 ish but fluctuates. He's 57 so it is worrying. He's at the hospital soon for another test probably have bloods done then. Thanks for the information digerd.

[digerd]

A finger tip test is not as reliable as a blood test at drs, I was told.
I too worry that my cholesterol is too low to repair all my cells, but there is no way of testing that.

The best indication is if the blood pressure is fine, then the amount of Cholesterol - bad- is not clogging up the veins and arteries. Or an Angiogramm but that is too expensive and rather traumatising for many to undergo. So, GPs put those whose BP is even a little over the < reduced >ideal of 120/80 on Statins if Cholesterol over 6.

My niece with her 7, and low blood pressure, is very fit and never gets ill or even has a cold. Sits at work at a pc all day and has a perfect oxygen level in her blood.

[CuriousMama]

Thanks for this information. He'll go back on them if he can't lower it naturally. Plus he needs to be tested after not eating. Our local chemist tests so that's handy.

[digerd]

oops 'dose'

[digerd]

When my cholesterol was 6.3 ,I was put on Statins, although I am very slim and can't afford to lose any weight.
I was put on the highest does as the lower didn't work, and after 1 year, it was 3.5. As I had problems with weakening muscles < doc said it was ageing>, I came off the Statins for a year, and after 6 weeks, my legs felt better.
A year later it was 6.9, so DR insisted, due to other problems, that I go back on the 40mg per day at night.
I decided to eat lots of olives as well and in 3 months it was down to 4.3.

[digerd]

High Cholesterol does not cause problems for everybody. My niece was always 6, and then 7 while pregnant, but as she has low blood pressure, that shows it is not clogging her arteries and veins. And has never been prescribed Statins.

An obese man 30 kilos, had 11, and was given an Angiogramm fully expecting his arteries to have clogging. But they were surprisingly , for the medics, as clean as a whistle.

Cholesterol has many functions for the body, including repairing cells and insulating nerves.

[StaticSockMonster]

I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in 2006 following the death of my sister. We found out that she had very high cholesterol after she had died (she didn't know either and it wasn't because of that that she passed away). When I was tested it was 9 point something. (My mums was higher and my dad and brother were both 8 point something)
I was referred to a specialist who advised that it was genetic and statins were the only way to reduce it substantially.
I exercise regularly, eat a healthy balanced diet and rarely drink alcohol.
The specialist advised that my diet etc was good but I needed the statins as it wouldn't reduce enough on its own.

So it's coming up to seven years that iv been taking them and the specialist advised I'd be on them for life.
When I first started the only side effects it has was I sometimes get light headed.
I occasionally get recurring cramp in my legs but if it goes on for more than I few days iv been told to stop the tablets for a week then start again.
The only other side effects I get are if the chemist prescribes a "cheaper" brand.

I think your DP maybe needs to see how he goes on with them. There are several sorts so will hopefully find something that suits him.

[dolcedeleite]

Also. As with some of the posts above. I don't eat low fat! I pay more attention to reducing the amount of carbs I eat (particularly the more refined ones).

I've never eaten much processed fat and am convinced that it was my rather embarrassingly high carb consumption that drove my LDL numbers up.

[dolcedeleite]

I have gestational diabetes and raised cholesterol! And wanted to address both naturally. Heard the soluble fibre from oats is good for glucose response and lowering cholesterol - too goof to be true right?

So I started eating porridge each morning (which didn't effect my bloods to badly) and also using sachets of this fibre from company betabalance.com - you need a couple of servings of oats a day and there was no way I wanted to eat porridge more than once.

This combined with stopping gaining any more baby weight and light exercise has helped with both sets of numbers.

dolcedeleite

[CuriousMama]

Thanks digerd.

[digerd]

Cholesterol must be tested on an empty stomach - nothing for 12 hours before.
If much too high and with a family of cardio vascular problems, he probably will be given Statins by GP and advised to take more exercise and reduce his fat intake.

A man I know, stopped his Statins and lowered his Cholesterol eating loads of Olives every evening after work.

[CuriousMama]

BIWI just ordered that book from the library thanks.

[CuriousMama]

Thanks again all. I'll get him some oatbran SirEF.

He does have a bad family history, as do I. My bp is low though, sometimes a bit too low. His is pretty high but does differ.

His cholesterol test wasn't a fasting one. His mum told him it should've been? He's going to get tested at the chemist fasting.

We're stocked up on the yoghurt drinks, nuts, avocados and some other things. Plus he's eating much healthier. He cooked salmon new pots and fresh veg for dinner yesterday. I do tend to cook low fat anyway tbh except for dss. Dp cooks too and is usually good but is keen to change a lot now.

[denialandpanic]

I should have mentioned earlier that dp had cholesterol tested in first place as he had a very bad family cardiac history.shockingly bad.

[MyHeadWasInTheSandNowNot]

BIWI - thought I'd fine you here :)

[BIWI]

.... but don't forget there's a lot of money in recommending statins ...

[purplewithred]

theres a check the doctor can do on your cardiac risk over the next 10 years, taking into account your cholesterol levels (good, bad, ratio, triglycerates), weight, height, BP, family history, can't remember. That will tell you a) if you have to worry and b) what you should worry about (might be on a website somewhere)

My cholesterol was 6.5 or something but very good ratio of good:bad, plus low bp, no family history, etc so my cardiac risk is very low.

[BIWI]

Hope it helps, CuriousMama.

[SirEdmundFrillary]

Thank you, curious.

Also, I think oatbran is good. I've been told it lowers it. The one I get is in an orange packet, if that helps