"Life Without Bread"

[mcb]

Any thoughts anyone?

You may want to read or re-read the chapter "Dispelling the Cholesterol Myth" in Primal Body, Primal Mind. Like so many things, these numbers are not what they seem. Certain patterns can indicate inflammatory issues, though.

Also, the chapter "LIPOPROTEIN EFFECTS" in The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living discusses the triglyceride to HDL (TG/HDL-C) ratio, which can offer some insight into what might be going on.

Then there is the chapter "Good Fats and Bad How the Cholesterol Theory Created a Sickness Epidemic" in Deep Nutrition. It includes information about fasting glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol measurements.

I would recommend reading all these chapters, preferably before you talk to a doctor again. All three books are available on Kindle if you don't already have them.

I found a converter between mmol/L and mg/DL at http://www.onlineconversion.com/cholesterol.htm -- you will need to convert.

 

[nicklebleu]

FASTING TRIGLYCERIDES 0.5 mmol/L ( < 2.3 )
FASTING CHOLESTEROL *10.9 mmol/L ( <5.0 )
HDL CHOLESTEROL *3.3 mmol/L (1.2 - 1.7)
HDL % of total 30 % (20 and over)
LDL CHOLESTEROL *7.4 mmol/L (Up to 3.0)

Gertrudes,

I wouldn't get too hung up about the numbers.
Fasting triglycerides are low - which is good.
Fasting cholesterol is high - that wouldn't particularly faze me, as there is no correlation between total cholesterol and mortality from cardiovascular causes. If there is a link, it is: The lower the cholesterol, the more likely you die.
HDL cholesterol is high - which is the good stuff!
LDL cholesterol, the "bad stuff" is high, but that doesn't really mean much, as not all LDL are bad. You would have to further investigate the LDL to be able to say more. But I frankly don't really see a need.

If you follow the diet and you feel good and energized - forget about the numbers....

Hope that helps

PS: forgot to say ... don't show these numbers to a cardiologist, or he will put you on statins ... not beneficial for you, not good!

 

[Gertrudes]

Many thanks for the pointers Megan and nicklebleu, it was very helpful.

Megan, I haven't yet ordered Primal Body although it is on my amazon shopping basket. Because I will eventually read it, and that is sooner then later, I will order it today and read the chapter you mentioned in conjunction with the others you have suggested. Will also order deep nutrition. It isn't only about that chapter specifically, but to get a clearer and broader perspective of the relation between diet and health.

I wouldn't get too hung up about the numbers.
(...)
PtS: forgot to say ... don't show these numbers to a cardiologist, or he will put you on statins ... not beneficial for you, not good!

Yep, I'm sure a regular doctor would want to put me on statins. Not to worry, there is no way I would ever take them.
About the numbers, a way of thinking of it is that with my cholesterol levels I can probably be sure that my brain is being well fed, no depression coming around here :D Seriously though, I' not concerned but instead curious as to what causes what.

I will read on it, although I understand that the whole cholesterol thing is a huge myth, I want to have a little bit more "baggage" in order to know what to say next time I go to the doctor.

 

[mcb]

...I will read on it, although I understand that the whole cholesterol thing is a huge myth, I want to have a little bit more "baggage" in order to know what to say next time I go to the doctor.

But a well-designed myth with several purposes. The "safe" levels have been set by pharmaceutical companies in accordance with their marketing plans. But there is also a successful drive to "train" people to avoid fat and cholesterol, essential nutrients that we need in order for our brains to work well. Have you looked around lately and seen any signs that people's brains might not be working so well?

 

[Laura]

But there is also a successful drive to "train" people to avoid fat and cholesterol, essential nutrients that we need in order for our brains to work well. Have you looked around lately and seen any signs that people's brains might not be working so well?

Thanks for that! I laughed out loud!

 

[Ollie]

I also lost about 2-3 kilos. And still need almost everyday a nap at about lunch time. Still my energy levels could be better, also when this was the first day where I could work on many things from morning till now.

I did lose about 3 kgs though, and being one of the "skinnies", I'm hoping to put that back on.

I’m in week 6 of Protein restriction to weight, and in total just starting week 10 of carbohydrate restriction. I’ve lost about 3kg too, slowly at first, but in the last week or two more rapidly, with my waist size reducing by 4cm. Also, being one of the” skinnies “I could do with this weight going back on, especially around the waist. :) The only time food is craved is if I inadvertently overstep either the protein or carbohydrate allowed level.

Through the diet change, there is imo also the brain functioning improving, or gut , I can memorize much more things and more clearly, most often what I need is to get a picture of things.

This is something that I’ve noticed too over the past few weeks, with memories of seemingly random events cropping up.

 

[Gertrudes]

But a well-designed myth with several purposes. The "safe" levels have been set by pharmaceutical companies in accordance with their marketing plans.

The sad thing is, they were extremely successful. It is interesting how people think that since Galileo's times things have changed and that we are now these very clever human beings with hugely developed technology. Nothing has changed. Nothing. Myths keep being fed to us, we keep believing them, and everything else is pure heresy.

I would also like to report that I finally adapted to the protein recommended levels for my body weight. What seemed impossible is now possible :) I feel fed, nourished, and my digestive system seems to work a little better.

Something that I have noticed since having started this diet, and I am not sure whether it is something really tangible or my imagination playing tricks on me, but I seem to be picking up on my partner's thoughts more often, or we are somehow simply more attuned.

 

[Laura]

Something that I have noticed since having started this diet, and I am not sure whether it is something really tangible or my imagination playing tricks on me, but I seem to be picking up on my partner's thoughts more often, or we are somehow simply more attuned.

The telepathy around here is also off the charts sometimes!

 

[Masamune]

Something that I have noticed since having started this diet, and I am not sure whether it is something really tangible or my imagination playing tricks on me, but I seem to be picking up on my partner's thoughts more often, or we are somehow simply more attuned.

The telepathy around here is also off the charts sometimes!

I've had the same type of experience with the diet changes and supplements. It feels like a whole new level of perception. I am able to much better pick up on people's thoughts, feelings, intentions, and other impressions in the environment. I was wondering if others had been experiencing this.

 

[mcb]

The telepathy around here is also off the charts sometimes!

We are not quite seeing that, but something has changed for the better. Haven't quite figured out what.

 

[1984]

While the article itself is obviously propaganda, the reader comments in response to this article Is a Paleo Diet Healthy? are very interesting!

Hurray for the commentators! :D

 

[Laura]

While the article itself is obviously propaganda, the reader comments in response to this article Is a Paleo Diet Healthy? are very interesting!

Hurray for the commentators! :D

That was great! Maybe some of ya'll will want to sign up and make a few comments!

 

[RedFox]

Something that I have noticed since having started this diet, and I am not sure whether it is something really tangible or my imagination playing tricks on me, but I seem to be picking up on my partner's thoughts more often, or we are somehow simply more attuned.

The telepathy around here is also off the charts sometimes!

I've had the same type of experience with the diet changes and supplements. It feels like a whole new level of perception. I am able to much better pick up on people's thoughts, feelings, intentions, and other impressions in the environment. I was wondering if others had been experiencing this.

Have been experiencing a mix of many of those things...lots of subtle information available it seems (which may or may not be telepathy), about everything/everyone in my local environment. I went through a faze some years ago of having some rather 'interesting' experiences (including some very strong telepathy)....seems that these things are coming back, as I was walking through town last month and started seeing peoples energy fields spontaneously. Or, at least I started seeing 'something' that encompassed people, was transparent (but with a defined structure/edge), differed from person to person and that moved with and slightly ahead of them (it would follow there intended direction even before they did)...
But it did almost stop me in my tracks for how vivid/strong a visual phenomanon it was....then I discovered I could also tune it in/out by changing the focus of my eyes.
Had seen this once or twice in the past, but this was really clear/high definition! It only lasted a few minutes and left as quickly as it came.

Hope I'm not going off onto too much of a weird tangent with those observations. One last thing though, it felt entirely natural/none forced (like its always there) - which meant I took it in my stride/didn't attach any importance to it.

 

[Rick Rowe]

I have a question about certain food and high cholesterol! Am I able to eat any of these grains or flour "buckwheat flour, Quinoa, Oats and or brown rice"?
What area on here would I find recipes for high cholesterol diets on here?

 

[dugdeep]

FASTING TRIGLYCERIDES 0.5 mmol/L ( < 2.3 )
FASTING CHOLESTEROL *10.9 mmol/L ( <5.0 )
HDL CHOLESTEROL *3.3 mmol/L (1.2 - 1.7)
HDL % of total 30 % (20 and over)
LDL CHOLESTEROL *7.4 mmol/L (Up to 3.0)

Gertrudes,

I wouldn't get too hung up about the numbers.
Fasting triglycerides are low - which is good.
Fasting cholesterol is high - that wouldn't particularly faze me, as there is no correlation between total cholesterol and mortality from cardiovascular causes. If there is a link, it is: The lower the cholesterol, the more likely you die.
HDL cholesterol is high - which is the good stuff!
LDL cholesterol, the "bad stuff" is high, but that doesn't really mean much, as not all LDL are bad. You would have to further investigate the LDL to be able to say more. But I frankly don't really see a need.

If you follow the diet and you feel good and energized - forget about the numbers....

Hope that helps

PS: forgot to say ... don't show these numbers to a cardiologist, or he will put you on statins ... not beneficial for you, not good!

Have to agree with nicklebleu here, Gertrudes. Nothing in your numbers really jumps out as a problem. Total cholesterol is a useless figure; it doesn't mean anything unless you're looking to get on statins . Your HDL is high and your triglycerides are low. As nicklebleu said, that's a good thing! And without seeing a breakdown of the particle size of your LDL, this number is pretty useless, too. If it's all light fluffy LDL (which it probably is given your low triglyceride levels) you have nothing to worry about.

You might want to check out this Healthy Skeptic article for more on this, called "I Have High Cholesterol and I Don't Care".

Hope you're having/had a good vacation :)