I need information on how to lower my HDL and raise my LDL

[Dara]

I have been 100% RAW for only 5 months but I never eaten much of anything that contains transfat or any pre-packaged foods. Also I have worked out 5 days a week since I was 16 years old and I will be 40 this month. I had my cholesterol checked this week and I was disappointed in the numbers. My overall number is 179 which is not so bad but the breakdown is not so good. Triglycerides is 170 and it should be less than 150. My HDL is 35.4 and it should be greater than 50. My LDL is 110 and it should be less than 100. I know my numbers are not way off but I would like to improve them. I don't limit myself in any way as long as it is raw and I just eat until I'm satified. I am an appropriate weight for my height and I wear a size 4. I just don't understand how it is I can work so hard to be healthy and still have cholesterol problems! Can anyone share information with me as to what I should eat more of to raise my HDL and what I should avoid so as to lower my LDL? Also what about those triglycerides? How can I lower that number? Thanks for you help! :confused:

[RawNut]

I don't know how you would lower it any further but I've read that it's oxidized cholesterol that clogs up your arteries. Cholesterol becomes oxidized when cooked and eaten or if you have a deficiency of anti-oxidants in your diet, are under stress or don't get enough sleep. I couldn't find that exact article but it was about raw vs cooked eggs.

Here's part of another article from http://www.mercola.com/2001/may/5/cholesterol.htm

About one in 500 people have a genetic defect in which they have elevated cholesterol levels of 350 or even higher. This level seems to be resistant to every type of dietary modification. Yes, even the no grain, no sugar approach.

I have only treated about 5 or 6 of these individuals. They are very uncommon. Which means that about 99% or more of the people that are currently on drugs to lower their cholesterol do not need it, as they will respond very well to the no grain no sugar approach.

This approach will usually work in several weeks for most people, especially if they apply a good exercise program.

Eating eggs will NOT raise one's cholesterol.

This is an important study in that it shows that just because one's cholesterol is elevated, even as high as 350, it does NOT mean that one will die of heart disease.

How can this be?

My take on it is that not all cholesterol is bad. Now, I am not just talking about HDL and LDL, but the key factor here is OXIDIZED cholesterol. It is my understanding that the lining of the blood vessels have no receptors for normal cholesterol, only oxidized cholesterol.

What is oxidized cholesterol? That is cholesterol that has been damaged by oxygen. This usually occurs under stress conditions in which one's internal antioxidant mechanisms are compromised.

So, if one follows an optimal food choice program, then the levels of oxidized cholesterol will be lower, even if the total cholesterol is in very high ranges.

Stress also can play a huge role in cholesterol oxidation, as can lack of sleep and too little or too much exercise.

So the issue of whether or not to treat cholesterol is much more complex than it appears to be. It is certainly not as simple as putting everyone with an elevated cholesterol on medication.

I believe this is a major piece of research in that it fully emphasized the critical nature of lifestyle and NOT genetics on the influence of chronic disease (in this case heart disease, the number one killer in the US).

That is why it is important to check for other risk factors like homocysteine, ferritin, and Lp(a) (see below).

It is interesting to note though that the researchers and journal editors conclude that since they can not identify which factors are responsible, they advise ALL of these individuals be treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs.

I hope this at least puts your mind at ease.

Craig

[Dara]

Thank you for all that information. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much. :)

Dara

[wyjoz]

Here is 'the' best article on Cholesterol ever:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Cholesterol-Does-Not-Cause-Heart-Disease&id=35406

Hope this helps and everyone gets a picture of why we should not interfere with our body producing how much it needs of LDL or HDL ! And get out of being brainwashed for so long; and out of the 'mind set' of good or bad cholesterol! We produce what we need and how much we need! Joz

[Shmoopie]

Maybe increase your good fats? The good fats (on raw, they're all considered good fats) are good for breaking down cholesterol. So you could try to be conscious about eating olives, advocados, olive oil, etc regularly. Also, apple cider vinegar is supposed to be great for this.

When is the last time you had your cholesterol checked prior to this time? Is there a chance that your numbers were higher than they are now even before you went raw, and that since changing your diet, it HAS gotten better? Or no?

[Sharon in Colorado]

Lowering general fat intake should help. Even too much raw fat is not good for cholesterol, try keeping it under 20% of your caloric intake, if you are able to.

Can you give a sample of your diet...what you generally eat on a daily basis?

Also is there a family history? I have a genetic disposition to high cholesterol and heart attacks at young ages, so I do have to be careful. But if you don't have that in your family history, you may not need to be overly concerned.

[Dara]

Thanks to everyone.

Joz- I will read the article.

I had my cholesterol checked about 5 years ago and it was much better than it is now. I was eating a low fat diet (10%-20% diet in fat) for about 7 years but when I went RAW I quit tracking what I eat- as long as it is raw. I was adopted at birth and I have no family history and that's why I'm a bit fanatic about my health. Here's my average diet per day: Breakfast: 2 oranges and 1 grapefruit juiced; morning snack- 1 or 2 bananas; lunch- some type of crepe with fruits and nuts inside. Crepe is made from young coconut meat and apples; Afternoon snack- green smoothie with kale or spinach and apples and bananas; Dinner- one of Alissa's entree's such as chili or enchiladas or pizza. Some days I will have some type of raw dessert that is usually made from cashews and raw choc. powder or oat groat cacao nip cookies. I don't eat nut butters because I don't like them.

[wyjoz]

I really think that we have been brain washed beyond reason on Cholesterol. From cooked point of view I would be concearned. But from RAW, I would not be, even if the numbers are higher than the AMA set as standard or allowable. And remember, we are looking at the AMA "SAD" cooked, numbers !!!!

Now, evidence is surfacing that lower cholesterol is more dangerous than higher. So what are good cholesterol numbers for RAWfoodists?? Stay Well.
P.S. Andreas, has a link: ask Andreas. You might want to contact him or get a consultation by him. Just a suggestion. RAWgards Joz

[luckitri]

no grain no sugar approach? I had almost no grain no sugar since July and was not even eating fruit for a long time. My cholesterol did not go down at all! Mine is way higher than Dara's.

I also have been reading like wjoz says - perhaps we are brainwashed. Also that the older body needs more cholesterol for protection. I am trying not to worry about it now since I got so sick from cholesterol medicine.

Dara, please look up rhabdomyolosis! Or see the thread under health here labeled Lescol Rhabdomyolosis! There are people here who do take medicine for cholesterol and seem to be OK. I am not one of them. I have read that the red yeast rice has the same effect and can be just as dangerous as the statins. Both red yeast rice and statins remove co-enzyme Q-10 from the body. Niacin flush is scary and just because they say it is safe does not convince me. I am just trying not to worry about it anymore. If I had not taken the doctor's test and had not heard their fear tactics I would not be worried.

[wyjoz]

luckitri; read the article link above it is really good article; and may it help you. Joz

[luckitri]

That is a very good site wyjoz. The very next article I saw was "The Physical Symptoms of High Blood Pressure". The doctors try to tell you that high blood pressure has no symptoms. I knew they were wrong! Now your site validates my truth!

[RowanC]

My grandmother is 91, lives alone, drives her car, and eats SAD. She is healthy, has her own teeth, is not overweight, and is "with it."

She has ALWAYS had high cholesterol according to the allopaths.

It is genetic.
I have it too.
I also have extremely low blood pressure. They always check it 3 times because they think their machine is broken. :rolleyes:

Don't worry... if you're eating RAW and you feel healthy, and you're getting a bit of exercise, relax. I personally don't think it is a problem.

Tests and allopaths are not God, nor are they alway correct. These tests come from the people who are advertising drugs every 5 minutes on your television. They WANT you to take medication. It's greed.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Dara it sounds like you are eating great. And your exercise program sounds good too.

If you want to see if there's a difference, you could try replacing one of the higher fat meals with fruit or a smoothie and then re-test. This is the only way to see if it is effective, I guess we can all discuss it till the cows come home, but your personal results is the real factor here.

:)

All the best.

[Dara]

Thanks everyone for your input. I am not going to worry about it any more. I will just keep doing what I am doing. :)

Dara

[wyjoz]

It would be interesting to get some people that have been on RAW for a long time to give us their 'cholesterol' numbers just to see; as I 'm done with AMA SAD rules and regulations and drugs/poisons to 'heal' us.

If you know of anyone that has posted their numbers would you share it here?

It would be good to get Alissa if she did, Dr. Graham, Victoria? do any of you know any of these people to e-mail them and ask? Joz

[wyjoz]

Just to get some ideas; here is a good article on 'cholesterol' David is RAW foodist; http://www.radicalhealth.com/issues/2004-09-24:cholesterol.txt
Cholesterol Friend or Foe: Joz

[rawnora]

Thanks everyone for your input. I am not going to worry about it any more. I will just keep doing what I am doing. :)

Dara

Dara,
You've made the right choice. Something that nobody has brought up yet is the fact that the substances you've ingested in the past and which were stored in your body are being liberated into your bloodstream as part of the cleansing process that was initiated when you stopped eating cooked food. If you keep following healthful practices, your blood will eventually become pure and clean, as it was when you were a young child. But, in the meantime, almost anything could be found there that might be misinterpreted by the medical profession, who are totally oblivious to the idea that the body cleanses itself when given the opportunity. The healthiest thing you can do is stay away from the medical profession completely, except in cases of true crisis (i.e., trauma) management. Medical testing is risky business. Not because it's dangerous in itself (although there sure isn't anything healthy about drinking berium or being stabbed with needles, etc.), but because those who submit to it are susceptible to the fear that the medical industry uses to lasso people into further intervention, which ultimately only drives disease farther into the body.

For my part, I have not submitted to medical tests since I've been raw, and would not do so, even to "prove" to someone that being raw is healthy. There is a mountain of evidence that this is the case without my giving up my blood, and if a person is resistant to that evidence, the purity of my blood isn't going to convince him/her.

Regards,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[yeahbethany]

Great post, Nora! Very informative and thought-provoking!