I Am Looking for Information on Cholesterol...

here is my question, have any of you ever got your cholesterol levels (sp?) down by doing anything in particular, without taking pills for it? I know the obvious life changes..but has anyone ever had good results on their own without medical intervention?> 

I asked the same thing, Mirabelle.  Here are the answers I got if they are any help to you.

http://community.tasteofhome.com/forums/p/680594/5765594.aspx#5765594

JoMom, thank you for giving me that link, just read it all...

very interesting comments....a lot of the suggestions we are already doing (porridge for breakfast, olive oil..not too much fat or animal fat...etc...) Jeff just had to go onto medication, the lowest level, he is extremely fit and sporty and always has been, but his is hereditary..his mums' family dropped like flies in the days when not too much was known, plus they all smoked....I want to have a go at mine the natural way if I can..I am very fit and my bloodpressure etc and what have you is low, but not my cholesterol......but when I thought about it, to be honest..I love eggs in every form and some weeks when I stopped to think about it, I must have had well over 10....also, cheese is my other weekness..and I simply have had to stop buying it for a bit..I cannot leave it alone, and the half-fat cheeses taste l;ike toe-clippings to me! (whatever tc's taste like!) I also love red meat.....although we do not have too much of that....am just in the process of really sorting out our diet....that will hurt!!!LOL  but needs must, I shall have a go!

Hi Mirabelle, when the dr told me mine is border line high, I started craving the things they said I should avoid! lol I hardly eat eggs. Well, I went through a week or so eating them everyday. Have not had any since that week. I guess it is like telling a teenager they can't do something and they do it! lol Mine is 144 which I did not think was bad because my cousin said that her level is a little over 500! She said it was a lot higher till she started taking meds for it.

I agree with ya, the diet part is a pain!

Mirabelle, I love eggs.  When I first joined WW, eggs cost so many points, that I decided to try Eggbeaters.  For egg sandwiches, and omelets they are good.  I always bought the southwestern and added some extra salsa to it. 

I hope some of the suggestions help you to keep from taking a pill.  I am alwways trying to get my sister to try something other than a pill. 

Happy Friday Morning/Afternoon, Mirry Dear!

FWIW, I just saw my Doctor this Monday & she suggested I try taking Fish Oil capsules.  The Omega-3 Fatty acids help reduce the risk of Coronary Disease.  So, I now take 2400 mg. of Fish Oil before I go night night.

Obviously, any fish that is packed with Omega-3 Fatty acids would do the same thing but I'm not one to cook fish.

Hope this helps!

Krissy     

My DH has a doctor-prescribed fish oil pill that is more concentrated than the over the counter pills. It's called LOVAZA  (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) on the bottle. It really brings his triglycerides down nicely which lowers his overall cholesterol. You could ask your doctor about this since it is not harmful.

My mom has had some luck with cod liver oil- lemon flavor and red rice yeast which are available at health food stores. I have taken an over the counter fish oil pill too. If you visit a health food store, they can advise you of more products. Our local stores have nurses on hand to advise on an overall plan.

Dietwise, I've had luck with cutting down on sugars, white flour, and using egg substitutes.

Most importantly, I have had luck with physical exercise. I like to swim laps!  Also, losing some weight helped. Find an active sport that you like, and do it. I also have two sports in one season. In the summer, I bike and swim. I actually bike to the pool. In the winter, I also x-country ski and downhill ski in addition to the swimming. The nice thing about getting lots of exercise is that you can also cheat a little on the diet, and it doesn't show once you've gotten to your goal weight and cholesterol numbers. LOL! 

I have totally revamped my  way of eating.  I am leaving sugar alone and I warn you, if you try it, your body will rebel for a few days.  I felt out of sorts and had a headache, but I am over that and feeling pretty good.

I have found I love beans and rice.  I did some research and legumes (beans) are an incomplete protein until you  add grains like rice or cornmeal, oats.  Beans and grains together form a complete protein.  Animal protein is already complete by itself, but I am trying to replace animal protein, for the most part.  DH and I enjoy broiled salmon, which has the Omega-3 fat.

Garlic is great for your health and I bought a jar  of ready to eat garlic at Wal-Mart and keep that in the fridge to put in salads and for cooking.  Grape juice, all fruits and veggies, whole grains (bread, HB and hot dog buns, bagels, hoagie buns, are all available in the whole grain) garlic, cold water fish, low-fat dairy are all good for lowering cholesterol and are very tasty.

Wanted to add, DH and I like soy burgers.  They are under the Morning Star brand at Wal-Mart.  They seem just like hamburgers to us.  There is also the crumbles which are like browned ground beef.  I make sloppy joes and put them in soup, also.  I noticed they even have sausage and bacon substitutes.  I plan on trying those.

Thank you all for all the info..and will have a go at it...I have a feeling it will not be easy, but then again...I shall keep you informed how we get on!

Thanks again...

Egg beaters are actually pretty good.

Isn't the whites of eggs ok? If you can stand to eat eggs without the yolks, that might be a good thing.

I have read lots of things about lowering cholestrol, but, I swear, can't remember it.  I think cinamom is good. I sprinkle it in my cereal. Cheerios is really good.

They are saying now, to scare the wits out of us, that, even if your cholestorol is good, you can still get heart disease. From the inflammation in your body.

Omega, Fish Oil, is good for inflammation. Vitamin C is too.

A man told me last week, that for years, he has made a remedy himself. Now, I forget the exact amount of each , but, seems like it was on this line:

Take Red cider vinegar, then grape juice, double the amount from what the vinegar was, the double again, apple juice.

That is suppose to be good for arthritis, which, is, i think, an inflammation, right?