Cholesterol -- Oatmeal-- Success!?

[jds holler]

So, about a month ago I went to the doc and blood work showed my cholesterol way too high; Total @ 265. LDL was186, HDL @ 62, VLDL @ 17. (don't know what VLDL is) Doctor wanted to slap me with a prescription for Statin drug, and send me home. I'm kinda reluctant to start popping pills, and wanted to see if I could do something with diet.

Anyway, I started having oatmeal for breakfast every day, (1/2 cup) and today we had a free health fair where I went and got another screening.

Short story is that my total number dropped from 265 to 166.
LDL dropped from 186 to 86
HDL went from 62 to 52
didn't mention VLDL on todays test.

Anyway, am I lookin at a WHOO HOO moment? Did just eating oatmeal do this?

my triglycerides were 139 which is high, but within the limits.
Blood Glucose was 96 which also is high, but not quite in prediabetes zone.

Now it's time to see if I can fix those two things. jd

 

[sdean]

So, about a month ago I went to the doc and blood work showed my cholesterol way too high; Total @ 265. LDL was186, HDL @ 62, VLDL @ 17. (don't know what VLDL is) Doctor wanted to slap me with a prescription for Statin drug, and send me home. I'm kinda reluctant to start popping pills, and wanted to see if I could do something with diet.

Anyway, I started having oatmeal for breakfast every day, (1/2 cup) and today we had a free health fair where I went and got another screening.

Short story is that my total number dropped from 265 to 166.
LDL dropped from 186 to 86
HDL went from 62 to 52
didn't mention VLDL on todays test.

Anyway, am I lookin at a WHOO HOO moment? Did just eating oatmeal do this?

my triglycerides were 139 which is high, but within the limits.
Blood Glucose was 96 which also is high, but not quite in prediabetes zone.

Now it's time to see if I can fix those two things. jd

Fish oil and exercise helps lower triglycerides.

 

[BlueWater]

Short story is that my total number dropped from 265 to 166 ... Did just eating oatmeal do this?

Possibly, in you it had the full effect. Likely, it was a combination of food changes.

In my own case, I call the various higher-fiber foods "scrub-a-dubbers." (All the various fiber types.) As in, they get in there and "scrub" out the corners of the digestive tract, improving gut flora, slowing sugar uptake, moderating insulin response, etc. Along with the simple fact they tend to be nutrient-dense with many micro-nutrients people often have trouble getting from their foods. Whatever else boosting these do, they certainly seem to help significantly with moderating cholesterol.

For me, I've found that lentils, legumes, oatmeal, chia seed, ground flax seed, cruciferous vegetables and lots of leafy greens make a world of difference. Along with ensuring each distinct meal or snack I consume has some of this as part of the meal/snack. (IOW, so no just having chips, or not just fruit, or not just a meat ... but a mix of small quantities of things along with a healthy portion of such "scrub-a-dubbers.") In my own body, at least, it makes a huge difference in the cholesterol numbers.

Another thing I've done this past 10+ years is to erase all oils and butters, except for a decent extra-virgin olive oil. Drizzled over many dishes, in moderation, it adds a great flavor and has healthful benefits. (Serious amount of fat, so the key is moderate use.) Elimination of "red" meats and transition to fish, occasional chicken and many non-meat protein sources also helps, at least for me.

Ditto on the exercise part of the equation, as well. Helps to increase HDL, which itself moderates the LDL.

Does Exercise Lower Cholesterol?

Is it true that exercise lowers high cholesterol levels? Yes! Start slowly and find out which exercises are right for you and the future of your heart health.

health.clevelandclinic.org

Can lifestyle changes benefit your cholesterol?

Understand the diet and lifestyle steps you can take to improve your cholesterol.

www.mayoclinic.org

HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol

People who have higher levels of HDL cholesterol often are at lower risk of heart attack and stroke.

www.mayoclinic.org

Effects of exercise on HDL functionality - PubMed

There is mixed evidence that regular aerobic exercise improves cholesterol efflux capacity, with recent research suggesting an exercise dose threshold needs to be exceeded to produce beneficial effects. There is preliminary evidence that exercise improves the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[sdean]

T

Possibly, in you it had the full effect. Likely, it was a combination of food changes.

In my own case, I call the various higher-fiber foods "scrub-a-dubbers." (All the various fiber types.) As in, they get in there and "scrub" out the corners of the digestive tract, improving gut flora, slowing sugar uptake, moderating insulin response, etc. Along with the simple fact they tend to be nutrient-dense with many micro-nutrients people often have trouble getting from their foods. Whatever else boosting these do, they certainly seem to help significantly with moderating cholesterol.

For me, I've found that lentils, legumes, oatmeal, chia seed, ground flax seed, cruciferous vegetables and lots of leafy greens make a world of difference. Along with ensuring each distinct meal or snack I consume has some of this as part of the meal/snack. (IOW, so no just having chips, or not just fruit, or not just a meat ... but a mix of small quantities of things along with a healthy portion of such "scrub-a-dubbers.") In my own body, at least, it makes a huge difference in the cholesterol numbers.

Another thing I've done this past 10+ years is to erase all oils and butters, except for a decent extra-virgin olive oil. Drizzled over many dishes, in moderation, it adds a great flavor and has healthful benefits. (Serious amount of fat, so the key is moderate use.) Elimination of "red" meats and transition to fish, occasional chicken and many non-meat protein sources also helps, at least for me.

Ditto on the exercise part of the equation, as well. Helps to increase HDL, which itself moderates the LDL.

Does Exercise Lower Cholesterol?

Is it true that exercise lowers high cholesterol levels? Yes! Start slowly and find out which exercises are right for you and the future of your heart health.

health.clevelandclinic.org

Can lifestyle changes benefit your cholesterol?

Understand the diet and lifestyle steps you can take to improve your cholesterol.

www.mayoclinic.org

HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol

People who have higher levels of HDL cholesterol often are at lower risk of heart attack and stroke.

www.mayoclinic.org

Effects of exercise on HDL functionality - PubMed

There is mixed evidence that regular aerobic exercise improves cholesterol efflux capacity, with recent research suggesting an exercise dose threshold needs to be exceeded to produce beneficial effects. There is preliminary evidence that exercise improves the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Thanks for sharing.

 

[SEM]

DUMP CHEESE DUMP CHEESE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUMP CHEESE wait did I say DUMP CHEESE
2016 had my third heart attack, 5 stints, and still one 40% blocked artery 1 year later in the ER again I overheard a conversation about clogged arteries I listened to the whole conversation a video called What The Hell was what was being discussed after listening to their conversation I did not even need to watch , At that time had another nuclear scan still 40% blocked they only do something at 80% blocked or in my case 100% , I stopped eating cheese that day ( all other dairy also) had already given up meat,. 2022 had a scare had another nuclear test all arteries wide open !!!! .... I had an infection following a non related surgery that made it seem as if it was my heart.

NO packaged foods allowed.... well almost none, Read what they put in them POISION

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Thats awesome you fixed it!

 

[Bill Norris]

Fantastic.

 

[Ned Ludd]

A high fiber diet and supplements such as phytosterols can help prevent dietary cholesterol from being absorbed in the gut. However, this will not alter the amount of cholesterol produced by the body, which can be as much as a gram per day. Individuals that have high blood cholesterol levels primarily due to the cholesterol produced in their own bodies will not benefit nearly as much from dietary changes. The key now will be to determine whether the dietary changes you have made can keep your cholesterol level low over the long term.

 

[LHSmith]

A long, long time ago when I was in my 40's and high cholesterol was found to be "bad" for you, my family doctor sent me to an internist. This specialist , well known in the area, was waiting for his book about cholesterol to be published. He asked me, among other dietary questions, if I had any alcoholism in the family and I answered yes I did.
Later on a good shooting buddy said he just went to the Dr. and was told to have a bit of corn whiskey daily to help control it.
Well I went the statin route -just to be safe. After taking them for some 25 years I am still above room temperature and not an alcoholic- just a pill popper (prescription).

 

[SEM]

I have a set of labs coming up soon I will see then, still take no meds and alcohol was never a issue cant tolerate either

 

[3Ackleys]

Years ago ran into an older gentleman (turned out he was 96) reading labels on bread. He told me he was a retired heart surgeon from AZ. Said if people would pay attention to the amount of fiber they ate, half the heart surgeons in the country would be out of work.

 

[K22]

Been eating the "goo" every morning forever but I love it. Here are some of the additives I use on an alternating basis that keep things interesting and tasty without having to add cane sugar:

Rasins
Blueberries
Walnuts & Molasses
Wheat Germ and Cinnamon
Strawberries
Sliced Applies and Cinnamon
Sunflower Seeds

Try it - it will add another healthy dimension to the oatmeal.

 

[drop_point]

It wasn't what you ate, it is what you didn't eat.

 

[LHSmith]

Been eating the "goo" every morning forever but I love it. Here are some of the additives I use on an alternating basis that keep things interesting and tasty without having to add cane sugar:

Supposedly worse than cane sugar is high fructose corn syrup and it's in everything that is tasty.

 

[cmysix]

The oatmeal works and it keeps a body regular. High doses of niacin will work too

 

[Rocketvapor]

Oatmeal replaced what you were eating.
Sawdust works but oatmeal tastes better

 

[jpx2rk]

I've been on a statin for close to 30 yrs now, the old school type Pravastatin. One doctor wanted me to try all the latest and greatest one as Pravastatin is the "least" effective. I could not tolerate the 3 different "latest/greatest" versions so I asked to go back to the Pravastatin. That doc would not write a new prescription for it so I found another doc. Family has a history of heart disease, my dad had 3 bypass operations by the time I graduated college, so I knew what I was in for.

The meds do ok in controlling my blood work levels, but I started eating a bowl of Raisin Brand or Cheerio's with dried cranberries for lunch instead of a sandwich and chips in an attempt to better control my weight. My weight is fairly stable but the change in my lunch menu helped with my blood work levels quiet a bit. Doc was happy, and I'm a bit healthier for it. Wife doesn't see how I can eat the cereal almost daily, but it's better for me, so I do it.

 

[K22]

Supposedly worse than cane sugar is high fructose corn syrup and it's in everything that is tasty.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

 

[Tommie]

Get ready to gasp:

There is no correlation between serum cholesterol levels and cardio disease.

After you’ve recovered from that shock, read “The Great Cholesterol Myth” and “Reverse Heart Disease Now” by cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Just stay on it!
if you have to take the meds. Better than a clogged up artery