Elevated cholesterol?

[MrsBone]

I just had a full panel of blood work done and my cholesterol came back slightly high, 203. My triglycerides were slightly elevated too. I've been eating about 65% traditional foods for the past year and a half or so (not as much when I was pregnant) but I'm trying...Just curious if the combination of some processed food (occasional sugary snack, refined oils, and weekly pasta) is contributing to my cholesterol being elevated. I definitely believe in WAP principles, but I'm having a hard time eliminating all processed foods from my diet. I also don't always eat raw dairy..I get Kerrygold butter and use pasteurized cheese more often than raw, mainly for cost purposes. Anyone have any tips to help maintain my cholesterol? I would probably have a much easier time with the whole thing if my husband was more on board. He loves the fact that we get to eat a lot of meat and butter, but still likes to have his corn tortilla chips in the pantry all the time and is a sugar freak, which doesn't help me at all! Any tips? MillieIvy, I know you'll have something to say here!

[serenbat]

Have you had problems in the past with your levels or is this new?

The reason I ask is we are dealing with a family member that has the same issues and turns out most is out of the control of her diet-she takes meds that raise her triglycerides, she had her gallbladder removed that effects her cholesterol (and caused the gallbladder issue in the first place!)and she has taken blood work, while fasting only from 8 hours prior-but prior to those 8 hours ate high sugar fruits

So just wondering if your test was accurate and also wondering if you are getting higher levels than prior tests.

I would try a three month and retest, watching the diet for high sugar items and cut back on bad carbs while adding more whole grains and CLO. See if that makes any change, if you go down keep it up but if you are rising I would ask for more medical attention to see if it really is your diet or something else causing the problems.

[Millie Ivy]

Hey you! <3 I second serenbat, does Dr. I have any previous cholesterol readings?

You know what I am going to say right? Cut the carbs, up the fats, cut the polyunsaturated. I would avoid the gf mixes and chebe that we so like to fall back on. I would avoid the corn chips like the plague. I know you don't want to go grain free, but I think some of the "primal" lifestyle would be good.

3 month trial, then get retested. Another good piece of advice!

[tanyalynn]

I don't think 203 is high.

This site...
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

has a lot more discussion of cholesterol, and overall how it's tricky to interpret, you need more data than just a total number, to know what's going on. Do you have any further breakdown? He also discusses triglycerides but I've always glossed over that.

[APBTlover]

I'm with tanyalynn, a total cholesterol score seems to be next to worthless as far as determining if you have a problem or not. Even HDL vs. LDL doesn't tell you a whole lot -- although it will be easy to see from that if you have an abysmally low HDL. But there are different types of LDL, too, one of which seems mostly benign and one of which is a stronger indicator for heart problems. The more details you can get the better off you will be.

[mom61508]

Thought this might be helpful.

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Chole..._raised_levels

[Chicharronita]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

This site...
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

has a lot more discussion of cholesterol,

That's a blog I read regularly via an RSS subscription.

Originally Posted by mom61508

Thought this might be helpful.

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Chole..._raised_levels

What a great site! Thanks for the link.

[organicmidwestmama]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

I don't think 203 is high.

This site...
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

has a lot more discussion of cholesterol, and overall how it's tricky to interpret, you need more data than just a total number, to know what's going on. Do you have any further breakdown? He also discusses triglycerides but I've always glossed over that.

triglycerides are known, even by standard medical knowledge to be raised by high carbohydrate intake.

a total of 203 is only 3 numbers above "ideal" total cholesterol. personally i think the one measure you should/could concern yourself with is hdl cholesterol level, which is the 'good' cholesterol and is better of high. the following book is not just about cholesterol, but is an extremely in depth look at the modern scientific hypothesis regarding cholesterol/fat containing diets supposedly causing heart disease 9the author refutes this and gives 400 plus pages of an explanation and also gives specific info on hdl, trigs and ldl measurements of blood cholesterol levels)- http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/NewYearNew...3654291&page=1

[JMJ]

Like others have said, the total cholesterol number isn't really worrisome, especially for a woman. High triglycerides are more of a problem, though. Even without any information on HDL, LDL, what kind of LDL, etc, from what I'm reading, triglycerides tend to become the kind of LDL that you don't want, so, on their own, they're something to pay attention to.

Up the fat, and you won't need the sugar. Try eating fat with everything. Butter on your bread, ghee on your veggies, olive oil on your salad, fat on your meat, cheese on your crackers. If you do have a carby processed snack, put some butter on it, but do try to reduce those. I hear you on how hard it is when DH has Mt. Dew in the house and wants to go out for pie at least once a week.

[newcastlemama]

On my panel in January I had "high cholesterol" (249) but my ratios, triglycerides, glucose were all really good. I have been eating TF for over 4 years and mostly paleo/primal TF for 3.5. (My ferritn and vitamin D improved considerably as well!) I am not worried about my total number though after reading a lot. My ND did say that controlled blood sugar/excerise is how to make your tris go down (my dads are high along with his blood sugar).