Ideal cholesterol levels?

[hairyfairy]

10 years ago, a cholesterol level of just over 5. was considered ideal, now iv`e read that doctors want want levels to be under 4. Why is this?, & is this new level really the ideal? It`s very confusing.

[frankcooper1]

Its a very good question. When anyone tries to do a Google search to determine normal cholesterol levels, its very frustrating. There are no shortage of experts claiming to know what your level of cholesterol should be, but that is just opinion and not science. The fact is this. It is nearly impossible to find scientific data that tells us what level of cholesterol is normal in the population, in terms of a bell curve and the exact mid-point. So yes, it is very hard to find data that explains what level of cholesterol is actually normal. We have forgotten what normal is and all we hear or read is what it should be. Most data I have seen is that 6.1 is the midpoint for older males. This link at the thincs.org cholesterol website may help with some answers: thincs.org/Malcolm.French.htm

[sandybrown]

Hi,

Cholesterol is very inportsant for our body to function. Numbers are designed for manufacturers to do a hard sell!. AS time goes on the numbers are coming down, why?

Ou body can tell us of problems, we just have to make sure we do not over do it.

[jeny1eye]

The web site from Frank Cooper says it all. I worked for the NHS and very knowledgeable nurses and doctors have said 'don't worry about it'. Just eat sensibly - no refined, processed rubbish.

[Aliwally]

Hi HairyFairy,

I'm not sure where this figure of 4 came from. My understanding is that this is for people who have already had some sort of coronary event. Even the NICE Guidelines say there is no target level for primary prevention, that is for people who don't have coronary disease.

The problem with 4 of course is that probably no adult in the UK could achieve it without being medicated, a clearly ridiculous and totally undesirable situation.

[Penel]

As Aliwally has said, it's the level recommended for people who have had a problem: NICE guidelines, page 11. It also says that 50% of patients won't be able to achieve this!

nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/...

Cholesterol levels are just one measurement among many, when it comes to our health.

[allyg]

Hi hairy fairy.

Last year I had a TIA, when in hospital my Chol was 5.1. nothing to do with high Chol, it was a arterial blockage in the neck ie a build up of plaque causing inflammation, sugar being the cause. Sugar is the killer. It,s in nearly all our foods.

I was put on Statins to reduce Chol they said down to below 3. 0. never had so much discomfort of muscle pain in my life, I,ve have a very physical job, they were horrid, I stopped taking them after 10months. 4 different ones all awfull also am on a blood thinner. the point is don't take Statins if at all possible, change diet, cut out all sugars where possible, no processed food at all, organic natural food, my Chol is now 4.2, why is NHS hell bent on lowering Chol when in a lot of cases that is not the cause.

The food industry for putting so much rubbish in our food is the main cause, but of course we all want food as cheap as poss, why would you put cheap oil in your expensive

car, our bodies are very complex and deserve the best as possible to work properly and stay healthy, I,me 64 now and see where I have gone wrong, hopefully I can live longer by eating really healthy wholesome natural food, plus lots of exercise.

Regards. Allyg.

PS. its not easy to start with changing your diet and altering your life style, but you soon

realize when you have a scare like a stroke etc whats important.

[Peter2357 in reply to allyg]

In May I had a cholesterol level of 9.2, so I went on a fairly strict diet and started some mild exercise. Ten weeks later the cholesterol level was 6.7 - the Lipid Consultant said that was fine with him, but to come back in November for a check up. He is of the opinion that there is no ideal level for everyone; just that high levels - like 9.2 - need lowering.

[florence5 in reply to Peter2357]

Hi Peter. That's a great result in ten weeks. What was your diet? Low carb? Low fat?

[Peter2357 in reply to florence5]

Hi Florence

Yes, very low fat and carbohydrate. Almost exclusively green vegetables, beans

and oily fish; plus a bit of porridge. Sounds rather unattractive (and indeed it is),

but there is no gain without pain, as they say. I could try to make it more

appetising, but frankly, I can't be bothered - and you get used to it (like being in prison, I would imagine). Although I appreciate food as much as the next person, I'm one of those who eats to live, rather than lives to eat.

Note also, that with the exception of porridge, I eat the whole days worth of the above as a single meal in the evening. The porridge is taken before bed time as it

helps me sleep. As for hunger during the day, well, I just tough it out, drink lots

of coffee and take some exercise.

Unless one has the genetic FH, the only way to significantly lower one's cholesterol is to either take pills, or profoundly change one's lifestyle, in my opinion. So, there you have it - strict diet, weight loss and exercise equals lower cholesterol - but, you already knew that, I bet.

TTFN

Peter

[hairyfairy in reply to Peter2357]

Iv`e been doing all that wer`e supposed to do to lower cholesterol, but mine remains high at 6.1. I never used to have problems with cholesterol levels, & I wonder why nature would make our levels rise with age, because we don`t need so much in our blood.

[florence5 in reply to hairyfairy]

Could it be that the body is producing more to try to repair the damage caused by aging?

[florence5 in reply to Peter2357]

Thanks Peter. I've tried so many different diets with differing degrees of success and there is always discussion on here about whether low carb or low fat is best. I think you may be right and that both are required. I like to hear how people who have experienced success have achieved it.

[Peter2357 in reply to florence5]

Hi again Florence

Glad to be of help. Just remember, there is no easy way to significant weight loss. We put weight on with all the pleasure that a cocaine abuser gets from achieving his addiction; we lose weight with all the discomfort that the addict goes through in withdrawal. If you want to play, you have to pay.

[florence5 in reply to Peter2357]

Yep, That's the problem!!

[allyg in reply to Peter2357]

Hi Peter, eating healthy food should be a joy not a pain, check out The food doctor everyday Diet, by Ian Marber.

Regards. Allyg.

[Peter2357 in reply to allyg]

Thanks Ally - I'll check it out.