Diet tips

[Greyeyes]

Hi,

I’m after some basic advice (getting an appointment with my GP is like waiting for summer).

I’ve just found out that my cholesterol is 12.4, was told it should be 8.4. I’m a 65 year old female, I eat a healthy, low fat diet & weigh 9 stones.

I’ve been been informed that it must be hereditary & put on statins. I would like to include ‘beneficial’ foods into my diet but feel like I’m in a mine field & not quite sure where to start. Any advice would be appreciated thanks .

[JAS9]

High cholesterol, hypertension, sometimes obesity, and eventually type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease are all the same problem. All of them have the same solution! In this video, Dr. Neal Barnard explains how to deal with it all with diet. No drugs. No calorie counting. It works. youtu.be/BnHYHjchn6w(Not working as expected?)

[meme]

Where is the 12.4 reading you write of?

Are there any other factors your Gp consided before suggesting Statins because your cholesterol is perfect as far as I can see from your tests.

[Mistydawn]

Hi Greyeyes, it may not just be cholesterol! There is a history of heart disease on my Dad’s side of the family and on reading the article as per the link below, we had his Lp(a) levels tested and his were three times higher than they should be. Sadly Dad is 84 years old so not much they can do for him. May be worth getting your Lp(a) levels tested?

nytimes.com/2018/01/09/well...

Good luck

[sos007 Ambassador]

Londinium gave you some good advice. Don't fret over 'low fat' - that guideline has been discredited.

You want to shift your body's fuel source from carbohydrates to fat and protein as long as it's healthy fat as she outlined in her response.

Sugar and simple carbs are most harmful.

Watch this video:

youtu.be/ZSpB-j5DL9E(Not working as expected?)

Keep in mind most research on statins have been done with men and so the merits of women taking statins is in question.

Remember to ensure you exercise daily - as simple as walking briskly for 30-60 minutes every day.

Try allowing a good diet and exercise over a few months to modify your health profile before turning to pharmaceuticals.

Consider getting a Mediterranean Diet book.

You can also get some recipe ideas here:

pritikin.com/pritikin-at-ho...

Good luck.