Cholestrol query

[Sharron1]

Hi, I have been reading posts re cholestrol and have some questions. Hope someone can answer them. My GP was emphatic and told me it was impossible to lower cholesterol by changing foods, is that because (and I don't know why, just a guess) the liver is responsible for producing the bad stuff? I watched Michael
Mosley's 800 calorie programme and one volunteer's cholesterol level did drop considerably. MM told him it was a spectacular drop more than any drug could have achieved. I presume the volunteer managed this through the 800 calorie programme (not for me, I hasten to add). But can you now see my confusion? Is it a question of one size does not fit all?

 

[gabriele]

Cholesterol is a question with many answers . I can only tell you about my experience. Two years ago I started IF with LCHF and after my diabetic review I got an appointment with the GP . She told me that the cholesterol was very high , at 7.02 . First I was shocked , then we had a long talk because I refused to take any statins . I could make a deal with her to wait another 6 month for the next bloodtest . If the cholesterol would be still so high I would take the statins . Many days I look up on the internet what is cholesterol and why have so many people problems with it . I never found an answer for all but I found some answers for myself .
Lowcarb and fasting can at the beginning increase the cholesterol . After a while the cholesterol goes down . Inflammation in the body increases cholesterol . I had in both hands and fingers inflammation which were treated with steroids over the years , it only helped for a short time . A specialist operated on one finger . It was just before the op when I had so high cholesterol . The next point is sports . Sports,. especially cardio can lower cholesterol. Number 4 on the list was a recipe which I found on facebook . A comment from a user to treat high cholesterol with lemon /lime / ginger and garlic .
For 6 month I followed my own adviced , healthy food combined with LCHF and fasting , sports and my lemon recipe . At the next diabetic review the cholesterol was down to 5.2 with an very high HDL .
Was it healthy eating or sports or the lemon or the fact that my hands and fingers are all ok now , I don't know .
BTW , the next diabetic bloodtest is next friday .

 

[Drummer]

I have done the impossible then.

 

[Sharron1]

Thank you. Did you tell your GP about your research? Good luck with the forthcoming blood test.

 

[Sharron1]

I have done the impossible then.

I was so stunned by how emphatic she was, I didn't really know what to say! May be you are an anomaly?!

 

[Drummer]

I doubt it - others have found exactly the same thing.
They can be as emphatic as they like - it is simply wrong, and their tests show it.
That could be why I have not seen my doctor since 2016 and he put NFA on my notes.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. It is the liver that decides most of you blood cholesterol so not directly what you eat but many things affect it including overall diet balance. Many find going low-carb helps so you just need to experiment and have fasting blood tests

 

[gabriele]

Thank you. Did you tell your GP about your research? Good luck with the forthcoming blood test.

I saw her the first time after my GP had retired 5 years ago . No , she didn't tell me the " good news " . The receptionist told me . The GP was a little bit upset when I told her not to waste her precious time with me and my high cholesterol . Well , she said , then you should speak next time to
the diabetic nurse , she is quiet capeble . Yes , I know I answered her , who do you think trains her ?

 

[Sharron1]

I am usually very polite and calm. But there is something about the people in my surgery that beings out the worst in me. It usually invloves the 'ask no questions, just listen, we know best' part of the conversation. It really doesn't have to be like that. In my naivety I had thought those days and attitudes were long gone.

 

[gabriele]

I believe , there is a lot of pressure for the staff in a surgery . They have to follow rules from the NHS . It is easier to give you a pill . My granny used to say , everybody has a boss , even God !

 

[Sharron1]

Oh so true!

 

[ianf0ster]

The truth is just the reverse: Cholesterol is extremely affected by diet. But it is open to interpretation as to whether that is good or not.

1. LCHF raises HDL and lowers Triglycerides. Some doctors say this is very good, others have no opinion and just a few say that it is only LDL which matters.
2. Although LDL generally increases during the weight loss phase of LCHF, for many (but not all) it falls again once into the weight maintenance phase. Dr David Unwin's T2D patients on LCHF have on average (after 18 months to 2 yrs LCHF) a lower LDL than at the start as well as higher HDL and lower Triglycerides. I don't think any doctor in the world wouldn't say that this is very good.
3. Dave Feldman has shown many times (as have his members) that it is possible (on average) to reduce LDL by up to 30% in 3 days by using diet - what is known as the 'Dave Feldman Protocol'. But note that it doesn't keep going lower and you probably wouldn't want to do this if your doctor cares more about Triglycerides than they do about LDL.

Oh, and you don't need a very low calorie diet (or a diet at all - jus a way of eating) in order to reduce Blood Glucose with those cholesterol side effects plus possible weight loss, reduced Blood Pressure , reduced inflammation etc. Just plain of LCHF with not eating when not hungry will do it for most people.