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Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Marie Anders
Date: 07-28-05 23:10

Just wondering if anyone has had success with something other than the statin drugs for lowering cholestrol. There are now so many products out there containing everything from red rice yeast to plant stenols and you name it. Is there something that WORKED for you?? If so, please share!!

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Connie Geodert
Date: 08-05-05 11:53

I lowered mine 50 pts in 5 weeks by going to CHIP class. I started at 254. CHIP stands for coronary health improvement project. It's a very low fat plant based diet combined with moderate exercise. Lot's of water and whole grains. Limited salt, caffeine, fat. And eating foods as grown so more raw fresh veggies and fruit.

BUT over the next year staying on it about 80% I still lowered it to 154.

It is a wonderful eating style, it helps control diabetes, blood pressure, diverticulites (sorry I'm sure that is spelled wrong). If you are interested do a search for "coronary health improvement project" or CHIP either one should bring up the sites. There are programs all across the nation.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Marie Anders
Date: 08-06-05 22:38

Thank you, Connie. I will do a search for CHIP. It does make perfect sense as it squares up w/ everything I have read about cholestrol. I guess there is no magic bullet but I've heard of everything from niacin to red yeast rice to guggulipids to plant sterols, apple pectin, oat bran, green tea and well..the list goes on. It gets really confusing. It would sure take a lot of discipline to stay on a mostly all-vegetarian diet w/ whole grains but most of that is the result of having what seems to be few choices in those categories. I think it'd make it lots easier to know just what you CAN have vs what you can't. I will definitely look into it and appreciate your help. Thank you.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: SewLynn
Date: 11-28-05 18:31

I lowered mine with regular exercise.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: DixieDarling
Date: 11-30-05 11:38

i lowered mine with niacin 500mg a day slow release and Zetia.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: SewLynn
Date: 12-02-05 05:51

Niacin makes me itch! Wish I could take it.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Roxann
Date: 12-28-05 02:11

Oh...that Niacin was not for me! Turned beet red and so hot that I could have fried eggs on the back of my neck. I was able to lower my cholesterol and lose several pounds by simply modifying my diet...no additional medication or supplements. Low fat, high fiber, lots of fruit and veggies. I gave up all dairy except non-fat, no butter or margarine on my toast, smaller amounts of meats either broiled, grilled, or roasted. I did add a calcium supplement and a little exercise. While my chol was elevated, it was not horrible, but we have a strong family history and I'd just as soon not see the coronary care unit from the patient perspective.
As with anything, we are all different and should seek advice from our medical care team for specifics.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Judith B
Date: 06-18-06 18:23

I lowered my cholesterol with eating raw foods, many apples and salads and grains with little fat pretty much as described here. It will probably be higher as I just cannot keep it up. But when I go back and do my blood work in a few months, I will report back and let you know. It was 220, but the HDL and LDL was good. It was lowered with diet and exercise to 183 the following year. I hope it is below 200.

JudithB

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Sally Hemphill
Date: 07-12-06 08:04

I lowered my with a healthy diet and fish oil
I eliminated sugar and white flour - that did the trick
Started eating more unprocessed food.
I was also able to raise good cholestral

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: YTC
Date: 11-06-06 20:59

Last Fall during my exam my cholestral was 254, this fall it was 184 !!!! I have been dring Goji twice a day (2 oz.) Has anyone on this forum been using Goji and if so for what and what was your results.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Rita Kay Strombolini
Date: 11-08-06 07:56

I lowered mine -
My doctore wanted to put me on drugs but i refused
I rlowered mine by reducing carbs and taking fish oil pills

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: YTC
Date: 11-08-06 19:57

RIta how many points did you lower yours and how long did it take?

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: CGarr
Date: 12-31-06 18:53

I lowered my by half down to the safe range by using a product recommeded by a gastroenterologist for irritable bowel problems and walking. The product is called Nutraflax - it is a flax product that helps the intestines work correctly, it helps keep you regular. I just typed it into a search engine and it sent me to several sites that sell this product.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: r smith
Date: 02-05-07 17:15

been watching this thread like a hawk because i wanted to know how well everyone was doing lowering their cholesterol...also because i was hoping to say by eating my "bird seed cereal" (steel cut oats/whole wheat nuts and flaxseed) every morning for 3 1/2 months - along with cutting out the white enriched flour and lowering sugar consumption - plus taking fish oil capsules, i could say 'i too have lowered my cholesterol'. well, guess what! i very faithfully followed my doctor's instructions for the 3 1/2 months, went back and not only had my cholesterol RISEN 25 points but my trigliceries also went up 23 points. i was shocked - stupefied - and very angry. angry because my doctor said i must not have followed the diet instructions and i was lying to her...shocked & stupefied because it seems to work for most everyone else.

but - since i've been having chest pains, i got set up for a nuclear stress test and i went this morning and will have to go again tomorrow for the completion. But - guess what - the technician and i got to talking (she's a really skinny little thing and her doctor had the nerve to call her fat and she had a stress test and found she has 50% blockage in some areas). her daughter is diabetic (so am i) and while doing research about fish oil for herself, she found that fish oil has been found to raise cholesterol in people with diabetes - whether type 1 or 2. her daughter's doctor advised against taking any fish oil pills and just eat the fish reasonably. she also spoke with the diabetic nutrition counselor and the counselor said the same thing - no fish oil.

interesting - but now i've got to try to lower it the 25 it was raised plus the 10 points i was trying to lose to bring me below 200. hope no one else has the problem with fish oil.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: NH Charlotte
Date: 05-05-07 12:36

Ok, I have always had a very high number and no matter what it wasn't staying down. Statins actually did a job on my leg muscles so they had to be stopped. Doctor put me on some others, but same thing. Then they decided to try Niaspan, a niacin derivative. That put me in the ER in anaphalytic shock. So that went out the window. I refuse to take any meds for it. After having major surgery last year for diverticulities, my eating habits changed drastically. I eat cheerios, raisin bran or oatmeal for breakfast every day, and take one teaspoon of metamucil daily either in water or mixed in my yogurt. I am now able to resume exercising so last test was without any exercise and having gained an enormous amount of weight due to my inability to get around (another surgery, another story). Anyhow, the cholesterol test showed my numbers down from 280 + to 225. Good cholesterol was up and bad was down. Doctor was amazed. So if I keep this up and start getting up to 30 minutes a day on treadmill, my numbers should be better than ever. Years ago I went on a strict cholesterol diet, lost 25 pounds, exercised every day for 30 minutes and had my cholesterol raise, the good go down and bad go higher!! They have determined mine is produced by my body no matter what I do. So I'll continue to eat the cereals and take metamucil. Course metamucil is for the colon issues so that I don't face any more of that surgery.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Mariana Cary
Date: 02-26-10 13:13

I went from 420 to 180 by just eliminate carb , process food and sugar products . For the last 16 months I only eat organic food and not only low my cholesterol , also lost 60 pounds , meds free and almost diabetic free .Alternative medicine is great , teaches you the natural way to get back in track.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Martha Pullen
Date: 05-26-10 21:55

Joe has to stop lipitor so we are going to be donig everything in our power to lower. WE are now eating almost vegetarian. ots of oat bran. fruits, veggies,salads. greek yogurt, cottage cheese, egg whites. Tell us what else to do. I've lost 18 but am stuck. been cheating some. How often do you have your cholestorol checked? we are on the cholestorol ride with the rest of you with his havng to stop taking lipitor. let's do this journey together. he exercises faithfully at the gym and walks every day 3 times. I go to curves 3 times a week.

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: r smith
Date: 05-27-10 21:47

It's hard to say what will help since there is so much information overload and I don't think doctors really know what natural things really do help. Are they not going to try Joe on a different medication? David took Lipitor but they had to change him to Zocor because it raised problems with his liver function. Since changing to Zocor, it appears he's tolerating that med with no problems as yet.

Flax seed - either in seed form or ground - does appear to also help. When I make our oatmeal (which is whole oats or AKA groats - fixed the same way as steel cut), I always add at least 2 Tablespoons flax seed. I have also read that cinnamon helps to stabilize cholesterol AND blood sugars, so I add 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon to the mix. When it's cooking, this smells like cinnamon rolls - and since I don't drink milk, I use a vanilla yogurt drink - and it makes this taste like cinnamon rolls with frosting. All approved by my cardiologist. He said it can't hurt. Somedays, I add broken walnuts to the mix (omega-3 oils in walnuts--same as fish oil) and that really delivers a nice crunch.

BTW, if you don't like fixing "the better" oatmeal every morning, make it once in the crock pot. I make a full batch - 1 cups oats, 4 cups water, cinnamon, raisins, flax seed - in the crock pot. Then I refrigerate it. David scoops a portion out for breakfast and microwaves it for about 1-2 minutes. It's better than cheerios and lasts up to a week in the fridge - not that it ever stays in there that long!!! We have been known to eat it for supper!

David got his cholesterol checked yearly for his physical. While trying to ascertain which med he should take, it's been every three months. Mine gets checked 3 times a year at the same time they do the A1C for the blood sugars. I would assume they will check Joe's frequently until they see him stabilize after this event. I feel for him since I have had drug reactions to other meds and that roller coaster of fever-no fever; aches and pains like flu, skin distress, is absolutely horrifying. I'm so glad he's better.

raisin

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Fairy Godmother
Date: 05-28-10 08:35

As much as Joe exercises, what a shame that he still has cholesterol issues. It sounds like y'all are doing all of the right things.

I am on the same bandwagon, and in fact, became a vegetarian 3 years ago.

In addition to what y'all are doing, I take Metamucil (really, organic psyllium, but you know it as Metamucil) every night, too. I also take milk thistle to support liver function. Cholesterol is primarily made in the liver AND most meds really tax the liver (our body's primary filter), so anything we can do to make the liver its most efficient will help.

It will take about 3 months, but y'all will figure out what lifestyle works for you.

Regards,
The Fairy Godmother

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: JR
Date: 05-28-10 10:34

Hi Ladies,

My husband did have very high cholesterol so his Dr. put him on 3000 mg of fish oil per day, 2- 600mg. of red yeast rice and 2-1000 mg. of garlic tablets per day. His cholesterol has dropped down to a normal range. Also, he has lost 115 pounds. Grogi rides his bikes and walks some everyday. My daughter works at the Heart Center and they recommend 4 gms of fish oil per day. And niacin if you can tolerate it-- but take with aspirin or yogurt to help prevent the flushing sensation.

JR

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Re: Did you lower your cholestrol?

Author: Martha Pullen
Date: 05-29-10 17:06

FAbulous ideas. We have not been back to his regular dr. and internist yet. I"ll let you know what the verdict is. He is feeling fabulous and we have to address this issue soon. God Bless, Martha

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