cholesterol and lipitor

cangirl · 08-21-2004, 06:03 AM

Hello,

My cholesterol was high before starting this woe in January and it has been increasing over the last 8 months. My doctor finally put me on Lipitor yesterday because she said I was a walking heart attack. She does think that its hereditary but this woe is not helping it. Do you have any suggestions on some foods that I could be eating or supplements that I can take?

I do eat 2-3tbs of flaxseed meal everyday with hot water, cinnamon and splenda but that hasn't helped me, should I continue eating it? I know that she wants me to eat low fat stuff and this has me really concerned because I will not be doing this woe if I start eating like that.

In canada the cholesterol reading measurements are different from the states but here are my figures in canadian values:

in January,

HDL 1.19
LDL 5.47
Triglycerides 2.39
Total cholesterol 7.72

in August

HDL 1.18
LDL 6.83
Triglycerides .88

Total cholesterol 8.4

Any input would certainly be appreciated

Thank you

08-21-2004, 08:00 AM

Congrats on bringinging you triglycerides down to normal!

Try halibut oil capsules for the rest..my dr said it works great for her.

Do you exercise a lot? It really helps with the numbers, although if much of it is familial, like mine, it's hard to have anything help it. My mother, for example, who is 68, weighs all of 113 lbs, walks 5 miles everyday and never eats butter or red meat or any of the 'baddies' , has lipid levels like yours.

Hang in there !

Mandy

Atkins_Nutritionist · 08-23-2004, 07:31 AM

Hi Cangirl,

There are certain causes of hypercholesterolemia that are entirely due to genetics and the only way to bring your lipid values closer to normal range is with medication. Diet does play a small role, but another thing that makes a huge difference is weight. It seems like you have had great success following a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle. Congrats! So although your doctor may have concerns about this woe, the fact that you have been able to lose so much weight has a much greater impact than any changes you would make in your diet. And besides, the research only suggests that high fat in a mixed diet setting negatively effects lipids, while the research shows favorable effects on cholesterol, HDL, TG, and LDL in a controlled carb diet. Exercise also has beneficial effects on your lipids, so keep that up! Are you at goal? Being within the appropriate weight range for your height is more likely to improve your lipids than adding additional supplements, although I agree with Mandy that omega-3 supplements could help.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

08-21-2004, 06:03 AM	#1
cangirl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 664 Gallery: cangirl Stats: 196/196/135 WOE: Atkins, exercise Start Date: 1st time 2004, Restarted Jan. 2008	cholesterol and lipitor Hello, My cholesterol was high before starting this woe in January and it has been increasing over the last 8 months. My doctor finally put me on Lipitor yesterday because she said I was a walking heart attack. She does think that its hereditary but this woe is not helping it. Do you have any suggestions on some foods that I could be eating or supplements that I can take? I do eat 2-3tbs of flaxseed meal everyday with hot water, cinnamon and splenda but that hasn't helped me, should I continue eating it? I know that she wants me to eat low fat stuff and this has me really concerned because I will not be doing this woe if I start eating like that. In canada the cholesterol reading measurements are different from the states but here are my figures in canadian values: in January, HDL 1.19 LDL 5.47 Triglycerides 2.39 Total cholesterol 7.72 in August HDL 1.18 LDL 6.83 Triglycerides .88 Total cholesterol 8.4 Any input would certainly be appreciated Thank you __________________ Sue "I know that you want to lose weight but are you willing to do what it takes to lose it?" (Dr. Phil, I think) "If you are not exercising , you are not doing Atkins." Dr. Atkins, DANDR

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08-21-2004, 08:00 AM	#2
MandyDee Guest Posts: n/a Gallery: MandyDee	Congrats on bringinging you triglycerides down to normal! Try halibut oil capsules for the rest..my dr said it works great for her. Do you exercise a lot? It really helps with the numbers, although if much of it is familial, like mine, it's hard to have anything help it. My mother, for example, who is 68, weighs all of 113 lbs, walks 5 miles everyday and never eats butter or red meat or any of the 'baddies' , has lipid levels like yours. Hang in there ! Mandy

08-23-2004, 07:31 AM	#3
Atkins_Nutritionist Nutritionist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Posts: 684 Gallery: Atkins_Nutritionist	Hi Cangirl, There are certain causes of hypercholesterolemia that are entirely due to genetics and the only way to bring your lipid values closer to normal range is with medication. Diet does play a small role, but another thing that makes a huge difference is weight. It seems like you have had great success following a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle. Congrats! So although your doctor may have concerns about this woe, the fact that you have been able to lose so much weight has a much greater impact than any changes you would make in your diet. And besides, the research only suggests that high fat in a mixed diet setting negatively effects lipids, while the research shows favorable effects on cholesterol, HDL, TG, and LDL in a controlled carb diet. Exercise also has beneficial effects on your lipids, so keep that up! Are you at goal? Being within the appropriate weight range for your height is more likely to improve your lipids than adding additional supplements, although I agree with Mandy that omega-3 supplements could help. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!