Cholesterol and diet

Beenie

I have a cholesterol level of 7.5 according to the GP, and she wants me to start using statins.

I am not keen, and so she has given me 3 months to try lowering it myself by other means.

So far I have joined an NHS class which addresses diet, portion control, exercise, comfort eating and other things (don't know all of it - they tell you each week what you will be doing next).

Has anyone else had any success with lowering their cholesterol but without having to take statins?

Gingernutty

This is the low diet.

The body produces cholesterol in response to fat in the diet. The different fats makes the body produce different cholesterols high density and low density.

HDLs are the so called good fats, LDLs are the bad fats.

Carbohydrates get turned into sugars, which if unused turn to glycogen, which if unused gets turned to stored fat.

So

Low fat AND low carbohydrate - porridge instead of cereals, not a great deal of wholemeal bread instead of white bread, more vegetables instead of fruit and just less of everything.

Good luck

teddysmum

I have been taking statins for years, on the advice of the neurologist I see, after having a brain scan and being diagnosed with diabetes.. I started on Simvastatin and am now on the NICE recommended Atorvastatin, but have had no problems.


My levels are way below target , but a few months ago had a higher reading and the GPs' inhouse pharmacist wanted me to increase my dose. I asked to be given time, as this seemed odd, and, three months later, was back on the low reading, having made no changes, so levels can have a glitch, then return to normal.


Perhaps ask for a retest in three months' time ?

Pop_Up_Pirate

Statins are definitely not something to take.
Statins deplete your body of CoQ10
They interfere with cell function.
They impair function of sterols
They impair function of sex hormones
They impair function of cortisol
They cause muscle problems that are not always immediate
They increase risk of diabetes
They increase the risk of cancer
They increase the risk of cataracts
They depress the immune system
They cause memory loss.
They also cause severe birth defects if taken in pregnancy.

Chances are you do not actually need statins. Most people don't if they address the diet.

Go Low Carbs, high fat (healthy fats) and your levels will improve considerably.
Make sure you get plenty of green veggies, meat and fish, good quality fat (no cooking oils on anything, which means no crisps or snacks made with sunflower oils etc)

Its the cooking oils that do the most damage.

Try adding an Omega 3 (triglyceride form) supplement into your diet too.
Anyone who insists on still taking statins should definitely take CoQ10 every day too.

donnac2558

teddysmum wrote: »

I have been taking statins for years, on the advice of the neurologist I see, after having a brain scan and being diagnosed with diabetes.. I started on Simvastatin and am now on the NICE recommended Atorvastatin, but have had no problems.


My levels are way below target , but a few months ago had a higher reading and the GPs' inhouse pharmacist wanted me to increase my dose. I asked to be given time, as this seemed odd, and, three months later, was back on the low reading, having made no changes, so levels can have a glitch, then return to normal.


Perhaps ask for a retest in three months' time ?

I was on Simvastatin for years with no problems. Then for some reason was changed to Artorvastatin and my liver went nuts. Only found out when I started itching all over and went to the doctor and had blood tests. My liver was enlarged and I could no longer take any statins as my liver would be permanently damaged.

My family all die because strokes mother 60, grandfather 65, uncle 40 and aunt 62. So I was told I need to get my cholesterol down from 7+. So simply had to lose weight, low fat loads of vegs and lean meats. I did get it down to around 6 so far.

teddysmum

I had no problem with either brand, but apparently Atorvastatin was expensive until its licence time was up, then was recommended by NICE as it is more gentle.


However, all drugs don't suit all people and I had a bad reaction to one , that one of my GPs said some old ladies took 'like Smarties' with no ill effect.

teddysmum

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

Statins are definitely not something to take.
Statins deplete your body of CoQ10
They interfere with cell function.
They impair function of sterols
They impair function of sex hormones
They impair function of cortisol
They cause muscle problems that are not always immediate
They increase risk of diabetes
They increase the risk of cancer
They increase the risk of cataracts
They depress the immune system
They cause memory loss.
They also cause severe birth defects if taken in pregnancy.

Chances are you do not actually need statins. Most people don't if they address the diet.

Go Low Carbs, high fat (healthy fats) and your levels will improve considerably.
Make sure you get plenty of green veggies, meat and fish, good quality fat (no cooking oils on anything, which means no crisps or snacks made with sunflower oils etc)

Its the cooking oils that do the most damage.

Try adding an Omega 3 (triglyceride form) supplement into your diet too.
Anyone who insists on still taking statins should definitely take CoQ10 every day too.

There is equal evidence for and against and one of practice nurses told me that the owner GPs who are in their late fifties, actually take them themselves.


I have to take them , because they were prescribed by a consultant neurologist and not just a GP trying to increase a drug prescribing bonus. They can't blame them for diabetes, as I already have it or my cataracts (slow progressing),as they are genetic (family history).


My levels are around 3.3 to 3.9 TL and 1.2 to 1.8 LDL. (target 4 and 2)

Pop_Up_Pirate

teddysmum wrote: »

There is equal evidence for and against and one of practice nurses told me that the owner GPs who are in their late fifties, actually take them themselves.


I have to take them , because they were prescribed by a consultant neurologist and not just a GP trying to increase a drug prescribing bonus. They can't blame them for diabetes, as I already have it or my cataracts (slow progressing),as they are genetic (family history).


My levels are around 3.3 to 3.9 TL and 1.2 to 1.8 LDL. (target 4 and 2)

There is no 'evidence' that any statins are good for the human body.
Things like statins are used to cover up problems. Noone needs them.

Improve the diet and you will feel healthier and won't need medication for diet related issues...which then go on to cause more issues.

hayday75

My levels are the same as op.
The doctor said there is no cause for concern as the "good" cholesterol was 6.1.
Now I'm worried.

teddysmum

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

There is no 'evidence' that any statins are good for the human body.
Things like statins are used to cover up problems. Noone needs them.

Improve the diet and you will feel healthier and won't need medication for diet related issues...which then go on to cause more issues.

My problem is not diet related and I prefer to take the advice of a consultant who is well respected in his field.

splishsplash

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

There is no 'evidence' that any statins are good for the human body.
Things like statins are used to cover up problems. Noone needs them.

Improve the diet and you will feel healthier and won't need medication for diet related issues...which then go on to cause more issues.

Could you include links for us to review the evidence backing your opinions?

There is a strong evidence base for using statins as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease as well as for people who have already suffered an event.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease is calculated using a QRISK2 tool - linky. Evidence shows statins can lower your risk of an atherosclerotic CVD event significantly.

Cardiovascular disease is still the highest cause of death in the UK. Many people (at least 1 in every 500) have familial hypercholesterolaemia - a genetic defect - where they lack the ability to remove LDL from the blood so have circulating high levels from birth. All the dietary change in the world won't touch that, I'm afraid and they will need statins as they develop higher risks for CVD earlier in life.

Statins are safe for the majority of people over a long time, but they can have side effects, certainly. The question is how those side effects compare against heart attacks, strokes, clots, etc.

Dietary modification is a necessary part in managing cholesterol, no doubt about it, but to suggest that's all that's needed is, well, simply not accurate.