Cholesterol page

[Hitman]

I added up my total round about cholesterol intake of the day and it's like 2200. What is everone's take on this i alwayz had excellent cholesterol for my yearly check up but i don't think i ever took in this mush daily.

[loafingcactus]

Cholesterol in the diet represents a small percentage of total blood cholesterol. If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, good fats have a far greater impact than dietary cholesterol.

[fortunata1]

Speaking of cholesterol...I'm 5'5, weigh 115, exercise regularly and my diet consist of massive amounts of veggies (spinach, brussel sprouts and cauliflower being my addictions), fish, meat and eggs.

My total cholesterol is a whopping 449 with the "bad" cholesterol well over 300. Let me emphasize that I feel fine. There is no history of heart disease on either side of family and, as a side note my mother, who is overweight, has completely normal blood lipids.

I haven't gone to see my doctor because I'm certain he will want to put me on meds and that isn't going to happen. Should I be worried about, well, unexpectedly dropping dead of a heart attack?

[loafingcactus]

Start here- Griff's Cholesterol Primer http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread4723.html

When you go back to your doctor, ask for a VAP test. It is available at an LabCorp, if your doc can't find it else where. Your insurance may or may not pay. Then you'll have the info to come up with a plan.

BTW, my boyfriend's doc, who is in generally really on top of things anyway, not only did VAP but several additional blood level and genetic tests. She told him that her advice was that it was worthwhile even if insurance wouldn't pay. I thought this was really interesting since the only thing I've seen on this board is people who've had to make their doctor order the VAP test.

ETA: Cholesterol is only associated with heart attack in men where there is another risk factor (diabetes, previous heart attack, etc.). It's not a terribly great predictor of heart attack even for those men.

[fortunata1]

Thank you the prompt response. Those results were from a VAP test. I'm just baffled by how high it is. Maybe I should lay off eggs, dairy and red meat for a bit. Perhaps it's a good time to go all veggies and fish...

Oh I don't know if this relevant or not but along with my freakishly high cholesterol, I have life long history of freakishly low blood pressure. My "normal" is usually around 75/50.

[Griff]

Give me your actual lab numbers. The LDL is not necessarily "bad" cholesterol unless it's pattern B.

[fortunata1]

Total 449, LDL 381, HDL 68

[loafingcactus]

VAP has more numbers than that. Look at the primer.

[maurile]

This podcast about cholesterol with Chris Kresser and Chris Masterjohn is absolutely fantastic, by the way.