Need help

[tannia2727]

I’m a little lost as to what is good and not good to eat with cholesterol. I have read plenty internet post but all they seem to do is contradict themselves. My husband is being a trooper and also wants to cut back on his sodium so if anyone has any bits of awesome secrets that would be great.

[Techembrace]

I'm 62 at first I changed the salt to Saxo low sodium then I just stopped adding salt altogether. I sometimes have fresh veg and other times frozen. The best thing I did was to buy a nutribullet it comes with a book of recipes, but after a year I have my own that I use for different moods which includes veg , fruit ,seeds and nuts

[sandybrown]

Human body produces 80% of required cholesterol, 20% from what goes into our mouth!

You need to ask your doctor for explanation if there is high cholesterol.

Watching out for free and hidden sugar and regular exercise can help towards a healthy life.

[DakCB-UK in reply to sandybrown]

Yes, high cholesterol is more often a regulation problem than over-consumption - eat more cholesterol and if the body can extract it, it produces less to compensate. The 1980s advice used to be limit cholesterol in the diet, but that's long since debunked.

[DakCB-UK]

Unprocessed foods and roughly mediterranean diet works best for me so far. This is consequently low in free/hidden sugar. Oh and exercise.

[sos007 Ambassador]

I had a triple bypass in March 2015 and by October 2016 I got off of all prescription medications. My blood work is optimal and all of my cholesterol readings are now normal.

The key is daily exercise, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet.

mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...

This is NOT a calorie restricted weight loss diet, it is a way of eating healthy for life. By implementing this diet, you can still feel full yet lose weight because the types of foods you eat are lower in calories.

Quick summary:

Eliminate all sugars, fried foods, soft drinks, fruit juices, and simple carbohydrates from your diet. Reduce animal protein (meat and fish) to every other day. You should have fish twice per week.

Eat only whole foods - which means no more processed foods from the supermarket. Cook fresh whole foods, snack on fruits and vegetables and nuts (in moderation) when hungry between meals. Walk daily, start - with 30 minutes and build up to 60 minutes per day. Get a Fitbit or similar device for measuring your daily steps and exercise in order to hold yourself accountable to a pre-determined goal (mine is 15,000 steps per day).

Check your blood work quarterly to hold yourself accountable to your new diet.

Cholesterol in the blood is a response to inflammatory damage within your body - sugar and simple carbohydrates trigger inflammation.

You don't need statins if you do what I have done and am still doing. You also need to eat more green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables, plus supplement with vitamins B6, Folic Acid (B9) and B12. The B vitamins will reduce your risk of developing blood clots which are the principle cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Take large doses of vitamin C - it is an essential molecule for your body and results in a reduction in cholesterol. It is harmless even in large doses. You should take 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams with each meal.

Read about my journey and other insightful details about cholesterol and heart disease here:

healthunlocked.com/user/sos007

P.S. sodium has nothing to do with cholesterol. Sodium, in excess, will increase blood pressure and impedes the efficient functioning of your heart muscle. However that doesn't mean you can't have salt, you just need to keep it in moderation. Increased blood pressure also causes damage to your arteries, so this is why you must lose weight.

By the way, doctors have VERY limited training in nutrition and vitamins so don't expect anything from them other than a referral to a registered dietitian. The medical system is designed to treat acute illness, not prevent disease.

Find a good naturopathic doctor who can help you with both your diet and vitamin supplements and counsel you on how to live a healthy life to avoid disease in the first place.

Good luck.

[sandybrown]

Use real salt not processed salt.