High Cholesterol - Help Wanted

[saff]

Hi there

I just wondered if many of you have found you have high cholesterol? Linked to my PCOS I have high blood pressure which is under control with medication, but they have also found my cholesterol is high despite me watching what I eat and for the past 2 months exercising nearly every day. They also said this is linked in with my PCOS but needs to get under control or may need medication which I really don't want.

I have looked up a few things on the internet that are meant to help lower cholesterol but just wondered if anyone has done/tried anything that has worked successfully for them in terms of eating/cutting out particular foods or taking supplements etc. I also wondered if many other people are suffering from high cholesterol as linked in with PCOS. If so, please post and let me know. Much appreciated.

Saff

[Belladonna]

Hey,

I've also been told that I have high cholestorol. I'm vegetarian so I tended to eat a lot of cheese and things like that in order to get protein etc. however, in the last couple of months I've really cut it down. My mum's just got a book which says that high cholestorol is linked to PCOS especially when you have insulin resistance as well. However, we're going to raise a couple of things when I see the specialist tomorrow because I've cut down a lot on fatty stuff and things that I've been told I should cut out but it doesn't really seem to have made a difference. So....I will let you know what the specialist says tomorrow - who knows it might help!

Belle x

[saff]

Sounds like we are quite similar as I am also pretty much vegetarian. I eat fish/seafood but no meat other than that. As a result I also eat quite a bit of cheese but like you also cut it down when told my cholesterol was high but have found it has made no difference to my cholesterol levels.

I would be interested to hear what your specialist has said. My mum has a very healthy vegetarian diet and eats practically no cheese or high cholesterol foods and she has high cholesterol so it might just be something that runs in the family/genetic.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Saff

[Mazarin]

Mine was over 5 last year but with a statin it came down and now to 4.2... still taking the meds though!

It actually does not matter as to what you eat even the healthiest people can have a really high cho level!

[mizuza]

sorry no advice, but i am glad i read your post because my BP is borderline at the moment despite doing all i can to lead a healthy diet/lifestyle my cholestarol was up when i got diagnosed but it has not been tested recently, but as the BP is not going down i assume the cholestarol is the same. at the moment i am not on any meds for it

[jewel]

I have low cholesterol, not bragging (honest), but the reason for my post is this, my mum eats practically no dairy, very low fat diet, yet has elevated cholesterol levels and had to have her gall bladder out due to gallstones (which are in the main made of cholesterol). The thing being this, she cannot possibly do anything else to reduce her fat intake!
Cholesterol is made by our bodies too, its not just what you eat.
She even tried that benecol stuff and it INCREASED her level!

I can't explain my low level, the only thing i can think of is that i always use olive oil only and use an olive oil based spread. And luck of course.

Probably not very helpful, just a load of waffle!

Jewel

[HoneyB]

I agree with Jewel. Notwithstanding the fact that I m 7+ stones overweight my cholesterol is on the upper range of normal. What I do is eat as much of the good stuff as possible, like olive oil and oats, and I walk as much as possible (I m increasing my excercise in my attempt to lose weight)

What s more is that my mother s family all have very high cholesterol so I m even more surprised that mine is at all normal. Those are the only reasons why/how I can explain it.

[jewel]

I'm at least 8 stone over weight, and every new dr i see wants to do my cholestrol test, and every time they get it back they have trouble concealing their shock that its lower than average! HAHAHAHA
These mediterrainian dudes know what theyre talking about, get some olive oil down your necks lol

Jewel

[jewel]

I only eat brown bread with bits in too, not sure how much relevance that has, but i remember a work colleague who had a reading of 12.....12!!!...was told to eat that, he said he'd rather die...well he didnt but he did collapse and need a triple bypass!!
I cant eat white bread cos it makes my feet hurt....i know i'm not supposed to put it in my shoes.............

Jewel

[venuskye]

Hi

I have high cholesterol and high BP. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 24, had a wedge resection, Clomid and Predisolone, had three children and I am waiting for the menopause, I am now 50.

I don't know if I am insulin resistant have never been offered any tests and metformin wasn't around all those years ago but I am obese, but not diabetic.

I was on statins which reduced my cholesterol to 3.1 I came off them mid April because of muscle problems and now my reading is 6.1. So I now have to visit my GP again to review the situation. I am also on Ramipril 2.5mg for my BP but may have to increase the dose as it is still on the high side even with meds.

I have no answers really but like you and many others I prefer the natural approach rather than traditional meds.

I wonder if it worth me havng the insulin test?

Venuskye

[cherishu2]

i have high BP. Last week i was tested for cholesterol and it came back 6.7. So they said i have to see the nurse regarding diet to lower them.
But i have looked on the net about diet and i dont eat any of the food that they say you need to stop. So a diest isnt gonna help is it?
All my family have high BP and chol so it looks like its hereditary for me.

[emma05]

Hi all,

I have high cholestrol, and I have honestly found just going on benecol and flora proactive milk makes me feel 100 times better, not sure why! Went of it for a week or so and felt sooooooo bloated, went back on it again and honestly its has reduces bloatedness and I feel sooo much better, wierd I know! not sure if it has reduced my cholesterol yet not having a check up until august. Not sure if that was helpful!

[heatherpopplewell]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol and I am 9 stone over weight.

And what pissed me off a lot of the time, was that I do eat a lot of healthy foods, and I don't do fizzy pops or sweet stuff and a lot the bad things they say us fatties eat.

I have been looking into the GI diet and its very interesting and surprising what stuff causes quick sugar release. You can each cherries as they are slow release, but water melon is a high sugar, so you should eat little of it or avoid it. Jacket potatoes and mash are high sugar release and new boiled potatoes are slow release so you can eat them.

I have found a lot of books on amazon and here are a couple that might be worth looking into. I have bought a few and they are really good.

The Ultimate PCOS Handbook: Lose Weight, Boost Fertility, Clear Skin and Restore Self-esteem (Paperback)
by Colette Harris (Author), Theresa Cheung (Author)

The Low GI Guide to Managing PCOS by Jennie Brand-Miller.
also in the new and used section it was only £2.95 (bargain)

[mouse]

Hi,

not sure whether the following is correct, but thought I'd mention it anyway, so can try and find out more:

I've heard from someone who has high cholesterol that she regularly eats oat germ and takes an artichoke supplement. I think the two in combination might have helped her, but not sure. Don't know whether she is on any medication. Also I've heard that it's good to eat celery sticks if you have high blood pressure - again not sure though. Let me know if you find out more about either!

xx

[emma05]

YEAY!!!!!!! Went for my cholestrol test and found out yesterday that my cholestrol is back down to normal now! 5 and not 6.9 or something like that! SO I am soo pleased, and I think Benecol has helped to lower my cholestrol, I have been trying to eat sensibly but to be honest not trying very hard, but anyway at least it has come down. Thats one good thing, but they told me my glucose was high so got to keep an eye on it, not sure what they are going to do ( YOU CANT WIN ! )