IBS sufferer trying to lower cholesterol

[sandra2dogs]

im a 62 female & im trying to lower my cholesterol, Dr says its 7.5 & should be 5, but it makes it a bit more difficult with having IBS I cant eat bran or fruit, Ive always walked my dog 3/4 times a day, twice for at least 3/4 of an hour , I don't drink & or smoke, I have a cross trainer I use at least twice a day, ive changed to semi skimmed which is awful (as I don't like tea or coffee I only drank real milk) & ive given up butter & salt although I dident use much of either, ive got some liver cleansing drops from health shop & some linseed to put on my food but ive had to give up with the linseed as its making my IBS really bad I cant stand the cramping pains (especially in the night) I don't know what else to do, I only have a bar of chocolate & 1 bag of sweets at weekend as a treat so I don't overdo anything, any ideas are welcome thanks Sandra

[YvonneD]

I must confess that I have little knowledge of IBS. Can you eat oily fish, onions, garlic? Can you drink red wine? All these help to lower total cholesterol levels. Why not join HEART UK (the cholesterol charity)? Their dieticians probably have a glut of suggestions? Hope other members of the forum can offer more personal;advice.

[sandra2dogs]

no cant eat oily anything even fish it makes me bad, I tried garlick it gives me indigestion bad & hate onions & I don't drink, im really trying but things seem against me at the moment but I will try heart uk thanks a lot San

[foodblog]

Lowering cholesterol through diet is partly about removing certain foods from your diet as well as adding in some important foods. The ones to add in are oats, pulses (lentils especially good), almonds, oily fish. You say fish makes you feel bad. Does this include a piece of baked salmon for example? Or a fresh piece of tuna which is not oily in taste? If you can eat pulses and simple fish dishes I can send you quite a few recipes. The other things that are good are grains such as brown rice, quinoa, bulgar wheat. Any of these ok with you? Have you tried rice or almond milk if you don't like the taste of semi skimmed? Also how about some herbal teas instead of milk?

[sandra2dogs]

I will try all above, I do eat salmon & tuna & oats, not heard of quinoa & bulgar wheat I will look out for them, I will try rice & almond milk, thanks a lot, Sandra

[Penel]

It seems a good idea to take as much processed food as you can out of your diet, especially sugar and other carbohydrates. I haven't eaten low fat food for years. Cholesterol levels go up naturally after the menopause, and my gp is quite happy with a levels up to 6.

webmd.com/cholesterol-manag...

Quinoa is a nice alternative to rice, you might find it in the 'Free From' section in your supermarket.

[charlie101]

Please try Alovera drink once perday, it has helped my IBS quite a lot, then you can be more adventurous with fibre foods which will help your cholesterol

[Patsyblue]

Hi Sandra2digs

I have similar problems to yourself

I find eating garlic give me indigestion I also have Barrett esophogus

The way I get around the garlic problem - I use kyolic garlic tablets from the health food shop they taste when you initially take them then no odours at all or heart burn

I put linseed on my breakfast either cornflakes with dries mixed fruit fresh banana and flaked almonds - or the same items in oats

I do go to toilet more often but nothing upsetting as IBS can be

Hope this helps

[Patsyblue]

Hi Sandra2digs

I have similar problems to yourself

I find eating garlic give me indigestion I also have Barrett esophogus

The way I get around the garlic problem - I use kyolic garlic tablets from the health food shop they taste when you initially take them then no odours at all or heart burn

I put linseed on my breakfast either cornflakes with dries mixed fruit fresh banana and flaked almonds - or the same items in oats

I do go to toilet more often but nothing upsetting as IBS can be

Hope this helps

[patch14]

Hi, as a former sufferer of IBS I am fully aware of your agonies!! Firstly, have you ever thought of having a test for "intolerance" in your diet. This is not "allergy" but a gradual intolerance that builds up over the years and finally shows itself in IBS-like symptoms. I had to go privately to get tested (see several Websites - I used the York Test) as the GP was not particularly interested and kept insisting that I follow an exclusion diet - this was getting ridiculous as I was excluding foods that, I found out after my intolerance test, were not the problem!!!!

My problem proved to be DAIRY. Not lactose intolerance but protein intolerance so therefore I cannot have any animal dairy products at all. I now follow a diet without dairy - which, for the first few weeks was a nightmare as so many foods - spreads, etc are full of dairy - even foods that appear not to have dairy - salad cream, coleslaws, mayonnaises, etc., READ LABELS!

I have soya based yogurts, creams etc., oat based milk (my choice as oats are great for helping in the balancing of your Cholesterol) and now bake my own cakes and breads (the old fashioned way as I cannot tolerate modern breads with their quick rise yeasts - I also buy breads from local bakers and not factory made) I have found that PURE soya spread and Stork hard block marg are both dairy free and make my cakes, etc., from them. They taste great and the family are delighted i can still make my Xmas cakes!!

I keep off all high fibre. No wholegrains AT ALL. The only fibre that IBS sufferes can tolerate is soluble fibre - therefore oat based cereals are very good. Watch your whole grains in pasta and rice also, these too, are a problem. Nuts and seeds are a no no as well. These can cause not only ghastly pain but also diverticulitis, which, I can state categorically, is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. It is a horrible thing which can make you sweat with the pain and double up in agony.

Because of the poor guidance from my GP I had to go through all this hoo haa on my own. It was a case of healing myself. I know the York Test was a bit pricey (£250 two years ago) but my goodness what a good sum of money well spent!!!!!!!!! I am a different person, I eat without worry (although I am careful when I eat out but most restaurants are very accommodating with meals when you tell them you are dairy free - I have always been offered soya milk in the |Premier Inns for breakfast!).

I wish you all the best - and if you do go down the test route you may find that you have an intolerance to something that will really surprise you - I did - I have always have a diet full of dairy and thought I was doing something good by eating low fat yogurts and sticking to Semi Skimmed milk unaware that it was the milk that was the problem!!!

[Glasgow42014]

I have been under my GP for IBS and can relate to how you must be feeling - as far as medications go - my GP has prescribed 100, Capsules of, 'Natures only Colpermin IBS Relief Capsules you may go on 'Colpermin's own website for info which you won't be disappointed.

The Capsules contain ' Natural peppermint oil formulated by a sustained release capsule, clinically proven to provide effective, targeted relief from the symptoms of;

"Irritable Bowel Syndrome, including painful spasms, bloating and / or diarrohoea.

IBS - can be mistaken for Candida - related to Yeast with similar symptoms as IBS, which means, I have to be very careful as to what food and drinks I in-take:

Bread; unless 'wheat & yeast free, which can be purchased from 'Asda or Tesco some GP's will let you have prescription for such items?

Your sugar in-take - I no-longer buy granulated - because - I have found a 'natural healthier sugar - "Total Sweet" which I buy on Amazon.

* GI Value of 7

* Non Artificial

* Aspartame free

* Suitable for diabetics

* 40% less calories than sugar

* Actively promotes healthy teeth

* Sourced from sustainable birch wood

* Can be used in cooking exactly like sugar

* 75% less available carbohydrates than sugar

I'm only on buy grass-fed products - BEEF, HAM from Butcher's who only use our local farms. Along-side fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, especially Straw-Berry, Rasp-Berry, Black-Berry all fruits ending in Berry.

I'd, recommend, you speak to your GP about making an appointment with a dietitian who will be able organise foods which you can help-with- your-problem with your 'digestive system.'

If you click on the link below you will learn all about IBS and how to deal with it!

I do hope the above info is of help to you!

ibs-symptoms.co.uk/sitemap

[Penel]

Following on with the ideas from patch14... Have you been tested by your gp for any problems with gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye and barley? It gives IBS and diverticular type symptoms. I had to give up food containing gluten several years ago and found that not eating any bread or cakes etc meant that I lost weight and my cholesterol level went down. I gave up sugar at the same time, so I think it was a combination of the two things.

Now that there are many gluten free flours on the market I can make the occasional treat, but I still avoid sugar as much as I can.

[patch14 in reply to Penel]

When I went through the York Test they tested me for 146 intolerances and gluten was NOT one of them! Thankfully. You are right about sugar. I have replaced much of my sugar in my diet with local honey and one of the bonuses of that is my hayfever has improved too!!

[sandra2dogs]

thanks everyone for your help & ideas I will be trying what you've said asap thanks again sandra

[Penel]

Sandra, have you tried taking any probiotics? They seem to help some people with gut problems. I am ok with dairy, and have plain probiotic yoghurt with banana or other fruit I add myself.

Good luck with sorting everything out.

[sandra2dogs in reply to Penel]

yes I have theyr ok & bananas r ok with me to, its a shame I like fruit but it doesent like me my dr said try making a smoothie with fruit I said its still fruit & it dosent like me he dosent seem to understand thanks a lot sandra