dropping cholesterol 30 points in 6 months with no drugs

[dixiegrrrrl]

Mr. Dixie's dr. was pushing statins because of a cholesterol reading of 203.
First of all, 203 is barely above the "new" limit. Before Big Pharma created statins, "normal" limits of cholesterol used to be 240.
His levels had been around 203-206 for several years, we have been tracking the lab values every 6 months.

Be that as it may, Mr. Dixie wanted to get his level down, so he agreed to increase intake of fiber foods, and started snacking on baby carrots, celery, apples, and popcorn, instead of purchased snacks ( potato chips, corn chips, etc).
Nothing else about his diet changed, we still eat a lot of vegie dishes, stir fries and some pork or chicken, rarely any beef. No cookies, pies, pastries, etc.

Lab results came back last week.
choleterol level was 173.
He was a bit stunned, and I got to say " told ya so".

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The "American Diet" is killing us.

Fast food, "snacks", cookies, cakes, chips, soda, prepared foods, soup in a can, etc.

[Sherman A1]

2. Excellent!

This of course makes me feel somewhat guilty about the two donuts I just had from the local donut shop.

[Xipe Totec]

3. I'm controlling my cholesterol with diet and walking

Not so much what I eat, but how much I eat and how fast I eat it.

I've found that if I just slow down and really chew my food instead of wolfing it down, I'm full halfway through the meal. I can even save money by using the other half of the meal as leftovers.

The biggest improvement, though has been through exercise. I walk a lot and try to hike every weekend for a few hours with a backpack.

[tanyev]

4. I had similar results with going slow carb.

Basically, you drop all the bread/rice/pasta etc., and replace it with beans. Every meal is protein, low carb veg, and beans. My cholesterol drop happened in 3 months. I was thrilled!

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Much more fiber in beans than in rice or pasta, you bet!

[Eddie Haskell]

10. I prefer my beans over rice.

Everything in moderation.

[trotsky]

6. Imagine that, a healthier diet lowers cholesterol.

One of the reasons statins exist is because far too many people want to take a pill than have to change their diets and habits. "Big pharma" isn't forcing anything on us, lots of people demand the easy way - enough people to create a lucrative market.

Of course statins also help those with abnormally high cholesterol DESPITE their best efforts. So let's not be too quick to bash "big pharma" or our fellow human beings.

[cpamomfromtexas]

7. Dropped mine 30% with bioidentical thyroid

from over 300, why did no doctors ever check my thyroid?

It was like that for years.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. what is bioidentical thyroid?

[cpamomfromtexas]

12. They compound for me. Don't know much more than that

[Eddie Haskell]

9. Quit eating all processed foods,

limit your consumption of meat, and add fresh fruit and veggies. Nuts make a good snack. Exercise. Brush your teeth.

Then call me in the morning.

[Warpy]

11. Most cholesterol is produced in our livers, not eaten as food

but it's turning out that the trans fats that make mass produced fried foods like chips and pastries shelf stable will run those loads up fast.

Dumping chips and pastries is the best thing you can do for your health.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. I went John McDougall Vegan

70% complex carbs - brown rice, beans, lentils, potatoes, yams as the base of the diet. Eat beans or lentils every day.
Green leafy vegetables and other vegetables - 20%
10% fruit.

I'm so happy with this diet. I feel so much better and am losing weight.

I just hate to cook so I eat everything raw that I can. The rest I steam or cook in my rice cooker. It is so easy. And no real cleanup at all. It's like the perfect diet for someone like me who hates to cook but wants to eat a healthy diet.