Cholesterol

[oneboy3girls]

My cholesterol is getting slightly high (spoken to Dr ).I have lost 3 stone on a high fat diet .I want to maintain using this approach, How can I marry the two ? Reduce my cholesterol , but eat high fat ? Tia for any ideas.

A low carb diet should lower your cholesterol.

When your Dr said it was high, what did he/she say? Did they give you the full breakdown or did they just give you one number? Do know your LDL (x2) and HDL?

LDL=3.7 HDL=2.6 .Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level =4.1 .

Do you know what the readings were before you started to lose weight/low carb?

No, but I could find out probably from drs records .

OK - it's entirely feasible (especially if you were significantly overweight) that these levels are lower than previously. BTW, I've asked @StuntNun's advice here, as she's got much better knowledge around this issue than me. Hopefully she'll be along soon

Do you have your triglycerides reading @oneboy3girls?

The problem with these cholesterol results is that they don't fit the pattern of high LDL and low HDL that is typical of people at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Your HDL level of 2.6 mmol/l is excellent and your LDL level of 3.7 mmol/l is high but only just over the normal range. Ideally your LDL should be below 3.0 mmol/l.

That's why we need to know your triglycerides, which should be below 2.3 mmol/l. If your triglycerides are very low then there is much less cause for concern over your slightly high LDL. If both triglycerides and LDL are high then you may want to consider switching the added saturated fats in your diet for oily fish and monounsaturated fats (olive oil, avocado oil, nut oils).

Thanks @StuntNun

Triglyceride level =0.9.I don't eat much saturated fat. I have lost 3 stone over the past 6 years .BMI is now 21 to 22.Feel fantastic .Desperately don't want to change my diet although Dr said I should. Thankyou BIWI and Nun for your input.I really appreciate it.Dd back from Uni last night ,that's why I haven't responded earlier.

Definitely see if you can find earlier readings, so you can work out if it's a positive or a negative change.

(I'd also ask you - is your doctor still recommending a low fat diet? If so, he/she is pretty out of date!)

I am going to drs for an earlier reading today.Dr said I should look at British Heart website and that I should have a mixed diet ,I followed this yesterday and seemed to have put on 4pounds.I am normally 8 stone at 5 1.5.I am going back to my old diet.Thanks again

WTAF is a mixed diet?! Sounds to me like your Dr doesn't really understand a) what a low carb diet is all about, or b) that dietary advice has moved on in the last 10-15 years!

For a more up-to-date approach - with scientific evidence to support it - you might like to read up on some of Dr Michael Mosley's work. His latest book, The Fast 800, is a low calorie but also lower carb, Mediterranean diet, which incorporates intermittent fasting and also 5:2.

I'm not suggesting that you need to do a low calorie diet, as your weight looks amazing - but reading up on the science behind weight loss and, more importantly maintenance and a healthier way of eating, would be useful/helpful.

Have a read of the website

May 2017 Bmi about 28 .10 .7 stone roughly. hdl 1.6 ldl 3.3 triglyceride1.6.Thanks for the link!

Great so your triglycerides are well below the ideal value of lower 2.3 mmol/l. Your HDL level is also excellent so the only area of concern is the slightly high LDL level. It's certainly not an alarming set of results so I wouldn't rush into making any changes to your diet as a knee jerk reaction. You could give it another six months to see how your lipid profile continues to change. If you wanted to try and reduce your LDL level then switching to monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats should help there. How do you feel about things? Is there a family history of heart disease that concerns you?

It was great to hear from both of you.There is a history of family heart disease ,although it was probably self imposed. I am going to maintain this hard fought for weight and not increase my carbs quite a bit as the Dr has suggested .I plan to replace eggs and cheese with more fish and nuts and semi milk with oat milk .I am happy to make these changes .Low carb eating really suits me. Many thanks.
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