Yearofhealth2023's Journal, 12 January 2024

I have lowered mine some through diet and exercise and weight loss. Plus supplements. I tried a low cholesterol diet and got worse.  

Yea I read a lot of dietary cholesterols impact on the body’s cholesterol levels. It doesn’t impact it much. The more you eat the less your body has to produce it’s own. And how much your body produces and the amount you eat is minuscule for it to impact much of anything. What impacts it more is the type of fats and how much of it. Atleast from my understanding. There’s also subjects that states cholesterol is a good thing. It’s like the glue that holds your tissues together. And the arterial sclerosis is linked to cholesterol is only a by product of the original cause. A damage in the endothelial and cholesterol is used to repair as such 

As Supergainz said, it’s not dietary cholesterol that you need to watch. Lowering saturated fat (to lower LDL) and carbs (to lower triglycerides) will have the biggest impact on your total cholesterol level. 

Super and Agnes is there a number of grams per day i should try and limit carbs to? I dont get hardly any saturated fat.  

Thanks for adding that, honeebuns, it’s absolutely the refined carbs that are bad for cholesterol, not the complex carbs that are high in fiber. So there is really no number of carbs to aim for, just trying to make as many good swaps as possible (brown rice for white rice, etc). But going back to sat fat: FS allows you to check in the nutrient tab of Reports how many grams of saturated fat you have in your average daily intake, and what the main sources are. What do you see there?  

sometimes high cholesterol is just genetic and you can do all the right things and still end up with it. Just stay the course and get on message if your doctor recommends it, because high cholesterol isn't something you want to play with 

I know of one person on here who lowered hers with a strict, whole foods, plant based diet. But I'll second the advice that if it doesn't bring it down enough, listen to your doctor and look at medications. Sometimes even the most perfect diet isn't enough to trump genetics. And you can lower it eating plenty of carbs -- I did. Just ditch refined carbs  

there is a lot of research that's been surprassed and is being re- evaluated about cholesterol. There's a video out today by Dr Shawn Baker The secret of cholesterol. " Debunking cholesterol myths" Paul Saladino and Dave Feldman. "high ldl-c no plaque" dr Berry panel of experts. There was a big study just released in December that will change this whole cholesterol narrative. Dave Feldman is the expert you can watch many of his recent videos all over YouTube. People with higher cholesterol live longer. the thing you don't want is inflammation. get a CAC test to see if you have any calcium blockage. My cholesterol is very very high. My doc knows the studies and is fine with at as long as I have zero CAC score and don't eat junk.  

No, high LDL is not harmless. And by the time you get a bad CAC, you already have advanced atherosclerosis. I can point to numerous sources from people who have actual credentials in nutrition (unlike Saladino) and/or have done research (as in running the experiments) who have debunked this. Try Nutrition Made Simple on YouTube (Gil Carvalho), Dr. Alo (a cardiologist), and The Proof with Simon Hill. Layne Norton has done some great, hilarious takedowns of Saladino.  

I really get agitated when discussions go in the direction of weight loss or health advise… so deleting my previous comment. 

writingwyo, you are wrong! are you familiar with the studies saying that is clearly being disputed?  

I'm not claiming anything. I'm giving sources to consider! 

High LDL cholesterol is harmful, there are decades of studies tracking the number of heart attack and stroke victims who have the elevated levels. Medication is developed based off of this knowledge, and I have watched with amusement the dieters on FS on meds who continue to have health problems while consuming diets high in saturated fat. 

jenjabba-- you have provided sources. I've provided sources as well. In the interest of not hijacking this thread further, that's all I will say 

Everyone in my family has high cholesterol. Except me, the mostly plant based eater. Just my experience, I don’t know what will work for you YOH but I wish you the best! 

Thank you guys. I look for the input from fellow FS folks more for ideas than concrete factual information. We are all adults. Take what you read, do your own research on said info and proceed with your own path. I was just curious. I think one thing i have to consider is that i do use white flour in my protein muffins which i have 2 a day of. I dont think i consume much in the way of refined carbs. I get my labs back this upcoming week so i am curious as to where my cholesterol will fall. My overall cholesterol is very high, something like 2200+. My HDL is fine my LDL is around 248 as of last labs which is down from 278 or something from the previous year. Again, i was just interested in what folks thoughts were. No one needs to get upset at others. I thank you all for your input . JB i know your numbers improved dramatically with plant based diet if i remember correctly? 

@YoH: yeah, I'm completely plant based, and I don't eat anything processed. LDL started coming down in only a few weeks once I ditched the cheese. If you actually carry the gene mutation for high cholesterol (which your doctor can test for), then I would definitely take the meds if your doctor urges you to. That's not the same thing as eating tons of saturated fatty food for years and causing your own cholesterol crisis.  

YOH I know you do your own research. 💙 I am not upset with anything or any member. There is just a jumping off point for me. 

I don’t know what my cholesterol was in my teens so I can’t attest to how much it has gone down or not, but Jb’s experience is great  

I don't have high cholesterol genetically. But I grew up in a household that was pretty much steak and potatoes maybe 4 or 5 times a week. It seems like each baked potato had a stick of butter in it. So tons of saturated fat. My dad was an airline pilot and I know he ate steak while on his overnight trips. 3 had a triple bypass in his late 60's, my mom died after having a massive stroke at 61. My 3 younger siblings all have heart issues and high cholesterol. When I grew up and started planning my own meals, I ate much less meat. The first time my cholesterol was checked at age 30 I was told it was like a vegetarian's. My cholesterol is usually fine, some numbers can be minimally high and I usually reduce how much red meat I eat, also shrimp and eggs. I've been eating eggs more recently so will see next time my labs are done. All my sisters (younger than me) have heart issues, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. One sister who is more overweight than me practically lives on bacon and sausage. I think you can find whatever information you want online to match your own thoughts. I agree within that a plant based diet is probably the healthiest. I'll never eat that way but am working to reduce how many processed foods I eat (ignore the hot chocolate I had for breakfast). There not be much you can do if it's genetics