Help need inspiration for reducing chlosterol

ALIBOBSY

OK well OH was always one of those people who you said "he can eat anything and never put on a pound" and was always very fit. He had been a good amatuer runner and in fact less than about 4 years ago would go out at lunchtime from work, run 15 miles cross country, then go back to work!
However in the last couple of years he had some problems with depression and we got busy with kids work etc and his exercise got pushed out. He put on some weight, but at 6 ft 4, even being 12 1/2 stone isn't exactly obese. He has had a bad run in the last 2 years picking up infection after infection, and had many stomach "bugs" with sickness and diahorea. Just recently he has had some pain aorund the mid back area so went to the doctor.

Blood test show reduced liver function (but the doctor seemed only slightly worried about this) and very high chlosterol levels(8.8!!!). He now appears to have "passed" some small stones and the Dr thinks he may have gall stones (his Dad had many issues like this and had his gall bladder taken out years ago).

So we are waiting for further hospital tests and OH is rattleing with all the pills he is taking, but in the meanwhile we need to reasses his diet.
Whilst I and the kids eat a pretty balanced diet (plenty of fruit and veg) OH is a big meat fan, one of those who ate up all the fat as well, and very little else. I am in fact wondering if all the exercise allowed him to get away with a bad diet, by burning it all off. Been a shock really as he is only 38.

Anyway looking for any recipes for lowering chloesterol as well as veggie dishes (luckily he does like fish so thinking one or 2 fish dishes and 1 or 2 veggie dishes per week). Also going to have a very sober christmas (but I am 5 months pregnant anyway so not really a problem lol).

Looking for inspiration really, did a baking sea bream last night with onions, garlic, and toms last night which was yum.

Ali x

Dumyat

http://www.heartuk.org.uk has a lot of good information/recipes.

ALIBOBSY

Thanks for that Dumyat, will take a look. At least OH has been told his blood pressure is fine and it is encouraging that his Dad had the same sort of problems in his early 40's and is still around in his 70's (even with a number of other medical problems as well).

ali x

Pink.

Hi ali,

Sorry to hear your news but as you already know you should be able to do some things to help him.

This thread has lots of good advice:

high cholesterol

and there are lots of vegetarian recipes on these threads:

Easy, cheap Vegetarian recipes?

Gingham's Vegetarian Meal Planner

Gingham's vegetarian meal planner - SUMMER

Gingham's vegetarian menu planner SPRING

I'll add your thread to the first link later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

overlykeensaver

hi - my Dad was diagnosed with high cholesterol years ago and had to change his diet to bring it down. He has porridge for breakfast (oats are great for helping with this apparently) and very lean meat - cut the fat off the bacon etc. He also eats a lot more beans and pulses than before - ie to bulk out the meat or just a veg and chickpea curry etc.....hey it sounds like a very O/S diet doesn't it!

ubamother

Years ago, my mum got my dad's down over a year without him even noticing - slowly changed the cuts and amount of meat they had - cut off the fat, moved towards more chicken and game, changed the biscuits to oat-based ones, changed oil, spread etc, from victoria sponge type cakes to fruit/bran based ones. All without any drama, discussion or explanation. To this day, my dad hasn't realised that she transformed their diet from a traditional one to a low-cholesterol one, or worked out why he lost two stone over the year! It is easier to change if you are pretty OS in your cooking anyway as you are automatically avoiding a lot of the 'bad' stuff around processed/pre-made stuff.

floss2

Just a few quick points: oats attract the cholestrol cells, so try having porridge or oat-based cereal every day.

Also, avoid processed foods, pastry, butter, baked goods (unless homemade with low-cholesterol fats), cream, high-animal fats such as dripping.

champys

Yes I have had exactly the same task of getting DH's cholesterol level down and proceeded like ubamother describes above, gradually changing the food, and it worked! Meat portions are weighed now (but he doesn't know that), and we alternate meat days with vegetarian and fish days, or soup for dinner. If anything needs frying or an oven dish needs greasing, I only spray lightly with olive oil. I make hummus to eat on bread and other light things like grated surimi with chopped avocado, or beetroot puree with walnuts - instead of pate. And many other such changes. Meal planning has proved invaluable to keep all this under control and not fall back into old 'easy' routines. Cholesterol has gone down to a normal level, but sadly he hasn't lost the weight I had expected, only maybe 6 lb or so. But what came off, has stayed off. Anyway he has established goood habits now, so I'm no longer dreading the blood tests!

ALIBOBSY

The strangest thing is Oh has always been the thin one out of the 2 of us, even now you would see him on the street and think "thin" not "fat". Just shows that anyone can develop chlosterol problems even if they aren't overweight, which is something I didn't know.

I have always eaten alot of fruit and veg, and cook heathly food for the kids, but OH would have much more of the meat and big portions all around. He also rarely eats fruit where as me and the kids eat tons. My trouble is the weight creeps on during and just after pregnancy (pregnant with no 4 at mo), and its the snacking on top of the meals that does me. My sweet "chocoloate" tooth lets me down. OH says I bake too well lol.

We have decided once Oh feels a bit more stable we will all start walking, it will do us all good and the kids love getting out.
Thanks for all the ideas
ali x

sandy2_2

Re Liver tests, did they show high triglycerides as this is also linked to high chloresterol?
sandy

floss2

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

The strangest thing is Oh has always been the thin one out of the 2 of us, even now you would see him on the street and think "thin" not "fat". Just shows that anyone can develop chlosterol problems even if they aren't overweight, which is something I didn't know.

I was consistently a slim 8st 6lb for about 4 years, and had a cholesterol level of 7.9 (now 6.8 due to dietary changes) but was not on any medication as I was not in a high-risk group due to my low blood pressure. My GP is not overly concerned as my lipids are the "right way round" in that the "good" cholesterol (HDL) count is significantly higher than the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) count.