What are some things you do/don't do, eat/don't eat to reduce your cholesterol.....besides the obvious....red meat, pork, etc?s

I would like to bring my levels down a bit and wondered if there were any special super-foods that would help. I did a search and found some, but I was just wondering if anyone here had some tried-and-true remedies!

I do not eat pork, and very little red meat....I am not a very big meat-eater to begin with, but I do actually feel better when I include some in my diet, but it's mostly fish, turkey, chicken, and lots of vegetables. And olive oil almost exclusively, although I have wondered about coconut oil.

_________________
I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I have hereditary high cholesterol, and have to work much harder than the average person to control it.

ALL animal products containing ANY fat can raise your cholesterol. Chicken, Turkey, Cheese, Eggs, Milk, etc can cause trouble. Also, for some (un)fortunate few of us - all dietary fat can cause problems. This includes olive & coconut oils.
for more info on this, the work of Caldwell Esselstyn and Dean Ornish (google either of their names) will provide a lot more information.

I have been able to bring my cholesterol down 100 points if I follow a VERY LOW FAT Vegan diet. But, if I eat a higher fat vegan diet (more peanut butter, olives, avocadoes, tahini, etc) it creeps up! (Lucky, huh?)

There are some health food remedies out there - garlic for instance - that do me no good. I tried several popular supplement-type when I worked in the health food store, to no avail.

I HAVE seen some good results from using soy powder protein shakes, such as Spirutein. The Soy Powder bonds with cholesterol & helps remove it for me.

Personally, I won't touch a Statin -I think they're evil.

Hope that helps - I can definitely sympathize!

_________________
http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

I will sign a waiver or whatever I need to do, but I will not subject my body to a statin drug if I can in any way avoid it! I'll just take my chances!

i avoid sugar and wheat, which seems to help. and I am trying to up my fiber intake via beans, lentils, ground flaxseed, etc.

I walk every day, which can't hurt, and my weight is good.

My mom has hereditary high - VERY high- cholesterol. It stays high even with the statin drugs.

_________________
I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

My dh lowered his by taking cold, unrefined flax seed oil. He was also exercising and we became mostly vegan. Neither of our numbers were ever high, his in the 300's mine was 240 ever max. Never really heavy meat eaters, just now hardly ever.

_________________
"...with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Well, these days, they want your levels below 100! which, in my opinion, is ridiculous!

_________________
I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I've never heard that - but it does sound goofy!

The Framingham Heart Study (a pretty well designed, big study) found that those below 150 almost never had heart attacks ( http://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topic ... rt-disease ), but ( numerous sites report) 1/3 of the heart attacks happen at levels below 200 http://pcrm.org/about/volunteer/prevent ... rt-disease. For this reason, I don't consider a 190 "safe."

In my family, this is what cardio-vascular disease has done:
Killed my sister at 46.
Killed my mother at 79, BUT disabled her at 58.
Killed both my Grandfathers, but caused several years of suffering/bedridden state before their passing.
Killed my Aunt at a ripe old age, but before she died, took away her ability to speak, use her hands, use her feet or change her facial expression.

We have a known gene in the family (tho a good half of these family members aren't genetic relatives - due to adoption), but more than that, I have the emotional impact of seeing the disease act close up. Once a severe stroke or heart attack has happened, you can't get that functionality back. So, I don't take it lightly.

On the other hand, my Mom had a severe reaction to statins that caused her a *secondary* terminal condition that would have taken her life if the heart disease hadn't gotten her first. So, I don't consider that a safe alternative.

I really have a lot of trouble KEEPING mine in control - largely because a lack of self discipline. But, I DO think it's important. And, I know these scientists (Esselstyn & Ornish) have discovered the secret of HOW to do it.

Dr. Esselstyn - May God Bless Him - called me on the phone when my Mom was sick and he is an incredibly compassionate man. I had just emailed his organization with what I thought was a routine question, and I got a call back from the doctor himself! (didn't charge, BTW - how often do you see THAT nowadays?) It's a lot easier to trust his scientific findings when you know he's so honorable!

_________________
http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

Red Yeast Rice from Nsp....my sister lowered her cholesterol 200 pts with this just recently & it has worked great for many other clients I have.

Red yeast rice does work for some people - it was reasonably popular at the health food store - but since it contains Statins ( http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-manage ... yeast-rice ) and I have a family history of life threatening reaction to statins, I don't use it personally.

_________________
http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

Laurajean, it does seem like doctors or whoever wants every thing lower, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar.

I can do what I feel is right and nothing changes much. I have gotten my bloodsugar under control.

Statins are not for everyone. They just want people on drugs.

_________________
<a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swtc.lilyslim.com/G2dWbbw.png" width="400" height="120" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight charts" /></a>

CLW, did she also take CoQ10 with the Red Yeast Rice. That is what the NSP site recommended. Just wondering. And how long did it take your sister to lower her cholesterol using this method?

Thanks!

_________________
I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)