Comments on: Ways To Lower Cholesterol

By: Ding-Ding

Ding-Ding — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:06:59 +0000

After reading the other answers, I have come to the conclusion that everyone IS really different. I have done all the above things (and continue to do so, it is just simply healthier) and had no difference. It runs in the family and is hereditary. However, my doctor suggested I take a little extra niacin to help my liver. He suggested 250 mgs a day of a "non-flush" brand of niacin. Like an idiot I got the cheapest regular kind. Those flushes are something else! If you are having hot flashes, niacin is just a harsher form of a hot flash.

Ask your doctor about niacin and if they say OK, try it, but get the "non-flush" kind. My cholesterol was/is high but it has come down several points and is still declining.

Stay away from animal fat and use olive oil or sesame oil, apples, pears and citrus fruits are good. Chicken (no skin) and fish are good sources of protein. (No peanut oil, either!) I have also started adding ground flaxseed to my pancakes, they are high in omegas 3, 6 and 9, they are supposedly cholesterol busters. I use ground oats in meatloaf instead of bread crumbs or crackers. These are just a few ideas. Leisurely walking is good if you do it long enough. If you have cardiac issues you don’t want to over do the hard-core exercise routines.

As always, check with your physician, good luck. It’s nice to see people here in my age group! LOL
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By: janisko

janisko — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:04:59 +0000

I can only tell you what did it for me. I went low-carb. My numbers went from much higher than you to nothing short of amazing! I’ve fought cholesterol all my adult life and tried all the traditional ways of lowering it… low fat, losing weight, exercise to raise HDL, etc. I cut out all added fat except olive oil for two years. Even that didn’t do it. Then I discovered low-carbing, Atkins in particular. Although my numbers had greatly improved with everything I had done it wasn’t enough. Once on Atkins my HDL went from high 40’s to nearly 90. My triglycerides went from 200 to 60. LDL went from close to 150 to around 100. My risk factor went from extremely high to so low the computer calls me abnormal. My doc says only 5% of adults have numbers like mine.

It would be easier to give you more information if I knew what all your specific numbers were. Being over 200 in itself is not necessarily bad if you have very high HDL. It’s the balance that matters.

The worst foods are saturated fats, trans-fats, sugar and processed foods. By sugar I mean ALL sugar, including naturally occuring sugar in some fruits like watermelon, grapes and bananas. Cutting sugar will cause your triglycerides to literally plummet.

BTW… I’m 59.
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By: JOHN M

JOHN M — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:02:59 +0000

Go on a completely fat free diet for 2 weeks and have your cholesterol measured again. It should have dropped to around 160. To reduce your cholesterol, eliminate all partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, whether in shortenings, margarines, deep fat fried items like fried potatoes or fried chicken, etc. Cut your fat intake to 25% of caloric intake. LOL
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By: cyaoza

cyaoza — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:00:40 +0000

What are the best ways to lower my cholesterol?
I’m 51 & I’ve been healthy all my life, not overweight & now going through menopause. I don’t eat junk food either. My cholesterol is over 200. What are some simple ways to lower my cholesterol? What foods are the worst to eat & the best to eat? Is walking leisurely enough with regards to exercise?