Background: Cholesterol – usually doctors look at total, LDL and HDL (and sub-components of these). HDL fractions are considered to be “good”, LDL’s more or less bad. (LDL risk depends on the SIZE and NUMBER of these little bastards – small ones are badder.)
The “Lipid lowering drugs” – I believe – are like putting a bandaid on a splinter.
You feel better because you are doing “something” – even though you know it is essentially just hiding whatever the imbalance is.
YOUR FIRST TACTIC TO TEST:
There is a ton of info/evidence showing that ADDED SUGAR is one of the main drivers of increased total cholesterol and increased LDL levels. Here is research – this one is about children – but it will do for you as well: https://www.
This looks complicated, but the main point is that just 9 days of reducing fructose (fructose is one half of sucrose – which is table sugar) “fixed” these kids cholesterol profiles.
Sucrose has ONE molecule of fructose + ONE molecule of glucose – ie table sugar is 50% fructose. Fructose is MUCH sweeter than glucose – which is why we have been trained to want to eat it…
The article says that just 9 days of reduced fructose (even without giving the kids fewer calories in total) MASSIVELY improved their cholesterols (38%).
These kids were big consumers of sugar – but the process for you is the same (to test).
How does it work? Your liver creates more and different cholesterol mixes when you eat fructose (which is in table sugar). If you cut back fructose – your liver stops doing it. When it stops doing it – cholesterol levels improve.
So?
You can test this with mild, moderate or extreme action. I suggest moderate.
This means for the next month or so – DO NOT EAT ANYTHING WITH “ADDED SUGAR” ON THE LABEL OR THAT TASTES SWEET (Eg cake/pastries/soft drink/fruit juice or fruit drinks (that you might have been drinking to reduce your coffee intake)/sauces (esp tomato)/breakfast cereals. Check the labels on anything you buy.
If it tastes really nice – be suspicious. Thirsty – drink water.
Have no more than two pieces of fruit per day. No lollies, chocolates, rocky road (sorry), no sugar in tea or coffee. If you get really hungry for this stuff – stir fry some vegetables or eat a steak (no sauce). You WILL likely feel some withdrawal – get through it – use your will power.
This is the “moderate” because you still allowed to starchy things like bread, potato, rice, grains, pasta. This test is JUST restricting your fructose intake (which is part of “sugar”). If you did also reduce the starches as well – you would lose some fat – but that is not the test here. Reducing your “added sugar” foods will lose some fat – but the goal is your cholesterol. And for a test it is best to change ONLY one variable at a time, if you can.
I do not know what you eat – but the inference if you are reading this (your cholesterol levels suck) is that sugar foods have crept into your habitual diet.
Do this for a month or so – then recheck your levels. Talk with your GP about this if you want – they will agree.
Lipid lowering drugs are a scam – the market is now over $US 21 000 000 000. They are popular because people believe they can take a pill and not have to change their diets. But it does not work as promoted, and a tsunami of health issues will be generated by “bandaid pills.”
Show this to your partners/families (and your GP). Measure your changes.
Cheers
James