How did you lower your cholesterol?

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Me, too. My change in diet helped me achieve a fairly significant weight loss as well, so I can't say whether it was the plant-based diet or simply dropping some weight, which improved my cholesterol numbers. But in any case, it was a winning combination for me.

There is no cholesterol in plant foods. All dietary cholesterol comes from animal based foods. Meat, fish, chicken, dairy and eggs.

Saturated fats, though can be found in vegetable oils, such as palm oil, coconut oil, hydrogenated oils, and chocolate. Some processed foods, including many baked goods and snack foods, contain trans fats, which also stimulate your body to produce more cholesterol.

Exercise and adopting a plant based diet, free of processed foods and oils, is a winning combination!

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

The President of the American College of Cardiology wants people to adopt a vegan diet: http://www.forksoverknives.com/why-...ts-heart-disease-patients-to-eat-vegan-diets/

Dr. Esselstyn's Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease website:http://www.dresselstyn.com/site/

Another top cardiologist who is vegan: https://www.drjoelkahn.com/

Forks Over Knives Documentary on DVD is amazing and talks about heart disease and American diet and has awesome healthy recipes too: http://www.forksoverknives.com/

 

[star72232]

You need to keep your simple carbs down.

When you eat carbs (especially simple carbs - think sugar, white rice, pasta, bread, etc) your body releases insulin to move the sugar into your cells. After the sugar is gone you need to get rid of the insulin, so the liver breaks it down. One of the byproducts of insulin breakdown is cholesterol. Lowering your simple sugar intake will typically help lower your cholesterol.

Exercise helps to raise your HDL ("good") cholesterol levels, so less sugar and more exercise tend to be the best combination. Increasing fibre, limiting (not eliminating) dietary cholesterol can also help.

 

[jt'smom]

Saturated fats, though can be found in vegetable oils, such as palm oil, coconut oil, hydrogenated oils, and chocolate. Some processed foods, including many baked goods and snack foods, contain trans fats, which also stimulate your body to produce more cholesterol

I've always had strangely good blood work, and while I don't eat a lot of processed foods, I do consume a lot of coconut oil. A couple of years ago, after taking doxycycline for 7 years straight to control rosacea, I started having gut issues. My doctor recommended the Candida diet, and while I don't follow it stringently anymore, I still take 5 tablespoons of organic, cold pressed coconut oil every day, and I have excellent numbers.

 

[Dancind]

This thread is a microcosm of nutritional knowledge in our country, maybe even the world. Such widely diverse opinions! I sometimes think we do best on our ancestor's diet, if you know what that is. I know I had a lot of Scots in my family, but that's about it. I like potatoes?

I'm very interested in keeping my brain healthy. My age and prior chemical damage have challenged me, so I read a lot about it. Vegetarianism is a NO for me. But it is better than the current American diet of processed foods. However, I won't try to get my cholesterol really low because of that. My ratio is excellent because my "good" number goes up a little every year. Coconut oil yes, but more grass fed butter, beef etc. Been doing this for about 4 years.

Personally, I think we should all be looking at what Scandinavians, Croatians, Germans are eating. Their young people seem to all be growing like crazy! This based on my observations during a recent trip to Europe, and not on any scientific data at all.

 

[anniemae]

I've always had strangely good blood work, and while I don't eat a lot of processed foods, I do consume a lot of coconut oil. A couple of years ago, after taking doxycycline for 7 years straight to control rosacea, I started having gut issues. My doctor recommended the Candida diet, and while I don't follow it stringently anymore, I still take 5 tablespoons of organic, cold pressed coconut oil every day, and I have excellent numbers.

I'll have to check out the Candida diet.