My Cholesterol Level is Too High! - Comments Page 5

Have you looked at anything from John Mcdougall, MD or Dean Ornish. Their plans lower cholesterol safely and easily -- Mcdougall's worked for me.
http://www.drmcdougall.com/

Abby

A couple years ago (age 53) I was diagnosed w/ high BP. Doc wanted to check BP in another 6 months and put me on drugs if it wasn't lower. I said no way and asked about taking Red Yeast Rice instead. He said take two 600 mg per day (1200/day total), and he sarcastically called that a homeopathic dose. In other words, he didn't think it would help, but certainly would do no harm. I spend a lot of time researching alternative healing, always trying to find a natural solution rather than take any drugs, and don't blindly do whatever the doc says, but research what he recommends and try to find a natural alternative - your health is ultimately your own responsibility. There are a myriad of good online health forums and webwites.

Each capsule is 600 mg. and I'm not very good at remembering to take supplements daily, much less twice a day. So I actually took an average of less than 600 mg/day, with no negative side affects. I eat red meat several times a week (homegrown pork, and homegrown pasture-raised beef), chicken, homegrown eggs, and tuna a few times/month (can't afford much fish, but eat when it's on sale), cook with real butter and olive oil (and now extra virgin coconut oil too), and eat dairy products (whole milk, cottage cheese, cheddar, etc.), as well as lots of garden-fresh organically-grown veggies and fruit.

In 6 months my cholesterol was down to an acceptable level and the doc was surprised but pleased.

My diet and exercise program consisted of working in and eating out of the garden.

Every BODY is different and has different requirements, so what may work for one may not work for another. Sometimes you have to try an assortment of things, one at a time, to see what works for your BODY.

You're on the right track and will do well with your plan!

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The following info. I would prefer to email, but can't seem to access that option:

I recently bought Red Yeast Rice, 600 mg, 60 caps at www.swansonvitamins.com for 2 bottles/$2.69, limit of 6. After purchasing a few other things, all on sale, the shipping was free. That's two months worth of 'cholesterol-lowering' substance for $2.69! You simply can't beat that!

Bob,

You have a good plan. I have been doing this for almost 15 years. I take Omega 3 Fish Oil (molecularly distilled only), a super-antioxidant formula, green tea, B-Complex (100 MG per vitamin size), Calcium Citrate (with Vitamin D), additional Vitamin D, Chromium GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor - it aids in stabilizing blood sugar), Vitamin C, Policosanol, Guggul, and sometimes a few other things.

The most effective against cholesterol are Policosanol:

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Policosanol-10-mg-90-Vcaps/743?at=0

and Guggul:

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Guggul-Extract-750-mg-90-Capsules/627?at=0

These are all natural, and very safe and powerful.

Arterial inflammation is also implicated in cholesterol build-up as it causes the cholesterol to be produced to "paste" over the cracked arterial walls as a repair. So a CRP test (C-Reactive protein) is also good to have done from a blood sample. Vitamin C and Folic acid help fight inflammation.

Good luck.

I agree that your family history shows a LOT about your future. My maternal side (for some reason most dominate genetics are maternal side of the family)suffered and died from heart failure, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, etc. My doctor does a Berkley test on me annually -- it delves deeper into the lipids and actually shows you statistically what is most dangerous. I have made great improvement with diet, exercise, herbal supplements (except I do tak prescription Niaspan and not plain high-dose niacin). It has taken 4 years but my lipid profile is improving - without the use of statins. Good luck.

My cholestorol is great, but my husband's was at 240 when he was 38. He used the "Eight Week Cholesterol Diet," which has lots of great recipes in it. He also started swimming about 3-4 times a week. He also eliminated red meat and cheese from his diet. He added in oat bran and rice bran. Over an 8 month time he dropped his overall cholesterol to 179.

Whatever you do be sure it is aggressive! I did not know I had a problem until a large heart attack found me. After 18 months I got all the levels down and up to normal but I had to use meds and strict diet. My wife has done the research and I am not bothered to eat differently at home or when eating out.

That sounds like a good plan, Bob, but I'll tell you what helped me more than anything: fasting. My situation was (and still is) very similar to yours, except I'm three years younger than you. Although not obese and in fairly good shape I suffered from acid reflux and even took medication for it, although, like you, I try to avoid Big Pharma. Then I did something I'd wanted to do for many years: went away to a specialist fasting resort for a week and didn't eat for five days. I've never looked back. It really is the best way to put your house in order. Although somewhat old now, Paul Bragg's book, 'The Miracle of Fasting' is an excellent introduction, which I can't recommend highly enough. Get it from the library and give it a try. I promise you won't regret it and it might just change the rest of your life for the better. Really!

The exercise is good, but to lower cholesterol, you need to reduce carbohydrates of all kinds. Get off the sugar and bread. I went from 220 to 170 with no exercise.

This doctor tells the story.

http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717

PS
I've just re-read your article, because I'd recalled the mention of Jack LaLanne. Did you know it was Paul Bragg who put him on the path to improved fitness? Yep, took him from a sickly and scrawny boy to a strong and fit young man, from where he's never looked back. Google Paul C. Bragg Jack LaLanne.

I don't love walking or using the elliptical at the gym. My solution? Listen to a book. Download free from your state library and put on your mp3 player or ipod. I look forward now to getting back to my book.

(1) My doctor replaced Lipitor with niacin (niacinamide, hexaniacinate, and other "no-flush" versions may not be as efficacious). As your body gets used to the dosage (mine is 3grams/day), the flush effect quickly and completely disappears.
(2) Rooibos tea (a red leaf tea from South Africa) has 0 caffeine and 5 times the antioxidants of green tea.
(3) The source of omega-3 rich fish is important since many have high levels of mercury.
Good luck.

Bob,
Same situation here. You've done your research, and it looks to me like you've got a good plan. The active component in red yeast rice is a mild statin, so don't overdo it with 20 a day or some such. In addition, it's been found that grapefruit juice amplifies the effect of most statins (with the exception of lipitor). So if you take the red yeast rice with real grapefruit juice, you might be getting a poor man's prescription dosage. Definitely go with the flush-free niacin. I've had niacin flushes that made me feel like I was on fire for an hour! Garlic helps, as well. Good Luck!

I'm on the "see food" diet (old joke). By reading labels of packaged/canned food and choosing mostly the ones that were all natural, I unintentionally lowered my total cholesterol 20+ points. While I didn't find any credible research results, there was anectdotal support of the concept. The BrandAid site gives pointers on interpreting food labels.

If you go with "natural supplements," be sure your source is honest about ingredients. Consumer Reports studied a few and found that sometimes the CONTENTS weren't as advertised. (Not talking about claimed benefits, just ingredients!)

And finally, be sure your health care providers know what supplements you take. Why? Some are also anticoagulants; too much bleeding during a surgical/dental procedure is not good.

Best of Luck, Bob!

My doc told me to take several 1000 mg of Fish Oil daily - 2x 1000mg in the morning and again in the evening. She said that most people who take Fish Oil supplements to help lower their cholesterol don't take enough to make it therapeutic.

Not sure my message went through. But suggest you go to:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/search/label/fats

Good info

Best,

Jack Grossman

I have had a lifetime struggle with cholesterol with typical numbers ranging 250/375 and triglycerides even much higher in 350/500 range. Diets, exercise, and in general, healthy living just had no significant impact. Biking, tennis, walking, motorcycling were all part of my weekly routine to keep me in a pretty fit condition. I retired from the daily grind 2 years ago when my doctor suggested I start taking taking 1200mg of fish oil twice a day. I was absolutely flabbergasted at the results. Both my cholesterol and triglycerides fell below what has been considered normal. I wondered why wasn't I taking 1200mg of fish oil when I was way younger. My last cholesterol level was measured at seventy seven (77) and my triglycerides down to seventy nine (79). Now I have an opposite concern for those numbers being TOO low. My doctor said for me not to worry about it. He likes those low numbers. Well, for whatever reason, be it the fish oil, retirement, and/or the increased exercise, my numbers have literally fallen off the table. Add to that some significant weigh loss and blood pressure averaging 110/70, I haven't been this statistically healthy in years.

I have been using Niacin for about six months now.The flushing effect is mostly gone or very light.My dosage is 4500 milligrams daily taken after a meal in 1500 mg doses.The cost is around $20 for 1000 500mg pills at the warehouse pharmacies.

The good and bad cholesterol are responding well to this treatment along with diet and exercise.

Just think, you now have the opportunity to explore what most women encounter during menopause,HOT FLASHES.Big smile Good Luck on what ever regimen you decide on.

My Doctor wants me go on satin ,too. Do mind telling me(us) what your numbers were? Mine was 55/125 Good/bad

A friend of ours, whose brother is a leading cardiologist at St. Joseph's in Atlanta, recently had success lowing his cholesterol by eating figs. I'm not sure if they were fresh or dried, but you may want to research a possible benefit from eating figs.

I am trying Levodyn. A all natural product for high blood pressure that suppose to balance cholesterol to. Since it all natural it may replenish vitamins we all are lacking