Help reducing my cholesterol

I'm taking Lestrin plus to reduce my cholesterol levels, I've lost 8lb in weight, exercise daily, eat healthy yet its not lowering. I refuse to take statins. I also take vit D, C, Zink, magnesium, garlic, Cranberry, all daily.

[arty_sax]

why do you refuse to takr statins?

[sandybrown]

Hello, What are your blood test cholesterol numbers?

I had my blood test, my total cholesterol is 5.3. I have declined statin is the message written on my medical records!!

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

5.9 and not moving

[Batty1 in reply to Hidden]

Do you have hypothyroidism ? If so this can raise cholesterol.

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

Any numbers for HDL, LDL and Triglyceride?

[Flinder]

Hi trublu1Last Dec I was told that my cholesterol was 7.5 and the nurse gave me statins right away. She said herself started taking statins while her cholesterol was a little above 6. Anyway after a week or so I stopped the med because I didn’t want to become drug dependent.

I stopped eating red meat and minimize white meat and cakes & biscuits. I had porridges for breakfast very often and brown bread instead of white bread also eating more fish, vegetables and fruits. I don’t have any dairy products unless they specify lower cholesterol. I use only olive oil for cooking, apple vinegar in salad dressing. By March my cholesterol was down from 7.5 to 6.3. I was told to continue the diet. All in all it s a bit of an effort but not too extreme. I still able to enjoy my food and spoil myself occasionally.

In November my blood result was showing 6.1 in total. However this nurse said it s not a concern as my LDL s gone down quite a lot and my HDL s a bit higher than my LDL. My next blood test will be in June 22.

[sandybrown in reply to Flinder]

Do you have your HDL, LDL and triglyceride numbers? I had a blood test in November, my total cholesterol is 5.3, HDL is 0.77 and no results were given for LDL and triglyceride.

[Flinder in reply to sandybrown]

The nurse told me over the phone my HDL was 3 something and DLD was 2 something. Have had a chance to get a blood test result.

[Flinder]

Just want to add I would suggest try porridge for breakfast. Many people said it really helps.

[Recon]

I had better cholesterol results using wax-matrix niacin (as nicotinic acid (vitamin B-3)) - unfortunately some people find it intolerable due to flushing. Not all niacin is the same, so make sure it is the nicotinic acid. The wax matrix allows it to be released over a 6-8 hour period.

[volvodave]

Try adding oats as a daily routine with no milk.. stay off dairy ..especially milk. Then watch your fruit juice and 'Treats' intake..as well as being too high in sugar and the obvious risk of diabetes from sugar.. it will also not be a help if your trying to reduce cholesterol.. and then look at getting all 'processed' packaged stuff out of your diet.. be a bit obsessive about what your putting in and leave out stuff that isn't essential nutrition.. and be aware of meats bringing health issues... change what dietary routine your used to.. people find it hard to break habits of a lifetime.. like having a 'nice' ham sandwich and a packet of crisps.. which is many elderly peoples go to snack.. very little nutritional value.. white bread..pig meat..and loads of salt.. as an example of 'habitual eating regimes'.

[sandybrown in reply to volvodave]

Why do you say keep away from dairy?

[volvodave in reply to sandybrown]

If you research milk .. you will get many results where it says it is good for you.. more than likely the data is provided by the 'industries' own studies.. however.. most milk is heated.. or 'pasteurised'.. to prevent bacteria.. this renders it useless of any goodness or bacteria that may have been beneficial to us.. other studies (not from the 'interested' industry) show that adults have much difficulty 'processing' milk.. especially milk intended for an animal.. produced from the gestation of the cow.. which is also high in Estrogen.. high levels of which in women is a cancer risk.. cheeses are full of saturated fat.. and although can be delicious are not healthy foods for people who want to reduce cholesterol..

[arty_sax]

dont be a silly billy. If Doc says take statins..follow the recommendation.

[sandybrown in reply to arty_sax]

I am afraid I dis agree!,

GP practice may not offer expensive statin. Need to look at side effect!

Medication Pack Size Price

Simvastatin 3 month 10mg, 20mg or 40mg £20.00

Simvastatin 6 month 10mg, 20mg or 40mg £25.00

Lipitor® 3 months 10mg £75.00

Crestor® 3 months 10mg £80.00

Lipitor® 3 months 20mg £120.00

Pravastatin 3 months 10mg, 20mg or 40mg £20.00

Fluvastatin 3 months 20mg or 40mg £25.00

The above gives cost analysis.

[arty_sax in reply to sandybrown]

GPs should not consider cost... suitability and treatment should be top priorities.