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Prediabetes Pre diabetic and now heart disease - can I continue with LCHF diet? Has anyone experienced this?

R

redrickshaw

Active Member
Messages
31
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Last week I was told I am pre diabetic and this week that I have a heart murmur - probably aortic regurgitation. Omg am I scared! Waiting for echocardiogram. I have been on LCHF diet since January and have lost nearly two stone. I have cheated at times - I am a binge eater at heart. Since being told I’m pre diabetic I had made the decision to totally commit to diet - bought a blood sugar monitor so Im aware of what’s going on. My gp gave me a sheet about having sweeteners instead of sugar, eating potatoes etc so I’m not very trusting of her advice. Then the shock news about heart disease. My total cholesterol is ‘high’ at 7.7 but I have watched prof sikaris’ videos so not worried about that. Don’t want to change diet. I’m rarely hungry while eating like this. Don’t want to eat things I now consider unhealthy. Don’t think I can trust drs. But I am so confused! A LCHF diet doesn’t sound good for someone who already has heart disease. But I cant find anything on internet about this subject. I wish I could ask Prof Sikaris what he thinks. Has anyone been through this?
 
I have had a heart murmur since my thirties and I am now chasing sixty. I know it will be hard but do not jump the gun and think worst case scenario, wait for the results of the echo and go on from there.
I used to have a lot of episodic palpitations which were worsened by anxiety and I found relaxation techniques helped a lot with both.
 
Can I ask what parts of LCHF you may have heard are not so good for heart health.
 

Thanks for good advice and good idea about relaxation techniques. My husband is always telling me to relax
 
Mbaker said:
Can I ask what parts of LCHF you may have heard are not so good for heart health.
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I’m sure LCHF diet is good for a healthy heart. I have read lots to say it is. But I’m trying to find out if it’s good for someone who already has heart disease. What really causes the narrowing of arteries? So much evidence for cholesterol - although like I say I’ve listened to Prof Sikaris’ lectures - Ive also heard someone say it was insulin. Im confused and worried about making wrong diet choice. I was happy on LCHF diet before I was told I had aortic regurgitation. But now I’m not sure. I’m also afraid that drs I talk to won’t understand thinking about cholesterol. I will have to wait till firm diagnosis and discuss diet - possibly with my gp who thinks sweeteners made from aspartame are ok.
 
Given what you have said, I would book a specialist consultation with either Ivor Cummins, Zoe Harcombe or Aseem Malhotra. If you are happy with LCHF but not sure about the FATS (this is area of contention I believe), then cut back and perhaps only do moderate FAT whilst you research (a further alternative is the Carnivore Diet).
 
 
Thank you too for advice and for names for more research
 
redrickshaw said:
What really causes the narrowing of arteries?
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Latest thinking is it could be blamed on too much Omega 6 in our diets. Omega 6 is known to cause inflammation. Omega 3 on the other hand fights inflammation. Our modern Western diet is chockablock full of omega 6 and we tend not to eat enough omega 3. We need both of these, but because of the inflammation factor, it’s optimal to maximise omega 3s and minimise omega 6s. Currently, the Western diet provides far too much omega 6. and not enough omega 3. An ideal ratio is 2:1 omega 6 to omega 3, and that is what it used to be in the general population before vegetable oils, fast food, ready meals and takeaways became the norm. It now stands at about 16:1.

http://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2014/02/the-new-fat-problem-omega-6-fatty-acids

This page lists foods high in omega 3.
http://www.waitrose.com/home/inspir...cts/know_your_nutrients/fats_and_omega_3.html

The easiest way to avoid too much omega 6 is to avoid processed seed and vegetable oils and the foods that contain them.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/optimize-omega-6-omega-3-ratio#section4
 
redrickshaw said:
Thank you very much for all this info!
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I would add to @Bluetit1802 comments that it is far easier and cheaper to lower the number of Omega 6s in the diet than to try to level out the ratio by adding in more Omega 3s. As to inflammation it is now thought that carbs are inflammatory, too.
 
Some heart problems might be due to furred up arteries, but some problems are purely mechanical - an imperfect seal on the edge of the heart valve - and it could be all down to a high carb diet anyway - that does seem to be more and more likely, now that there is some real research being done.
 
Agree with all the comments and would add that being diabetic may be a higher risk than eating high fat thus if your current diet is helping keep your blood sugars and insulin low then you are avoiding the damage done by glycation (glucose sticking to the walls of arteries and making those walls stiffen. Of all the names mentioned, Aseem Malhatra is a cardiologist so may be a good place to start on YouTube. Again your disease may just be bad luck rather than connected to diet but it will be great for you to go in well informed at your next consultation as obviously many of your doctors may be generally oposed to LCHF despite there being weak evidence of its artery furr ing properties.
 
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