cholesterol high

[LoisPrice]

total is really high 7.9
but hdl is 2.3 and ratio is 3.4

I don't eat processed meats and very little other meat, no pastry, butter and very little cheese etc. Takeaways are twice yearly event

I do exercise, (have for around 15 years) around 12-15 hours, this includes an hour commute by bike each day and gym, walking and swimming. Gym is resistant training, HIIT, weights

I do intermitting fasting, usually 3/4 days a week

im mid 50s and don't know how to get the numbers to shift down?

Do you drink a lot of alcohol? Overweight? Eat a lot of carbs?

Your good cholesterol is a good range and your ratio is ok. Do you have a thyroid issue? Iirc that can affect cholesterol.

Hi, I’m was you in October with the sane numbers. I have an under active thyroid too and that affects how my body processes cholesterol. I decreased my total cholesterol to 5 in 3 months by:

cutting out booze entirely
cutting out all butter, cheese and red meat
eating more oily fish like salmon and mackerel
eating eggs and avocados
intermittent fasting - no breakfast, first meal at 12, dinner at 6-7, no snacking
overnight oats as first meal of day made with fat free yoghurt and berries
one a day of those wee benecol type yoghurt drinks
minimise cake/chocolate/crisps

it has worked for me. And yes being generally more active but exercise alone won’t fix it.

I don’t drink alcohol
I don’t smoke
i don’t eat butter, oil, cheese and red meat is perhaps once a month

i don’t think I eat much carbs, I rarely bother with rice or bread, sometimes have a jacket potato. Chocolate is very limited

i do eat sardines, mackerel, avocado, raw oats fruits by the bucket load, lentils, split peas, chickpeas, Pearl barley

my bmi is 22/23

i don’t have a thyroid but am very well medicated

And yes being generally more active but exercise alone won’t fix it.

im not sure I could increase my activity tbh 15 hrs a week is probably my limit - that’s one hr commute and one at the gym, with a ride at the weekend.

Do you have your cholesterol history? I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, I was told I needed statins as my cholesterol was high (6.8). When I sat with my GP and looked at my history, over 15 years my cholesterol hasn't changed very much, the GP said I just seem to have naturally high cholesterol.
My FiL, who has a dreadful diet, lots of carbs and sugar, apparently has naturally low cholesterol.
So it may be nothing to do with your diet.

Hadalifeonce I don’t know, neither parents are alive.

my blood pressure is spot on, 117/65

Its probably familial which means you made need stations. What does your GP say? What did your parents die from?

GP hasn't said anything, my risk is apparently 3.5% on a score they do for risk of heart and strokes. Its just I don't understand why its dos high, my ratio is ok though

parents deaths weren't stroke or Cardiovascular related

Its just I don't understand why its dos high

I'd say almost definitely thyroid related then. Did the GP suggest statins?

I'm the same, I need to take statins, it's familial.

I had the same cholesterol level as you, despite eating as you do OP and I am in the same bmi range.

It's hereditary- no adjustment to foods will lower it. I took statins to get it down to an acceptable level then stopped the statins as I had side effects. I took nustendi instead of statins to keep the cholesterol level down to what it was after statins.

No the gp didn’t suggest statins as my cholesterol ratio is ok and my qtest is 3.5%

my thyroid levels are on the higher side of normal, rather than hypo side which I do understand causes cholesterol. I’ve read that people going into thyroxine lower there cholesterol due to being hypo, but I’m the opposite if anything

i guess possibly it maybe genetic

My husband and Mil got high cholesterol hubby was told it's hereditary and not diet based, but did suggest to go on tablets

I’m the same, OP - fit and healthy, normal BMI, lifelong vegetarian, no junk food, no alcohol, very little dairy. I have bad LDL levels but everything else ok so the total comes out as high.

I don’t know if it’s genetic as my parents are both dead.
I have read that your cholesterol levels increase as part of menopause but I don’t know if that applies to me as I only had cholesterol tested for the first time last year.