What should I do about my cholestrol?

[whereami]

Hello everyone

Im usually more of a lurker then a poster. Ive completely three months on atkins and my doctor had my blood work done.

I was very pleased that my fasting blood sugar was normal, my thyroid was normal, my vitamin D was normal... the only thing that was high was my cholestrol levels.

Triglycerides 32
LDL 186
HDL 61
Total 254

Now the doc was shocked as to how low my triglycerides were but she said that it was very very good but that my LDL is too high. My HDL is great also.

She recommended stopping Atkins which I really didnt agree with and going with counting calories and keeping them between 1800 - 2000. She said that the LDL level is high enough to prescribe meds and she wouldnt want them to stay high very long so she is giving me a month to change my diet and retest. She also planned to test me with a High Sensitivity CRP test that if I get on it anything above a 2 means that I am at high risk for heart diseasse and in that case she will still perscribe meds even if my numbers have come down because studies show that the meds will lower my risk.

I must say that we have a family history of heart attacks before 40 -- my father and grandfather....plus they both had high cholestrol, diabetes in their late 40's and 50's. plus my dad had two or three strokes -- he had open heart surgery for clogged arteries.

Saying all that...does anyone have any advice. I really dont want to quit Atkins. This is the best i have felt in my life. I started at 183 pounds. I haven't been under 160 pounds in over 10 years and now Im around 152 pounds.

I have read alot about cholestrol and given my family history I don't know if its a good idea to take the risk and ignore the numbers.

I do eat alot of chicken breast. I only use olive oil when I cook my meals. For a week now, I have added a tablespoon of coconut oil. I don't eat red meat. I eat alot of salads and soups and some days fish and canned tuna and lots and lots of veggies.

Supplement wise I take 2000 mg of flax seed and 1000mg of omega 3. I take calcium, magnesium, multivitamin, vitamin C (doc told me to stop cuz my platelet count is low) and a B complex.

I try to exercise every other day. I have been walking and running and Im up to about an hour and 10 minutes. sometimes less depending on how I feel.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[Maggiemuggs]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

I would look into some of the following natural supplements that have been known to lower cholesterol as well. But that being said, considering your family history I am not saying to not listen to your Dr., but if you aren't all ready, I would try taking these for a month to see the effect. I think that the Coenzyme Q10 is especially important for heart health, and if you do start taking one of the statin drugs for cholesterol, it is even more important to supplement with this as it is lowered when you are on a statin. I have heart disease in my family, and with my apple shape I know that I am more prone to heart disease than my brothers. You can also speak to your pharmacist before starting any supplements to ensure that it is not interacting with anything you may be taking all ready. And again make sure you list everything you are taking to your Dr. as some people think that "natural" supplements are not medications but they are. For example some "natural" supplements contain white willow bark, which is another name for acetysylic acid which is aspirin and also acts as a blood thinner, so if your Dr. has you on a blood thinner you can cause damage to yourself, or the same with St. John's Wort which is a mood enhancer, but mixed with an anti-depressant again can be harmful.
What I am curious about is did you have a previous test done before that the levels could be compared to, to see if your levels have changed with this diet?

• B Vitamins, besides niacin, decrease the rate at which LDL is damaged through oxidation.
• Carnitine has been seen to increase HDL levels, therefore decreasing total cholesterol levels.
• Chromium has been seen to reduce LDL levels and increase HDL levels.
• Coenzyme Q10 has been noted to reduce total cholesterol serum levels.
• Fiber can be obtained through fiber supplements or through foods such as whole grains and vegetables. It is thought that fiber binds to cholesterol in the small intestine and preventing cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream.
• Garlic has been widely studies for its cholesterol-lowering properties.
• Grape Seed Extract has been noted to reduce total cholesterol serum levels.
• Pantothine has been seen to increase HDL levels, therefore decreasing total cholesterol levels.
• Royal Jelly has been seen to lower cholesterol levels by reducing some of the cholesterol-elevating effects of nicotine.
• Soy has been shown to reduce total cholesterol levels
• Vitamin C has been noted to slightly reduce cholesterol levels.

[chinadoll]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Walking may not be enough. I really think my cholesterol is good because of hard exercise. That means at least twice a week when my workout makes me sweat intensely and breathe hard enough that I can't hold a conversation for about 35-55 minutes. My mom lowered her cholesterol with a mixture of a tablespoon organic cider vinegar and a couple tablespoons of cranberry juice every morning, at least she believes thats what did it. About three months in tends to be when people sometimes ahve cholesterol spikes so it might have dropped next visit any way. I hope so for your sake.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

my only advice is DO NOT QUIT ATKINS! I'm not sure why your cholesterol hasn't gone down...but I know - in general - cholesterol usually goes DOWN on atkins. I know mine did (from 220 to about 190). Seriously - counting calories gives you tooo much leeway and one might start eating low calorie "junk"...I would say, it's safe to assume that you feel great because you're eating, for the most part, all whole foods, healthy fats, etc. and NO junk right? junk food, sugar, and carbs that turn straight to sugar is what keeps cholesterol elevated and high. just continue what you're doing - your stats so far are FABULOUS and if you feel great about this diet - why would you quit?

Anyways - good luck and keep doin' what you're doin'!!! your cholesterol should eventually catch up!

[msanjelpie]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

How does she know that your cholesterol isn't better than it was before Atkins... ?

To just broadly tell you to quit over that tells me that she is not Atkins friendly...

If it were me, I would stick with Atkins and put your foot down... if she insists on giving you the Crestor etc... then take it... Some people have to take cholesterol meds just because their body creates too much of it, not having anything to do with diet... (which may be the case with your family history)

Also there is no rule that you have to go back in a month... you can always wait 3 months and take the test again...

JMHO

[whereami]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Maggiemugs thanks for the awesome list!

Chinadoll I walk and run - running is a total of 45 minutes and trust me I am really sweating and walking is a total of 20 minutes and 6 minutes total for the warm up and cool down. Its a really hard workout for me. It comes out to almost 9 kilos!

Keriann Thanks for the great advice -- I really cant see myself quitting.

Msanjelpie I had checked my cholestrol level in the states and it was borderline with ldl creeping up but not terrible. But thats great advice about holding off on the test...hehehe I like that idea if its not going to be detrimental to my health.

[chillispice]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Does your doctor know what your diet consists of? From what you said in your original post, I can't see too much that he/she would object to:

"I do eat alot of chicken breast. I only use olive oil when I cook my meals. For a week now, I have added a tablespoon of coconut oil. I don't eat red meat. I eat alot of salads and soups and some days fish and canned tuna and lots and lots of veggies."

[whereami]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Yes I did tell her exactly that and that is where she said it might be more of a hereditary thing since its in your family but we have to make sure by changing your diet up a bit by reducing the amount of eggs that you eat, reducing the amount of fat in your diet and not cooking with a lot of oil. If the diet changes and the numbers dont go down then it is definitely hereditary. But like i said even if it is hereditary according to her these are not good levels to stay at and they need to be fixed with meds.

I did read on another board and I ve gotten some messages that have made me feel better and i think I will stay on atkins but reduce the amount of eggs or at least the yolks because I do eat maybe 4-6 eggs a day and I always use my 3-4 oz of cheese. So maybe if I cut the egg yolks down and reduce the amount of cheese that I use I might be able to stay on Atkins and make a significant change in the cholestrol numbers if it is a diet problem. Also increase the amount of fish that I eat instead of sticking maybe to chicken breast. I dont use mayo or butter alot at all. Maybe once a month.

The other thing is definitely get some more supplements that help lower cholestrol and as someone mentioned lengthen the duration between the tests and when I do retest have them break down the ldl to find out exactly what is going on here.

I love this diet soooo much its hard to think that I would ever have to part with it . Its become second nature. So hopefully this is going to work for me.

If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

[msanjelpie]

Re: What should I do about my cholesterol?

eggs - the truth


Cholesterol: Out with the Bad, In with the Good

[whereami]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

You know its links like these that really puzzle me. How does one decide what to believe. Eggs dont cause it, olive oil doesnt cause it....all I eat is mostly chicken breast! What has caused it?

Could it be purely hereditary?? Or maybe an excess amount of eggs? In the article they are talking about three eggs a week. Three eggs is less than what I have in a day! Or could it be the cream and cheese also?

Im just sooo confused and dont know what to believe! What if I were to go off of Atkins for a two month period just to prove to myself that diet will not lower it. What I mean is I will limit my eggs, cheese, cream and stick to soups, salads, olive oil, nuts, berries, whole wheat bread, whole grain cereal, oats and a bit of legumes.

If I go back to test and my diet hasnt lowered it Im going back to Atkins because that would mean that is definitely hereditary and diet has nothing to do with it. But before I do this, Im going back and having her retest and asking for a detailed ldl result just to make sure that vldl is high since that is the most important number to look at.

[EverLosing]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Okay, this is where giving advice gets a little confusing! Only because I've read so many different versions from Dr. Atkins over the years!

I've always thought from reading one of the books, you were supposed to wait and test at 6 months on plan. If that's the case, you're only half way there. I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for blood tests! I'm going in about a week and a half. However, I waited until the 6 month mark so I know it'll be a true reading and hopefully there will be no "my body is still adjusting to this WOE" results.

There are answers in the book for your situation. In my DANDR, on page 176, half way down the page, Dr. Atkins says, "If your cholesterol has not improved to a level that represents reduced risk factors, yet you were satisfied with your weight reduction and other physical improvements, continue to do Atkins, take the cholesterol-lowering supplements outlined on page 309 (also refer to Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution) and repeat the test in a month. Continue to get retested every three months until the figures are satisfactory, then have them checked only annually."

That being said, I know how unhappy you must be about the results! I feel like I'd hit a wall if my numbers are horrible. That really is why I've waited until the 6 month point to get tested. The fact is for me, the proof is in the pudding....the way I feel (HEALTHY), the weight loss thus far, more than acceptable and wonderful outstanding new habits that have become a lifestyle. I needed to be firmly submerged and commited to this lifestyle before I allowed bad numbers to creep in and make me doubt my choices. I've lost 40 lbs since I saw my doctor in February and nearly 80 lbs since my last appointment with him before February. I'm hoping for excellent numbers, but if I don't see them....oh, well. I'll take more supplements and exercise harder. I'm too far in now to let anything take this WOL away from me.

I'm sure you're discouraged and me telling you not to be won't make your feelings disappear. So, I'll just tell you what I would do. Hang in there. I know what happens when you leave this WOE. I wouldn't do that if I were you. It is possible to trudge along, research, tweak and see better numbers. Other people on the board have been through the same thing and this IS a workable situation. Kidney failure would be a reason to change your WOE, but not something like this that can be turned around. I'm very confident you will conquer this. It's just a matter of time.

[whereami]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Thank you soooo much, Everlosing. I can't tell you how much your post has helped me make the right decision. Im sooo confused that I am getting depressed. I haven't been depressed in months. Its even effected my ability to exercise. I couldnt get on the treadmill yesterday or today. I really wanted to but I feel depressed, foggy, unable to think straight, and its effecting my body. It feels heavy and doesn't want to move or do anything.

Anyways I looked up that page 309 on lowering cholestrol or reducing elevated cholestrol and I see all of the supplements Dr. Atkins talks about thanks to you . I don't know much about them and I wonder which one will work well with my already vitamin list. A couple on the list I am already taking like B complex and vitamin C but actually I just stopped the vitamin C because my doctor said it might be the cause of my low platelet count. She said I might need to lower my dose of Vitamin C or cut it out all together and the platelet count will be rechecked with the cholestrol.

Lets see does anyone know anything about these and if I would be able to take them in conjunction with my other vitamins and if its okay to take more than one of them in order to get a better chance of lowering my cholestrol? Also what dosage would I take to get the desired effect?

Here is the list:

Lecithin granules
chromium
pantethine
niacin (inositol hexanicotinate)
garlic
*vitamin c (i cant take it now but I was)
GLA (borage, primrose, or blackcurrant oils)
*EPA (fish oil)
beta-sitosterol
guggulipid
glucomannan
guar gum
pectin
psyllium husks
oat bran

Im currently taking :

1000mg omega 3
2000mg flax seed oil
800mg calcium + 200mg magnesium with zinc and copper
GNC womens multivitamin active without iron
B complex

*** Ok edited to add that my multivitamin has chromium (120mcg)

Thanks again and any help is appreciated.

[imagood1]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

I just experienced the same problem you have -- had my blood work done - I started January 5, 2009 - 1 time ... 1 meal I ate non-Atkins food in that time (just wanted to get that out there to begin with) -- that was about 2 months into the plan.

My triglicerides have gone down somewhat but my LDL doubled since last year when I last tested. I take crestor and have for 5 years - plus I take 4 gm Lovaza for triglicerides daily and have for 4 years.

What I decided to do was go back down a few rungs, taking some of the protein I had been eating and adding more vegetables to my daily meals. My doctor is a jerk -- he's freaking about my numbers and truly put me into a state of depression last week over this. I have no idea if high cholesterol runs in my family - my parents never had blood tests done ("WE" didn't run to the doctor for every scrape") my brothers cholesterol is good so maybe it is just me - I have no idea.

After some good advise from some of the wise ones on this forum I've decided not to stop Atkins - I don't care what the doctors say, they aren't in my body - they have no idea how much better I feel. Just will be tweaking a few things from here on out and will retest in 2 months like the doctor wants...wait and see - that's what I'm doing.

Good luck to you.

[whereami]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Thanks, its really nice to hear from someone else experiencing something similar.

Im going to continue at least for another three months so that i can hit the six months mark because I do feel sooo much better in every way. But like you, my doctor is freaking out and did say I should have left with meds but is giving me a chance to get it down.

I ve just read a ton about VLDL and it keeps saying its a percentage of triglycerides...but my triglycerides are very low. No one is mentioning what the percentage is but that it is a percentage of triglycerides. The normal vldl is under 40 and even if it was one hundred percent of my triglycerides it would still be under that!!!!!!!!!

So I am feeling more and more reassured. but I wish someone could give me some info on those supplements.

[chinadoll]

Re: What should I do about my cholestrol?

Good for you on your exercise.

My DH is a cholesterol producer. The doc put him on a very strict diet and he even limited himself further and went no eggs for three months. He never cheated once and his cholesterol was worse after the three months. The diet he was on was low in fat and high in carbs.

Over the past ten years several studies have come out linking the body's Insulin response to the body's own cholesterol manufacturing process and the higher carbs means higher cholesterol produced in the body.

Sooo, I think maybe your body is reflecting the fact that you are indeed eating more cholesterol but has not yet adjusted to manufacturing less since you no longer eat a lot of carbs and sugar. This causes that spike many folks see 3 months in. I am betting that by 5 months your cholesterol will be markedly improved.