Diet needs an overhaul.

[fendertele]

Hey guys some might remember from past posts that low carb did the trick to reduce my levels to normal but the swap off was my elevated cholesterol and I had refused meds hoping it would reduce when on the diet longer.

I've recently been told its once again increased since the last test and they are really wanting me on these meds to control it....

So i'm really stuck where to go from here as I hate taking meds and would always prefer to combat things naturally... but seems the only way to do this would be to drop the low carb diet but this will then lead to problems with my diabetes....

To add to this I've also been asked to look into the acid reflux diet as I have bad asthma caused by Gerd... I dont really get the heartburn/burning sensation anymore but still get issues with my asthma due to it.

Had a look at the gerd diet which you guessed it wants me to avoid a lot of the things on the low carb diet... and replace with high fiber and nuts... two things I have intolerances to and cause Gerd for me.... lmao.

At this point I feel water and chicken is my only safe choices.... anyone else with similar issues got advice for a diet to help on all fronts ?

 

[shelley262]

A couple of interesting videos/podcasts to give you food for thought. They are both interviews by the Fat Emperor who has loads of interesting videos on the real causes of heart disease and you’ve guessed it cholesterol maybe isn’t the villain of the piece!

I’ve also included the Dr William Davis one about gut microbiome as you have gut issues causing you health issues. I’m finding that the small amounts of fibre needed once you’ve added the right bacteria back into your guts seems to help with gut balance but not so much that it raises my bgs.

Re the statins get a bit more information about the breakdown of your cholesterol from a full lipid panel - ask for your results you can always put them on here to ask for advice @bulkbiker can help. And so you can really see if there is an issue - so you can then make a decision on them based on information rather than rhetoric. Statins may be right for you they reduce LDL and some inflammation but I personally am not keen unless I have evidence that their benefits outweigh their side effects which for me were muscle pains and raised bgs.

 

[Resurgam]

Well - there have been two people on Twitter, both claiming to be HCPs and that they run clinics or do surgery for cardiovascular problems.
Both reported that over half their patients had below average cholesterol levels.
One stated that to even mention this was professional suicide.

 

[NicoleC1971]

You've had 2 excellent sources of info on heart disease already so I will just add in a couple of brief points:
1) you may have elevated cholesterol but it may not lead to actual disease. You are unlikely to live longer by taking a statin (ask next gp about this mortality benefit). See Malcolm McKendrick's talk above.
The cholesterol - cvd hypothesis is just that (not proven) but has fuelled the prescription of statins to al diabetics.
I turn them down even though my cho is 7+ because my triglycerides/hdl ratio is good (trigs are lower than hdl) thanks to low carb. If I mention this the hcp goes quiet and stops nagging me.
2) Your arteries do get damaged by excess blood glucose and insulin and this isn't disputed so I'd say you are better off tackling that damage by reducing the insulin and glucose levels usually via the low carb diet.
3) I hadn't heard of GERD/asthma connection so forgive my ignorance. Here is a doctor's take on GERD (he is a low carb doctor and has a Southern drawl so be warned!)
I'd avoid omeprazole which works by reducing stomach acid just because you need your stomach acid to properly digest food and yoru GERD seems to be silent

 

[AndBreathe]

You've had 2 excellent sources of info on heart disease already so I will just add in a couple of brief points:
1) you may have elevated cholesterol but it may not lead to actual disease. You are unlikely to live longer by taking a statin (ask next gp about this mortality benefit). See Malcolm McKendrick's talk above.
The cholesterol - cvd hypothesis is just that (not proven) but has fuelled the prescription of statins to al diabetics.
I turn them down even though my cho is 7+ because my triglycerides/hdl ratio is good (trigs are lower than hdl) thanks to low carb. If I mention this the hcp goes quiet and stops nagging me.
2) Your arteries do get damaged by excess blood glucose and insulin and this isn't disputed so I'd say you are better off tackling that damage by reducing the insulin and glucose levels usually via the low carb diet.
3) I hadn't heard of GERD/asthma connection so forgive my ignorance. Here is a doctor's take on GERD (he is a low carb doctor and has a Southern drawl so be warned!)
I'd avoid omeprazole which works by reducing stomach acid just because you need your stomach acid to properly digest food and yoru GERD seems to be silent

NicoleC - It is quite common for those with chest issues and unexplained cough to be treated for GERD. Apparently silent reflux is quite commonplace.