diet to temporarily lower cholesterol readings

[shellycheval]

I have to have some blood tests done to keep my cardiologist happy. She has proscribed statins but I do not take them—I lie to protect myself. The last time
my cholesterol was checked the levels were about 10 or 15 points above the “acceptable” combined level. I generally follow the keto way of eating, but have eaten a few more carbs this summer than I usually do in the form of occasional oatmeal, rice, or potatoes (I am not sensitive to nightshades) or a little sugar in dark chocolate and fruit. I am wheat gluten free.

Is there any diet I can follow for two weeks or so before my blood tests that is known to lower cholesterol readings? Would it be eating low saturated fat, drinking more water? Are there any supplements that would help? My plan is to do whatever it takes to get the lowest possible cholesterol readings to avoid harassment from my doctors and family (they are convinced that my keto diet caused my heart attack and by-pass surgery a year and a half ago) and then after the test results are in, go back on the keto diet.

I tried finding references to this type of diet information through the search engine but too much peripheral information showed up. No specific instructions were found.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to eat/drink for a few days or weeks before having cholesterol levels to give lower cholesterol results?
Thank you,
shellycheval

 

[kalibex]

Shelly, just wanted to double-check - are you aware of the following regarding cholesterol?

The latest research into LDL shows that there are actually sub-categories of this cholesterol transporter and that some are more dangerous than others. The larger, more billowy LDL particles are now thought to have little or no significant role in heart disease. On the other hand, the smaller, dense LDL particles are the ones believed to be most involved in the process of inflammation that begins the atherosclerosis cascade. And wouldn’t you know it, but it’s a diet high in simple carbs that most readily promotes the formation of these small LDL particles! Unfortunately, this important distinction is probably something your doctor knows very little about, yet it’s the number of small particle LDL that might be the most important reading in any cholesterol test. So a total cholesterol of, say, 230 or even 250 might not be dangerous at all if your HDL is high and your small particle LDL is low.

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/cholesterol/#ixzz4H8Y8SddG

If your HDL is what's driving your combined reading up, you might want to point out to the doctor that if your LDL is low, you're actually all right...

 

[Lilou]

Hi Shelly, I scouted around and found these suggestions here , but can't say if it is reliable information. {the first posters name is a funny coincidence! }

Atreides
Apr '05

get some no flush niacin.
be sure to get the 'no flush' variety.
you can find this at a local gnc.
others have mentioned it, but you need to eat oatmeal.
If you are new to oatmeal, it will drop your cholesterol up to 50 points within a month. I have verified this with a small study ; n=3.

hedo
Apr '05

Fast longer then the required period. Usually it is 12 hrs. Give it 24. I heard that works. Don't know for sure.

Aside from that, are you not able to just say "no" to your cardiologist? I know it is not easy standing up to the medical mafia. My Mom (who had a double bypass in June) was not given a hard time about not taking the statins by the cardiologist, but her family doctor got on a soap box about it. He said he'd prefer she take at least 10 mg/day (the original Rx was for 40 mg/day of Lipitor) and if she still suffered muscle pain, she could discontinue taking it and he'd never talk about it again. He gave her the script, but she is still not taking it. :P I suggested he order a Lipid Panel, but he refused, said he'd order it after 6 weeks of Lipitor. I guess he just "assumes" her cholesterol is high. No need to test, just take the drug!

Good luck and don't let them bully you!

 

[Nico]

_http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=68

Gaby send this to me to lower cholesterol, I don't know if two weeks is enough but if you fast and exercice a little more...

Or you can try another solution like stand up for yourself and gain knowledge of courageousness.

My doctor send me to a dietetician who "advise" diabetic people with whole grain bread, milk and fruits diet... It was a bizarre discussion, I discover my own self-importance facing her ignorance about studies (keto and co) which didn't appear in her cursus. And I also discover my own programming facing "knowledgable" care practionner... I felt like a ignorant little child. I learnt to face pre-established ideas, stand up with "new/old" ideas (keto diet) without provoking a bad outcome. Conscious anger might help.
Maybe it worth to shocking yourself a little.

Take care.

 

[Gaby]

Unfortunately the guidelines for people who have had a heart attack or who have gone through bypass heart surgery are completely unrealistic and idiotic.

If your cholesterol is inflammatory, it doesn't matter if it is high or extremely low. It will still be inflammatory. Other factors other than some potatoes and oatmeal in the diet could be at play. For instance, you can be high in heavy metals or iron and that could oxidize or inflame your cholesterol.

Mainstream guidelines doesn't take this into account. Their only target is an LDL cholesterol of less than 100, period. The rest has to be in range too, it doesn't matter that the lab range has changed since statins came to the market. That is, right now a high cholesterol was normal in the past.

There is no diet you could do that would bring your LDL cholesterol level to less than 100mg because that is simply not physiological. Some people do manage to have an LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 and they look ill and feel ill, or they do a lot of activities or sport.

The only way you can meet your target cholesterol levels set upon you by your doctor, is to take statin drugs. The doctor will know if you are taking the drugs or not by just looking at your blood panel.

Lilou summarized the attitude quite well. Doctors would rather have you have muscle pain and other side effects. Some doctors can just think about a target cholesterol level that they could input in their medical software. Patients and common sense be damned! Pretty scary, hey?

You could say that you are very weary of the side effects of statins and that is why you are not taking the drug and that you would do your best to follow any diet given to you by them. Maybe that would be enough for the doc?

 

[Carl]

The insanity of it just boggles the mind. These people are supposed to help and if anything, they make things worse. Do you particularly need to keep this cardiologist happy for other reasons? It sounds like it is not even worth the effort.

 

[Ollie]

Yes, the insanity does boggle the mind, mind you they are under considerable marketing pressure. When I lived in the UK, I joined a local panel, just to do a blood test. When I went to collect the results, I was told that the doctor wanted to see me, eventually I did. He talked about high cholesterol and the need for statins. I resisted and talked about research results of taking stains and more about that the LDL was unimportant. At the end of 3/4hr we begged to differ and parted company.

In France my local doctor wanted me to take statins, as prescribed to me and gave me the usual lecture about diet. At the time my local cardiologist prescribed something akin to statins, saying that if they gave me a headache I could stop taking them. Needless to say I didn't take them.

I too, am due a blood test in September to check, amongst other things, my cholesterol levels. I intend asking for other tests on the blood, other than what the hospital cardioligist has requested, such as iron, ferritin and transferritin levels (and Gaby suggested TIBC too), and other tests as prescribed in the book, "The Heart Cure" by Al Sears - Homocysterine, C-Reactive Protein, CoQ10, Insulin, and VAP cholesterol.

this may help, or not. I wish you well Shellycheval.

 

[shellycheval]

Many Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful responses. In the past I have tried to pass on information to my doctors and other healthcare practitioners on the value of a high good-fat diet
and the overrated value of lower cholesterol, and have found the response to be just short of the response one gets when trying to explain how there is no savior god and higher dimensional entities
farm us like cattle and eat our energy

But, I would challenge my doctor anyway and not care what she thinks except for what I have learned about how refusing to take Dr. prescribed medication can be grounds for your medical insurance to refuse to pay for any medical procedures or care that they determine results from not taking ones required meds and acting ADO "against doctor's orders." Once again the US "health care" system is really all about money and not doing what is best for the patient. So, if I were be hospitalized for another "cardiac event" and my medical records state that I refuse to take Doctor prescribed medication KNOWN BY EVERYONE
to prevent heart attacks, then it is possible that I could be libel for some or all of the medical bills. Given the cost of such care, if I was required to pay, then it would be an incredible expense that would likely impact me to the end of my days (or the end of the health care system--which ever comes first! ) I was told this by a reliable source who works in the health insurance field. and that pretty much anytime they find a way to refuse to pay for care they will take it.

So, my plan is to eat chicken, fish, and salad with olive oil for a week or so to jump start my diet plans and then get the blood work done. Regardless of the results, I will continue refilling
my statin prescription so on the record I am compliant with doctor's orders assuring her that I am taking them but they just must not work for me.
Then back to eating a keto diet and avoiding my beloved starches :(. (When I start feeling better again it will be :D)

Thanks again and take care everyone
shellycheval

 

[theos]

So, my plan is to eat chicken, fish, and salad with olive oil for a week or so to jump start my diet plans and then get the blood work done. Regardless of the results, I will continue refilling
my statin prescription so on the record I am compliant with doctor's orders assuring her that I am taking them but they just must not work for me.
Then back to eating a keto diet and avoiding my beloved starches :(. (When I start feeling better again it will be :D)

That sounds like a decent plan but your body will manufacture as much cholesterol as it needs no matter what you eat. So if your body feels you need a lot of cholesterol right now, that's what you're gonna get. The only way to know is to get tested but you could always lie to your doctor and tell her you forgot to fast for the test which could account for higher readings. But she'd probably want you to take it again anyway.

It's a shame that peeps have to be so intimidated by their doctors and the medical system that they have to lie and go to such lengths at all. It may be worth you finding a new paleo friendly cardiologist. You may have to scour heaven and earth for one though.

Edit: fixed link

 

[Foxx]

It's a shame that peeps have to be so intimidated by their doctors and the medical system that they have to lie and go to such lengths at all. It may be worth you finding a new paleo friendly cardiologist. You may have to scour heaven and earth for one though.

Maybe there's one that's listed on the Paleo physicians network: http://paleophysiciansnetwork.com/

 

[shellycheval]

That sounds like a decent plan but your body will manufacture as much cholesterol as it needs no matter what you eat.

Thank you for the refresher on cholesterol Odyssey. I have gone back to eating moderate amounts of keto foods and cut out the few starches I was indulging in over the summer, as they are ultimately sugar and most likely cause some level of inflammation, which I can do without, even if I cannot feel or see it. I will get my blood tests done next week when I have time and let the results be as they may.

Foxx thank you for the link--this is good information to have even though I did not find a cardiologist listed within a two hour area of my home; I may consult with one of there other practitioners in the future.