Anyone understand cholesterol results?

[CocoSims]

So I’ve not been feeling great lately and did a private blood test. Everything come back fine but my cholesterol is a little off.

It’s not something I’ve ever looked into and google is a bit mind boggling.

Anyone know what these figures mean and if I am able to get things down a bit? Or need to? What can I do?

HDL 1.55
HDL% of total cholesterol 30.82%
LDL 3.09
Total cholesterol 5.03

I’m 38 quite fit and healthy, slim never smoked and don’t drink. Maybe had a bit more sugar lately in the form of d-mannose for my bladder not sure if that would affect things…

Bit miffed 😒

I know HDL is good cholesterol, it helps protect the heart. Above 1.2 is good and can be boosted by healthy fats, avocado, nuts/seeds high omega 3 foods, oily fish etc.
They advise total cholesterol to be below 5, no idea the relevance of the 30.82 though.

BHF used to have a really good link to explain it all but it seems to have vanished but their other info is still worth a read. The second link does have a list of foods if you scroll down the many pages.

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol

www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/publications/heart-conditions/his3_0114_reducing-your-blood-cholestero_a6.pdf

Your hdl should be higher than your ldl.
Increase your omega 3 (oily fish, avocado, linseeds, chia seeds, walnuts).

Do you cook with oil out of interest? That could explain the high ldl.

I do, what should I be using? I use olive oil got a lot of my oven cooking and coconut for my frying

The thing is is that I had these done a year and a half ago and all of my figures were optimal and much lower… is it possible for them to change so much so quickly when I haven’t made any lifestyle differences? I don’t really understand it

@CocoSims

The thing is is that I had these done a year and a half ago and all of my figures were optimal and much lower… is it possible for them to change so much so quickly when I haven’t made any lifestyle differences? I don’t really understand it

Yes they can be a reflection of recent weeks food intake, and whether you have fasted or not pre test.

The total isn't thar bad really. It is higher than the 'norm' but not massively. Sometimes genetics play a part too.

Almonds and higher fat as per PP advice can help.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat and bad for cholesterol, we’re you using that when your results were optimal?
www.heartuk.org.uk/news/latest/post/16-heart-uk-says-bbc-coconut-oil-claim-not-to-be-trusted

I don’t think so no. What should I be cooking with? I thought coconut oil was good for you. I’m not sure what I should be using

Olive oil is good but only cold for salad dressing etc. Coconut oil better to cook with, but frugally/ not often. No need to add fat to most meals, you can sweat onions in water for stir fries etc. I would have guessed you do cook with a lot of oil from the high ldl result.

OP, do you drink much coffee ?

Drinking a lot of coffee that has not been brewed using a paper filter is thought to give rise to raised lipid levels

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2029499/

So,
Drip filter and Aeropress brewing - good.
Espresso and french press - bad