Hi All

[Deleted member 21371]

Is everyone here as charming and open minded as you two?

Yes 🙂 You can’t expect to post a great swathe of test results and weight and not expect polite questions.

You missed one important word out.
- "Horrific"

 

[rebrascora]

Yes I read your post but again I am not afraid of my cholesterol level because I have read around the subject a lot.

There are very poor links between cholesterol levels and CVD and as I have stated above cholesterol is more dynamic than blood glucose.

Whilst it is quite sweet that people are concerned I am not so... and it is my body after all.

I too have read around the subject a bit (by no means an expert) because I did not want to refuse statins without making an informed decision. There is a lot of conflicting info about cholesterol and I like to think the reality is probably somewhere in the middle. For me I think, if my levels started going up I would be looking at how I could reduce them and my gut feeling is that 7 is too high. I think 5.5 would probably be an upper limit for me. My body certainly seems to repair itself and functions well at my current level of 4.2, so I can't see a benefit in it being much higher.

I can't argue my "gut feeling" against yours, and I have seen people quote opposing research papers and studies many times without resolving this issue regarding LDL. I am conscious that we are having a discussion on an open forum where many other people read posts even if they don't engage in the conversation and so I think it is important to have a balanced view on this and perhaps encourage people to reconsider their position or suggest a possible solution, even if ultimately, they stick with their original views.
If you were to have a CV event tomorrow (and of course I very much hope you don't), we are unlikely to hear about it here on the forum, but your comments about high LDL not being a problem remain here and possibly encourage others to follow in your footsteps, so an element of caution is probably a good thing in a discussion like this, even if you do not want our concern for yourself.

I follow a similar diet to yourself by the sound of things and I don't particularly want to compromise on that because it works for me and I agree that LDL has a place and use in our bodies, but I personally think yours may be a bit out of balance/range perhaps due to insufficient fibre. You clearly don't think so and I wish you well with it.

 

[Lucyr]

I did thanks. These are my long term results


Diagnosed 30/10/2015 HbA1c 70 weight 143 kg
18/12/2015 HbA1c 45 weight 132.5 kg
26/01/2016 HbA1c 36 weight 125 kg
19/07/2016 HbA1c 27 weight 110kg Total Cholesterol 5.6 no breakdown (useless!)
13/01/2017 HbA1c 27 weight 103kg Total Cholesterol 5.7 HDL 1.46 Trigs 0.8
18/07/2017 HbA1c 29 weight 97.8kg Total Cholesterol 6.0 HDL 1.72 Trigs 0.6
18/10/2017 HbA1c 28 weight 96.34kg Total Cholesterol 7.3 HDL 1.60 Trigs 1.3
15/10/2018 HbA1c 27 weight 95.35kg Total Cholesterol 6.3 HDL 1.51 Trigs1.0
14/01/2020 HbA1c 27 weight 91.17kg Total Cholesterol 8.2 HDL 1.74 Trigs 0.92
03/06/2020 HbA1c 27 weight 90.36kg Total Cholesterol 7.1 HDL 1.35 Trigs 1.8
01/12/2020 HbA1c 29 weight 94.35kg Total Cholesterol 6.7 HDL 1.57 Trigs 1.21
17/06/2021 HbA1c 28 weight 99.00kg Total Cholesterol 7.8 HDL 1.7 Trigs 1.0
10/12/2021 HbA1c 30 weight 103.5 kg Total Cholesterol 8.2 HDL 1.75 Trigs 0.9
14/06/2022 HbA1c 30 Weight 103.2kg Total Cholesterol 8.9 HDL 1.6 Trigs 2.0 (38 hour fast pre bloods)
24/08/2022 HbA1c 29 weight 106.2 kg Total Cholesterol 7.3 HDL 1.67 Trigs 0.93 Predict study data

If that was my cholesterol I’d be stopping the low carb diet or at least changing to a low fat diet, or trying to increase exercise / lose weight / try statins if you’re adverse to low fat, as your cholesterol is consistently very high.

It also looks like the low carb diet isn’t benefiting your weight any more, as you weigh the same now as 5 years ago in 2017. I understand it’s hard to lose weight, as it’s something I also struggle with, but your current approach really doesn’t seem to be working for weight or cholesterol so it may be worth trying low fat, moderate carb and more exercise, and calorie counting to see if that moves things in the right direction.

 

[bulkbiker]

What makes you think this?

The general lack of evidence and statements from various high profile cardiologists. Why do you think it might be true?

 

[bulkbiker]

If that was my cholesterol I’d be stopping the low carb diet or at least changing to a low fat diet, or trying to increase exercise / lose weight / try statins if you’re adverse to low fat, as your cholesterol is consistently very high.

It also looks like the low carb diet isn’t benefiting your weight any more, as you weigh the same now as 5 years ago in 2017. I understand it’s hard to lose weight, as it’s something I also struggle with, but your current approach really doesn’t seem to be working for weight or cholesterol so it may be worth trying low fat, moderate carb and more exercise, and calorie counting to see if that moves things in the right direction.

Why do you think "cholesterol" is a problem though?
And why on earth would I consider increasing my carb consumption?
You don't think a 40 kg weight loss maintained over 7 years is "good enough" ?

 

[Deleted member 21371]

The general lack of evidence and statements from various high profile cardiologists. Why do you think it might be true?

Ah, "Dave"?
Your guru.
Dave Feldman is a senior software engineer, entrepreneur and a citizen scientist. He began working with programming and system engineering at a very young age and has always enjoyed learning new mechanistic patterns and concepts. After starting a low carb diet, Dave found his cholesterol numbers increased considerably.

 

[bulkbiker]

Ah, "Dave"?
Your guru.
Dave Feldman is a senior software engineer, entrepreneur and a citizen scientist. He began working with programming and system engineering at a very young age and has always enjoyed learning new mechanistic patterns and concepts. After starting a low carb diet, Dave found his cholesterol numbers increased considerably.

I don't think that Dave Feldman has ever claimed to be a high profile cardiologist (as indeed I haven't either) though so your misleading reference there doesn't really work..

 

[bulkbiker]

You missed one important word out.
- "Horrific"

Only in your eyes though.

 

[Eddy Edson]

If that was my cholesterol I’d be stopping the low carb diet or at least changing to a low fat diet, or trying to increase exercise / lose weight / try statins if you’re adverse to low fat, as your cholesterol is consistently very high.

It also looks like the low carb diet isn’t benefiting your weight any more, as you weigh the same now as 5 years ago in 2017. I understand it’s hard to lose weight, as it’s something I also struggle with, but your current approach really doesn’t seem to be working for weight or cholesterol so it may be worth trying low fat, moderate carb and more exercise, and calorie counting to see if that moves things in the right direction.

I get the impression the OP believes the message that HDL ratios, in particular trig/HDL, are the only things that really matter.

On this story, the large majority expert consensus is just wrong - so LDL isn't causal for CVD, HDL is more than just a bystander & it does have a causal role in reducing CVD risk, ratios are clinically meaningful, satfats are fine, only carbs matter etc etc.

The experts have been bought off by Big Pharma or have been corrupted by reading Ancel Keys in their youth or are being mind-controlled by Giant Purple Space Chickens, or something.

 

[Lucyr]

Why do you think "cholesterol" is a problem though?
And why on earth would I consider increasing my carb consumption?
You don't think a 40 kg weight loss maintained over 7 years is "good enough" ?

High cholesterol is a problem because it makes heart disease more likely. You can read about cholesterol online. For example https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...r-medical-conditions/cholesterol-and-diabetes

As you’ve gone from 94kg to 106kg in the last 2 years that’s a weight gain of about 2 stones. Your BMI is still either overweight or obese at 106kg which suggests you have plenty more weight to lose, and losing weight will help the high cholesterol levels too. It looks like the low carb diet has increased your cholesterol a lot, so reducing fats especially saturated fats, and increasing high fibre carbs a bit so that you’ve got enough variety of food to make it sustainable, will help reduce the cholesterol and weight to reduce your risk of heart disease.

 

[bulkbiker]

High cholesterol is a problem because it makes heart disease more likely. You can read about cholesterol online. For example https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...r-medical-conditions/cholesterol-and-diabetes

As you’ve gone from 94kg to 106kg in the last 2 years that’s a weight gain of about 2 stones. Your BMI is still either overweight or obese at 106kg which suggests you have plenty more weight to lose, and losing weight will help the high cholesterol levels too. It looks like the low carb diet has increased your cholesterol a lot, so reducing fats especially saturated fats, and increasing high fibre carbs a bit so that you’ve got enough variety of food to make it sustainable, will help reduce the cholesterol and weight to reduce your risk of heart disease.

You miss of course the fact that the weight regain could have been something to do with loosening the diet in the first place to increase carbs?
I have little to no risk of heart disease thanks as my recent participation in a study to look at markers for heart disease in T2 diabetics showed.
The hour in a MRI scanner, the CAC score and my cholesterol level caused zero concern for the medics involved in gathering the data. And my blood pressure level was remarked upon as being very normal.
Now I could ignore all that as follow your "advice" yet somehow I feel it might not do me any good.
What are your levels like for comparison?

 

[bulkbiker]

I get the impression the OP believes the message that HDL ratios, in particular trig/HDL, are the only things that really matter.

On this story, the large majority expert consensus is just wrong - so LDL isn't causal for CVD, HDL is more than just a bystander & it does have a causal role in reducing CVD risk, ratios are clinically meaningful, satfats are fine, only carbs matter etc etc.

The experts have been bought off by Big Pharma or have been corrupted by reading Ancel Keys in their youth or are being mind-controlled by Giant Purple Space Chickens, or something.

The large majority expert consensus is often wrong.
Especially when the pharmaceutical response to chronic disease has been taught at med schools for the past 60-70 years.
LDL was demonised because statins were found to reduce it. Most of the "experts" have little to no idea why or how it works (because it doesn't)..
You seem to believe that there is causal proof that "high cholesterol" is somehow bad. I disagree.
I treat your views with a modicum of respect maybe you should attempt the same.

 

[Lucyr]

You miss of course the fact that the weight regain could have been something to do with loosening the diet in the first place to increase carbs?
I have little to no risk of heart disease thanks as my recent participation in a study to look at markers for heart disease in T2 diabetics showed.
The hour in a MRI scanner, the CAC score and my cholesterol level caused zero concern for the medics involved in gathering the data. And my blood pressure level was remarked upon as being very normal.
Now I could ignore all that as follow your "advice" yet somehow I feel it might not do me any good.
What are your levels like for comparison?

My cholesterol is 5, which is on target and no statins needed as I’m under 40. I eat a moderate to high carb diet and low fat especially trying to limit saturated fat. But yes if you increase your carbs then you’ll need to reduce other parts of your diet especially the fats or you will gain weight.

 

[bulkbiker]

My cholesterol is 5, which is on target and no statins needed as I’m under 40. I eat a moderate to high carb diet and low fat especially trying to limit saturated fat. But yes if you increase your carbs then you’ll need to reduce other parts of your diet especially the fats or you will gain weight.

I have no intention of reducing my fats or increasing my carbs thanks. I'm glad you are pleased with your cholesterol level just remember as you age that higher levels are seen as protective especially for women.

 

[nonethewiser]

Since testing began always been fortunate to have good cholesterol levels, recent result in October was 4.2TC with all ratios in range.

Bit like hba1c like to keep bp & cholesterol levels in check, it's important for long term health & to avoid complications, with respect to OP but no way could I listen to some armature scientist advice on cardio health so prefer to stick with expert opinions & general consensus among them.

 

[harbottle]

I have no intention of reducing my fats or increasing my carbs thanks. I'm glad you are pleased with your cholesterol level just remember as you age that higher levels are seen as protective especially for women.

No, they are not.

Some people can have high cholesterol and live to a ripe old age without heart disease; others can have high cholesterol that leads to heart disease. No one disputes that. There are other factors at play with overall health and maybe genetic factors as well.

 

[bulkbiker]

Some people can have high cholesterol and live to a ripe old age without heart disease; others can have high cholesterol that leads to heart disease

Or just maybe it's simply nothing to do with cholesterol levels at all?

The Benefits of High Cholesterol

️ Print post People with high cholesterol live the longest. This statement seems so incredible that it takes a long time to clear one´s brainwashed mind to fully […]

www.westonaprice.org

 

[bulkbiker]

Or just maybe it's simply nothing to do with cholesterol levels at all?

The Benefits of High Cholesterol

️ Print post People with high cholesterol live the longest. This statement seems so incredible that it takes a long time to clear one´s brainwashed mind to fully […]

www.westonaprice.org

Higher Cholesterol Is Associated With Longer Life

Is it possible that mainstream medicine got cholesterol all wrong? That not only does cholesterol have no connection to heart disease, but…

medium.com

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Or just maybe it's simply nothing to do with cholesterol levels at all?

The Benefits of High Cholesterol

️ Print post People with high cholesterol live the longest. This statement seems so incredible that it takes a long time to clear one´s brainwashed mind to fully […]

www.westonaprice.org

You can buy his book about it on Amazon.
A bargain at £40.

At least Mangans are a bit cheaper.
"For more on how to live longer, see my books, Stop the Clock and Muscle Up"

 

[bulkbiker]

You can buy his book about it on Amazon.
A bargain at £40.

I could but mostly these guys distribute much of it for free so....