Lower my Cholesterol!
![Paul in Cannon Beach](http://blr-hrforums.elasticbeanstalk.com/plugins/DefaultAvatars/design/RedAvatar.jpg)
Recently I found out I have high cholesterol. It may be hereditary or it may be my diet. I am only 33 so I have decided to make a life change. I am done with Mcdonalds, high fatty foods, etc. I want to be around for a while (if only to pester Don D).
So, anyone got any good tips on lowering cholesterol or living more healthily?
1. Stay away from high fat or processed foods
2. Stay away from anything white
3. Flaxseed oil is good
4. Blueberries and almonds are good snacks
5. Drink more water, less coffee
6. Even walking is excercise if you can walk 30 minutes or more
So far, after 3 weeks, I am feeling good and have lost a couple pounds already. It hasn't been too hard but I do miss hotdogs.
Paul in Cannon Beach
So, anyone got any good tips on lowering cholesterol or living more healthily?
1. Stay away from high fat or processed foods
2. Stay away from anything white
3. Flaxseed oil is good
4. Blueberries and almonds are good snacks
5. Drink more water, less coffee
6. Even walking is excercise if you can walk 30 minutes or more
So far, after 3 weeks, I am feeling good and have lost a couple pounds already. It hasn't been too hard but I do miss hotdogs.
Paul in Cannon Beach
Comments
Don't overlook a discussion with your doctor about medicine to lower your cholesterol, if exercise and diet aren't affecting the numbers. Also don't forget that some of the diets that may reduce cholesterol may also tremendously increase your carb intake and cause you to buy a new waist size in the swimming trunks.
Margaret Morford
theHRedge
615-371-8200
[email]mmorford@mleesmith.com[/email]
[url]http://www.thehredge.net[/url]
1. Red yeast. My otherwise maintstream doctor recommended this and really believes in it. I went to a GNC store and asked for stuff -- turns out it is labeled as Red Yeast Rice and comes in innocuous little white capsules (therefore not as gross as it sounds).
2. Instead of or in addition to flax seed oil, use real ground flax seeds -- you get the benefits of the oil plus the fiber of the seeds. You can buy a product at GNC or Whole Foods Market called FiProFlax -- it has ground flax seed and soy protein. I sprinkle it on cereal or stir it up in juice or a smoothie. If you have a Whole Foods Market in your town, or something similar, they stock a great flax-soy frozen waffle (they're yummy and don't taste like birdseed) and they also have a good cereal called Optimum Power Breakfast which has flax, soy, and blueberries. (In memory of a Saturday Night Live skit, I refer to this as Colon Blow and have all my friends hooked on it.)
I'm getting re-checked in about a month, so I'll let you know how all this healthy stuff is working for me. Good luck to both of us!
Anyway, more seriously, a male friend who's body used to just produce the stuff was told by his doctor to stay away from crustaceans.
I know I can indulge every once in awhile but sometimes it seems like there is a reason EVERY day to make an exception to my new diet plans.
Paul
P.s. Right on Don. I have three wonderful reasons to stick around: My wife and my two beautiful girls.
E Wart
I'm due for a lab appointment in early December, so I'll let you know then.
Being a vegetarian in the South is like being from another planet, but I manage to survive. We have several good mid-eastern restaurants in our area that make excellent vegetarian dishes and also fresh fruit smoothies, protein drinks and health drinks if you don't want a heavy meal. Usually, if there are salads around, I am fine. I also am a big fan of veggie wraps.
After you stay away from the heavy food for a while, you will find that you lose your taste for it and it doesn't even appeal any more.
Good luck - you have a lot of stick around for!
How much ground flax seed and how often during the day to get results like that?
Research Vitamin B Complex. These vitamins are very good for a variety of health conditions. Vitamin B's are lacking in most diets. They work together, so don't get caught by a salesperson recomending a specific Vitamin B for a specific ailment (like I did).
Another good tip is to buy a steamer. The double-decker kind allows one to steam veggies and skinned chicken breast or salmon steaks at the same time. We always steam a variety of veggies from our garden. Try veggies you may not have tried before, for a taste variation. We also bought a rotisserie for whole chickens. We were buying whole cooked chickens from Costco at $5 a pop, and figure we've saved the cost of the machine through watching for whole chickens on sale (our best buy was $0.28/pound. They are much bigger than the Costco chickens anyway. Watch all the grease go into the lard jar, rather than in your body!
Also, I just read an article in Prevention magazine that said to use ground flaxseed, not the oil - can't remember why - it was the May issue I think. Great little magazine.
Good luck.