Hey,
just wanted to share that after 9 months of cutting down drastically on diary, eating healthy pescatatian diet and bumping up my exercise regime at the gym and walking in my leisure time, my reading has gone from 7.2 down to 5.3. Hurrah. I'm determined to get it under 4.
That's impressive! Congrats 
Curious as to why you are so keen to get it under 4 though? Cholesterol is a vital nutrient in the body. There is a lot of research that's come out that shows that the low fat approach is very flawed and that cholesterol is not implicated in heart disease.
Interesting, well the only reason is because my GP advised it. Thanks I will research more 
Londinium has collated a lot of research links in this post. Could be a good starting point! healthunlocked.com/choleste...
Hi and well done in getting your numbers down, I personally would be happy with 5.4 which is what mine is now after being at 8.2, you will possibly find that your numbers will now plateau as 9 months with a strict diet and exercise régime is going some, were you or are you overweight, if you were and you have come down a lot that will account for the big drop and if your still above a healthy weight for you then you will maybe get it lowered even further, I had my bloods took Friday so will report back to let you know if its decreased further.
To be honest to low can be as bad as to high, also evidence shows that you need healthy fats in the body to survive, we changed from bad fats to good fats ie back to butter from so called good low fat margarine and now only use very good olive oil, thats not saying we dont have treats, we will see how its doing, maybe when you have next test you will see how its affecting your numbers as well.
Hi Alexandria,
Thanks for the encouragement. No didn't lose much weight, about 4 kilos. I'm 65 and now weigh 50 kilos. I don't want to lose anymore weight. I wonder if reduced diary helped as I cut down, well almost stopped eating cheese. yes I'll be interested if your reading shows a decrease.
Hi Ellewoman
Excuse me jumping in here, but as a post menopausal woman you really don't need a level below 5! There are no health benefits to this.
If you have cut out dairy, are you making sure to get your calcium another way? Osteoporosis is a real concern post menopause. Research has shown that full fat dairy is better for our health.
I would advise against using any oil including olive oil. There is plenty of research showing olive oil causes endothelial dysfunction, in other words damage to your arteries. The Med' style diet gets a way with it because so many other components are healthy.
The olive oil debate is just that, a debate. Anybody who has read my posts know that I'm on a low-carb, whole foods, plant-based diet and following a disciplined exercise regimen. I use olive oil liberally and my endothelial function as measured by my FMD (Flow Mediated Dilation) score has gradually been improving.
Olive oil also increases HDL. If a person is on a low carb diet and brings down their triglyceride values to very low levels, the body is starved for glycogen (sugar) and turns to burning fat for fuel. Olive oil is a healthy fat so it provides both fuel and health benefits.
I had an echo-cardiogram recently which showed my heart is in great health and functioning normally. My left ventricle ejection fraction is 57% which is in the normal range, after being below normal previously.
If you want to see my latest bloodwork results click the link below:
healthunlocked.com/choleste...
I do NOT take any medications. I take a baby aspirin (81 mg) and a variety of vitamins.
Glad to hear you are doing well but you are not on a low carb diet you are on a low or zero simple carb based diet. Plants contain carbs but not the insulin inducing artery damaging variety. Who knows, your FMD might be even better without Olive oil, the research certainly suggests so
Hi Ellewoman, just had my cholesterol test results and happily they have not risen again and have gone from 5.4 to 5.3 so I'm happy that there sitting at a good level, will get the complete lipid panel next week when I go in.
Seems out of all the tests done my vit D has returned to normal after 3 months on high doses and LFTs and kidneys all normal.
Only things out of kilter are calcium and protein both low.
But overall not too bad, so will keep taking my 10 mg of atorvastatin, hope your OK but your weight I think is pretty low so just be careful with weight loss.
My GP is perfectly happy with 5.3
Greek yogurt is very high in protein per serving. Ounce for ounce, it is the best non-animal protein source available. (yes I know milk comes from an animal). Egg whites are also an excellent source of protein.
Assess your triglyceride value and prioritize it over lowering LDL.
Read my posts here:
Hi, well done that's good news. My weight is ok I forgot to mention I'm just under 5 feet. Don't want to go any lower though. Thanks for update.
Congratulations on the dietary and lifestyle change! Keep it up, it must become permanent.
Total cholesterol should not be your target though. Try and focus on lowering triglycerides to below 0.7903 mmol/l. This will reduce the sub-fraction of LDL known as VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein); VLDL is the atherogenic component of LDL.
Triglycerides are fats in your blood stream from the consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrate foods.
You should also focus on foods and exercise that will increase your HDL - olive oil, nuts, fatty fish, legumes (beans, lentils, chick peas), and other high-fiber foods.
Half of heart attack and stroke victims have normal levels of LDL cholesterol. The reason relates to the formation of thrombi - blood clots.
To determine if you are susceptible to the formation of blood clots, test for the following at your next scheduled blood test:
fibrinogen - tests for stickiness of platelets
homocysteine - tests for the tendency for blood to coagulate.
Dark green vegetables are excellent for reducing these two values. You can also supplement with vitamin B6 and Folate (B9).
Good luck.
P.S. If you want to learn more, read my posts:
Well done. Very impressive. Mine came back as 7.1 so trying to lower by diet even though GP computer says no action needed.
cholesterol
Cholesterol
My Cholesterol was 10.2
