critique my lipid profile--need some advice

[witchygrrl]

Okay, I went to a new doc who tested my TSH and cholesterol levels as I am on Synthroid. I am trying to heal my thyroid through diet, and I need to lose weight, definitely. The doc has referred me to a nutritionist, but I am curious to know what the TF'ers here think about my levels. I have been slowly moving toward a more TF diet as it seems to make sense and I feel better on it.

So here are my numbers:
total cholesterol: 213
HDL: 50
LDL: 149
Trig: 77

The doc says my profile is "better than average." From my understanding, my ratios are spot on, even if the total is high. I am also still nursing my 18 month old, so that figures in, I believe. But I think it can be better, especially my HDL. What say you, wise women?

[chattyprincess]

I have no clue but am highly intrested in the results. My dh is borderling high cholestoral and the doc wants him on drugs and I really cannot find anything but craziness regarding true cholestoral.

[MountainMamaGC]

From what I understand these values can be higher while breastfeeding as the fat and cholesterol has to circulate from your blood to your milk. I have read that somewhere before.

[tanyalynn]

I'm not convinced 213 is high in the sense of being an indicator of health issues. I'd probably ignore a doctor who said that was a problem, in and of itself. What's your TSH and free-T3 and free-T4? Those would be the best indicators that your thyroid supplement is appropriate.

If you want to read about minerals/vitamins and thyroid function, ithyroid.com is a nice site. I'm not convinced the entire list is equally important but it's a good discussion.

[witchygrrl]

I have the sneaking suspicion he only tested my TSH, and he did not give me that number. But I will ask for it. When I started my thyroid journey it was at 171--sky high. Thanks for the link--I think I've looked at in the past, but I need to go over it again.

Thankfully he did not suggest any statins (not that I would take them anyway), but I'd like to lower my LDL if possible, unless it's just not as important as Western Medicine makes it out to be.

[tanyalynn]

Not sure if you've run across it, or you're interested, but some people, even with reasonable-looking lipid numbers to start with, see changes that look even better with paleo-ish diet changes (no grains, or at least no gluten-containing grains, stuff like that).

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

This site discusses lipid profiles, it's more complicated than we've been led to believe, I can't say I completely understand it, but looking at just LDL may be problematic--there are different types of LDL. But he discusses cholesterol and changes and related stuff.

[organicmidwestmama]

[QUOTE=witchygrrl;15145724]...So here are my numbers:
total cholesterol: 213
HDL: 50
LDL: 149
Trig: 77

...QUOTE]

your hdl isnt technically "low", medical definition wise, but could be higher. also your ldl could be lower for "optimal" lipid levels. basically, its complex, but i would rec. reading the book Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes for a really in-depth explanation of the modern science and politics behind cholesterol levels and "facts" as we think we know them. now, here's where it gets crazy controversial, but there are a growing number of experts out there who believe high ldld, low hdl are actually more measures of your insulin response or lack thereof, meaning in very plain terms, an ideal lipid profile would reflect good insulin response, and a not so ideal; could be a marker for insulin resistance, aka. beginings of blood sugar problems, ie. pre-diabetes.

here are some interesting resources on the subject:

http://high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.c...ooking%20glass

http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/20...d-changes.html

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/

also the site listed by tonyalopez is very good.

[RunningMomTegan]

Interesting responses!

Nothing wrong with 213 as a total number, but based on my experience, your HDL should be higher. I am genetically blessed with fantastic lipids (my sister and I have competitions about whose levels are better. I started eating more walnuts recently when she beat me), but our diet and exercise regimens help that. My HDL is always around 100. My total cholesterol runs about what yours does, and I'm still BF my 22 MO.

[witchygrrl]

Yeah, I would like to raise my HDL, definitely. I do need to lose about 40 lbs, so I hope that in this process of weightloss, my numbers will improve in that way also. And I have been thinking about reducing my grain intake, if not completely. Grains are always a trap for me. Thanks for the input ladies!

[organicmidwestmama]

Originally Posted by witchygrrl

Yeah, I would like to raise my HDL, definitely. I do need to lose about 40 lbs, so I hope that in this process of weightloss, my numbers will improve in that way also. And I have been thinking about reducing my grain intake, if not completely. Grains are always a trap for me. Thanks for the input ladies!

the reason, from my understanding, that losing weight aids bettering lipid profiles, is losing fat makes you less insulin resistant. did your doc do a fasting blood glucose or an a1c or anything?

[witchygrrl]

Yes, the fasting glucose was fine, as it always is. So far, my blood sugar is in good control, even when I was pregnant (I was tested twice for GD because I have a family history of that and type II diabetes). My blood pressure is also quite good, although again, I have a family history of hypertension.