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[Swatts2061]

My cholesterol is 11%....heredity.

What should i do. Im only 56 both parents triple bypass and pace maker.😕

[sandybrown]

I am afraid you need to offer more information. LIPID numbers, BP and blood glucose.

As you GP has full medical information, your GP can do a risk analysis.

Food and drinks control and regular exercise can help towards a healthy life style.

[Anne76]

Please look up Dr Esselstyne

[sos007 Ambassador]

Well since you know you do not have optimal genetics and since your cholesterol is over twice that which is normal, you have to accept that your lifestyle, which involves the character of your diet and the level of your physical activity, got you to this point and must now change.

You must begin with a commitment to daily activity - a brisk walk for 30 minutes, and a dietary change that seeks to reduce dramatically sugars and simple carbohydrates. The easiest way people consumer sugars without knowing it is soft drinks, alcohol, fruit juices, and taking sugar with hot beverages like coffee and tea.

Any food that comes in a box and can be stored in a pantry without refrigeration likely has sugar and salt in the ingredient list. Sugar isn't always labelled as such, but has other names that end with '...ose', '...itol', '...hol'.

Foods made from refined grains such as white bread and pizza are considered simple carbohydrates which are converted to sugar in your body. White rice, white pasta, and white potatoes are also simple carbohydrates. You can substitute whole grain foods in their place such as whole grain bread, couscous, quinoa (technically a seed), brown rice. Although these foods should be eaten in moderation.

Meat is a calorie dense food, as is cheese and other dairy products such as butter, and ice cream. These foods should be consumed less frequently and in small quantities. Consider going meatless every other day and having things like ice cream once a month.

Studies have shown that in places around the world where longevity is common, the local diet is 'plant-based' - lots of vegetables and a focus on beans, chick peas and lentils as a primary source of nutrients. Get some Italian or Greek recipes for these things as those two cultures have a great deal of experience with preparing such foods.

Cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, and artic char are good for lowering the bad cholesterol. Eat these for 2 meals per week. Have a single 'brazil nut' daily as it helps to lower cholesterol.

Vitamin B3 also lowers cholesterol although it has some side effects that you should learn about before taking.

I have several posts on this subject - click on the link to see a list of my posts and read each of them:

healthunlocked.com/user/sos007

Good luck.

[Floozie]

With your cholesterol level & family cardiovascular history I am afraid diet alone will not be enough. You need to ask your GP for referral to a specialist in a Lipid Clinic. If he is reluctant to refer you, you must insist. I speak from personal experience.

[Swatts2061 in reply to Floozie]

Thankyou

I'll see about it. Would you mind telling me about your experience. Sue

[Floozie in reply to Swatts2061]

See below

[Floozie in reply to Swatts2061]

I ave replied to you in length but can't seem to post it.

[sos007 Ambassador]

@ Concerned,Diet recommendations from the medical community and the media are generalizations. What works for each person depends on their specific genetic make-up. If you want to know the best diet for yourself, you must get a gene test for the Apo E Genotype.

Here's a link to a research piece - you don't have to read the whole thing, just go to pages 4 and 5 which contain a chart that shows the optimal diet for each genotype:

lipidcenter.com/pdf/Apo_Ev2...

Once people realize that determining their Apo E genotype is critical to diet implementation we can stop getting these broad generalizations on how and what you should eat.

[Swatts2061 in reply to sos007]

Thankyou...I will check it out.

[Floozie]

I was found in 1973 at age 28 yrs. to have a very high cholesterol. I was tested routinely, due to the job I was in, out of curiosity. Unexpectedly, the level was raised (around 10-12 ) as I remember. My parents were both dead (age 63 yrs.) from cardiovascular incidents) & I have no siblings. I was referred to Prof. Paul Durrington, a leading light in hypercholesterolaemia, at Manchester Royal Infirmary, where I still attend 20+ years later. Although I have never been genetically tested, due to no funding, I was diagnosed with familial cholesterolaemia. The drugs available then were Atromid S and Questran (cholestyramine) which I took for some years. There was then a scare about a possible link with Atromid S & cancer of the liver, so I stopped taking it. I have taken statins for approx. 20 yrs. now with no side effects, although I make sure I have regular blood tests to monitor this. I used to be sent for, but nowadays, due to our failing NHS, I have had to take responsibility for this myself. The first statin I was prescribed was simvastatin (Zocor). I may have briefly taken atorvastatin (I can't remember) but for years now my statin has been Crestor (rosuvastatin) 40mg. which is a high dose I know, plus Ezetrol 10mg. which has been proven to reduce cholesterol, if taken alongside a statin, by another 5% -10%. I am tall (and thin until I put on a bit of weight post-menopause) so, because I have never needed to diet & hate all slimming foods, I have never followed the low fat diet I was prescribed. This would not have made much difference anyway with my genetic link, so I have continued to eat whatever I want, which would horrify most of the people on this website. What I do have is a Benecol strawberry drink each day, which I have proved does work. I was a bit anxious when I reached age 63 (age at which my parents both died) but I am now 71. I have written several posts on this website & I think you can access them if you wish. Hope you find some interest in my story.

[Floozie]

See above