Perplexing: Cholesterol

[Maintime]

Hey everyone! Been high raw (98%) vegan now for about 10 months. Dropped a tremendous amount of weight, my blood sugars have flat lined at normal (the first time since I was diagnosed with type II), and my overall health is awesome.

But my cholestrol has actually gone up. It's not really bad (203) but throughout my life I have always had really low cholesterol. Even to the point of many doctors running the test a second time in disbelievement.

The only fats I eat come from nuts and avacados, so I am at a loss as to why it has gone up. Not only that, but I don't even know how I could lower it. Eat more fiber? LOL I eat plenty of that already.

I am not sure if this issue is known or perhaps my body is just strange, but I was wondering if anyone had any insights to share. Thanks everyone.

[Aleesha Sattva]

perhaps now your body is running at a healthy normal level? i'm not sure what the normal numbers are.

but i've found my body comes into a space of healthy balance the longer i'm raw

[Maintime]

Thank you for your response.

These are the standards in regards to cholesterol.

U.S. and some other countries Canada and most of Europe
Below 200 mg/dL Below 5.2 mmol/L Desirable
200-239 mg/dL 5.2-6.2 mmol/L Borderline high
240 mg/dL and above Above 6.2 mmol/L High

I guess I am just in disbelief that I could eat all the saturated fatty foods that I want before going raw and my levels were low and now that I am eating healthy my levels are considered "borderline high".

It just doesn't compute in my head. :)

[sport]

My figures are very high. In fact I do not know anyone (even SAD fooders) who has a level as High as mine. I had been about 4 years raw the last time I checked.
I have since gone low fat and intend to have it checked again shortly

[Aleesha Sattva]

I know mine are in the desirable level as my doctor checked them during my fast. Were you at all 'under the weather' when you got the test done? I've read that when we are fighting an illness/dis-ease our cholesterol rises.

[sport]

I have had 3 bad tests and they were getting worse each time.
They were 6.5, 6.7 and finally 7.5
Normal is 3.5 to 5.0 and you are put on stattins if you are above 5 so I am considered out of the ballpark.

[Maintime]

Nope. Haven't felt under the weather since going raw.

A jaunt through the internets seems to find other people with this perplexing issue. There are theories like "your liver is overcompensating now that there is little to no fat", but all in all there seems to be no consensus as to why the rise happens.

Rememdies from adding tofu to cutting out all fats (even the good raw ones) are suggested, but I can't possibly think that is the way to go. Especially since in my case bad fats = low cholesterol and good fats = higher cholesterol.

They have also suggested that some people are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, but such is not the case for me.

The quest for answers continues. :)

[Tenuviel]

in some cases if your eating low fat and cholesterol is still high, it could be due to low vitamin D. This is what happened in my case. total cholesterol 8 months low fat raw was just over 200. Vitamin D was really low. upped vitamin D levels, next blood test total cholesterol was 150. the ratio between the good and bad cholesterol is more important than the actual number. if there is just one or 2 points difference between them, it is seen as pretty good ;). If you are eating a diet with a lot of healthy plant fats, it can still cause some people's bodies to make excess cholesterol on its own... each body seems to process differently, so it depends on the individual

[Maintime]

Fantastic! I will try the vitamin D. :) thanks!

[sport]

I am taking Vit D for a while so now if my levels have gone down I will not know if it is due to the low fat or the D.

[Maintime]

I will let you know if there is any change. :)

Anyone know a good dosage? I know websites say about 2000, but generally they low ball the numbers. I understand no one is a doctor, I am just talking personal experience. :)

Thanks again.

[zinny]

Natalia Rose also has very high cholosterol--she blogged on her site about how her doctor had no explanation and, given all her other vitals, wasn't concerned.

[sport]

I am taking 2000 but that is because I do not consider myself to be low (I am assuming not) and consider it to be a maintenance dose because it is winter.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Because certain family members of mine have high cholesterol yet eat well I've done a lot of reading about it, and the jury isn't out on it as far as I can tell. There are some people arguing that cholesterol is not the main factor in heart disease etc...

Look up Gary Taubes and Naughton (I think?) or a Documentary on Hulu called Fat Head.

It's really interesting!

[MelanieBear]

Hi there,

As I understand it, total cholesterol is much less important as a detirminant of health than the following numbers:

HDL/LDL Levels
Triglycerides

You want your LDL to be on the low side and your HDL to be high. You want your triglycerides to be low.

A common dysfunctional pattern that often relates to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and even PCOS is to have low HDL (or "good cholesterol") and high triglycerides. That would be something to be concerned about and to work on.

However, our bodies NEED cholesterol! It's the building block for our hormones. But if you're showing elevated LDL, depressed HDL and high triglycerides, I'd be concerned about insulin resistance. This is something that's not talked about enough in raw food circles (and I know about Dr Cousens and the healing diabetes people, but most of us aren't following his plan and are eating lots and lots of dates and sweet fruits, which is fine for some and not so good for others.)

Good luck.Remember that your body doesn't care about dogma---it just wants what it wants in order to be healthy.

Melanie

[sport]

I have read that cholesterol is not important that your homocysteine level is what matters.

[Maintime]

Just a funny tid bit I forgot to mention.

The nurse who called me about the elevated level suggested I "eat more fruit and vegetables". I chuckled and told her I was raw vegan and that was all I ate.

She told me "well, try to eat more."

[sport]

I got the same thing. I was told to eat less meat and dairy even though I had fully explained to everyone what I ate and that I had not had meat for 35 years.

[MimiYoyo]

Hi there,

As I understand it, total cholesterol is much less important as a detirminant of health than the following numbers:

HDL/LDL Levels
Triglycerides

You want your LDL to be on the low side and your HDL to be high. You want your triglycerides to be low.

A common dysfunctional pattern that often relates to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and even PCOS is to have low HDL (or "good cholesterol") and high triglycerides. That would be something to be concerned about and to work on.

However, our bodies NEED cholesterol! It's the building block for our hormones. But if you're showing elevated LDL, depressed HDL and high triglycerides, I'd be concerned about insulin resistance. This is something that's not talked about enough in raw food circles (and I know about Dr Cousens and the healing diabetes people, but most of us aren't following his plan and are eating lots and lots of dates and sweet fruits, which is fine for some and not so good for others.)

Good luck.Remember that your body doesn't care about dogma---it just wants what it wants in order to be healthy.

Melanie
You are correct, the ratio is what matters. My total cholesterol has actually been too low -- which means I'm not generating enough HDL (the good stuff). But my LDL is low as well.

Total cholesterol can be low if HDL is too low. HDL can be increased through cardio/aerobic training.

So if someone thinks their cholesterol is too high, it's important to know whether its LDL or HDL. (And genetics plays its part as well....)