Hi all, last month, like all years, I had my blood donation. Labs exams on my blood gave me a surprise; my total cholesterol is 5.68 mmol/L amd HDL is 1.29 mmol/L. I am a little worried because my nutrition is always on point; I literally only eat nothing but rice, pasta, vegetables and lean meats (mostly chicken). I take multivitamins and omega3 fish oil. I’m not taking any drug, and never took any since 2018. I workout 2-3 times a week in the gym and I have a bike ride once a week. The day I had my bloodwork I was coming off a little caloric restriction. Any idea of what could have been raising my cholesterol?
Family history? This stuff can be heavily genetic.
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Dad has the same issue. But he does not exercise, eats junk food and drinks a good amount of wine daily.
Sounds as though you are avoiding all fats to INCLUDE heart healthy monounsaturated fats. Could definitely contribute.
Follow the advice to pick up some more affirmative healthy nutrition, but it’s probably genetic.
I’d also get a check your calcification of arteries to see if any damage is being done. It’s an open question whether bad cholesterol is itself bad.
It’s not the end of the world to take Crestor. Cheap. Works to raise HDL and lower LDL. I had weird aches for a couple of weeks. Then it went away.
Finally, add a lot a walking and serious stretching, both of which helps arteries.
Good tip. I am eating too little fats, only a little olive oil with my vegetables and some peanut butter here and there. Thank you, bro.
I’m walking a lot during my job (I’m a nurse) but I’m not doing any stretch. I will check my doctor to see if Crestor could be a option; maybe I’ll wait till next bloodwork, for now I’ll follow the precious advices i had here from you and @T3hPwnisher
Total Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol alone is a tell you nothing.
The importance of Total Cholesterol is in determining your Remnant Cholesterol (a vital number).
Total Cholesterol - (HDL + LDL) = Remnant Cholesterol.
A Remnant Cholesterol Number of 20 or lower is good.
HDL
This stand alone number is important.
A high HDL Number is good. Yours is fairly high.
Triglycerides
This stand alone number is important.
Triglycerides:HDL Ratio
This (like Remnant Cholesterol) Is a vital number.
Divide Triglycerides by HDL. A reading of 2 or less is very good.
Reading A Blood Lipid Profile
One of the main issues with most individuals is they don’t know how to read a Lipid Blood Profile.
Some stand alone numbers (Triglycerides and HDL) are important.
Other numbers (LDL and Total Cholesterol) alone are useless.
Kenny Croxdale
Your readings are fine. Taking any medication is contraindicated.
Many physicians are unfamiliar in how to read a Blood Lipid Panel.
They are rarely familiar with Remnant Cholesterol; what it is and how to interpret it, as well as understanding the importance of the Triglyceride:HDL Ratio.
The Triglyceride:HDL Ratio tell you if you have more good Particle A LDL or bad Particle B LDL.
High Particle A LDL mean you are fine. HIgh Particle B means have a health issue.
Kenny Croxdale
Mr. Croxdale, I can’t find the words to describe how much I am grateful to you for all your awesome explanation. The only thing I can say is “THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH”. You made my day.
I just heard a well-known sports doctor present one of his cases concerning a patient of his who was an endurance athlete. The guy was 48 but with a physique like Cristiano Ronaldo. His DEXA showed he had literally no fat! Yet, he had turned to the sports doctor after he was refused medical insurance based on his blood work. His low carb diet meant his LDL levels were way above the ‘normal’ range and hence he was deemed high risk. As Kenny mentioned, a quick check of his triglyceride:HDL ratio showed it was 0.3mmol - well within the pattern A range.
It never ceases to amaze me how much conventional medicine is stuck in a time warp despite the fact the whole lipid hypothesis has been shown to be deeply flawed (or, patently false) for several years now. Although some national guidelines are eventually showing signs of change, the obsession with fat will pervade for some time to come, I fear.
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James,
I believe this is presentation you mentioned.
Dr. Paul Mason - ‘High cholesterol on a ketogenic diet (plus do statins work?) - 2019 update’
Picture of Him
2:50 minute mark
Kenny Croxdale
Good spot!
I really like Paul Mason. Guy taught me a lot about insulin resistance and a hell of a lot more.
I have genetically high cholesterol. Cholesterol lowering drugs are only reasonably effective in older men who’ve already had a cardiac event. And even then it’s probably because they have anti inflammatory properties, not because of cholesterol lowering. I believe in that case you are better off staying metabolically healthy and keeping inflammation in check. Both are much bigger risks than cholesterol. On the bright side high LDL is associated with lower rates of both infectious disease and cancer so it isn’t clear your all cause mortality risk is any higher with higher cholesterol levels. Eat well, exercise , don’t get fat, reduce stress where you can, and if you want check for calcification.
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And I’ve had cardiologists and ICU/cardiac nurses tell me directly "We just had a guy in here that ran triathlons. He didn’t make it. ".
The consensus among them was that genes + habits determine cardiac health or lack thereof, but In some cases you can literally be superficially in the best shape of your life, dialed in diet, and wham. The clock strikes 12:00 and your time is up.
For real heart health stuff you need all of the information: stress test, imaging, ekg, blood values, etc. And for real solutions you need someone with some practice interpreting that information and guiding the treatment.
One little corner of the subject, like lipids, isn’t going to tell anybody a whole lot, nor does it define the entire practice of medicine.
That’s like doing a grip strength test and the results being “You should be in the Olympics!”, and doesn’t even take into consideration that for a vast number of people, the first medical intervention for cardiac care is after a major event.
So, much of the way medicine is practiced is based on the patient.
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I don’t think you’re analogy about grip strength equates with the example of lipids. Of course, I was generalising but the point remains regarding the triglycerides HDL ratio as a solid indication of heart health.
Eh, sure. And my point is that a single data point isn’t much to go on.
My blood pressure was great right before my heart went kabloowie!
Now it’s like super really great. But I’m in a much higher risk category now for a second one.
(technically, infinitely higher. One is not at risk for another without the first. 
)
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Agreed, don’t take a statin unless you really must. They can have all kinds of nasty side effects on testosterone and personality over time. As a nurse I’ve had bodybuilders and marathon runners after bypass surgery. For the record, bodybuilders seem to bounce back faster than runners.
HDL High is good
Triglyceride Low is good
If above two good then LDL is irrelevant because LDL has a density profile that will reflect good particle LDL size (aka low density LDL). Research how to raise HDL and lower Triglycerides. Only one way … GOOD NUTRITION. Welcome to 2020. Please let this thread know what you find. Stay away from drugs.
Good points, the common thread is reducing and avoiding inflammation. Easy to study. Ask your doctor how to raise HDL and lower Tri’s. 7 in 10 cannot answer the question or even understand it.
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