In the last couple years my cholesterol numbers have been creeping up, even as the suggested 'healthy' numbers have been creeping down. So, last year my doc suggested I tackle bringing the numbers down a bit. He's a pretty cool dude and is quite good with numbers, risk factors, etc. so he was convincing...
So, when Annie and I got sick last November, we decided to take advantage of the two week hiatus from normal eating and modify the diet. I cut out all dairy (yikes!), substitute Benecol for butter, eat eggs maybe once a week, red meat maybe once a month, added a lot more fresh veggies and fruit (the fruit bowl is always stocked), and cut out sugar (I use only raw agave nectar - very sweet, I don't miss sugar one iota.)
Without doing anything regarding exercise (I'll start tomorrow!), I've lost ten pounds and my numbers have changed thusly:
Cholesterol - 213 --> 148
Triglycerides - 150 --> 76
HDL - 45 --> 44
LDL - 138 --> 90
Cholesterol/HDL - 4.7 --> 3.4
LDL/HDL - 3.1 --> 2.1
So, I'm a happy camper! Anyone else dealing with this?
I had my levels checked a few years ago and it was HDL-65 LDL-114. I only eat eggs 4-5 times a week, I use real butter and put half & half in my coffee. Only eat red meat 3 times a week and use only real pure cane sugar. I might be a pound or two overweight but at least I don't have to worry about a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that through intense will power and self-control that you've managed to keep a healthy heart. Actually, I think it has more to do with a sense of humor than anything else, which means you're OK!
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that in ten-twenty years there are going to be a lot of granola-eating, organic choosing, vitamin swallowing folks who are going to be really pissed off as they die from nothing...