Since my GP prescribed cholesterol meds for me last Thursday I’ve been uneasy. I filled the prescription but then I was hesitant to just start taking them without doing a bit more research. And what I was reading was not making me feel any better. Unlike the blood pressure meds I’m on, statins seem to be seen as an “easy fix” drug, so that people can take them without feeling they need to make lifestyle changes. Which we all know is bullshit.
And so, since I am about to meet up with a nutritionist soon, I’ve decided to take the route of modifying my diet, which others have told me has worked very well for them with lowering cholesterol levels. It just makes more sense. Take a drug with some rather dodgy side effects or cut out putting so much cholesterol in your body? I’m opting for the latter. Wish me luck!
casa azahar 
It’s not really about the cholesterol you eat. The average adult human liver churns out 1500 mg of cholesterol in a day, give or take (it’s needed to make just about every steroid hormone in your body and to protect your nerves) — you’d have to eat five or six eggs every day to take that much in. It’s how your body processes it and that’s influenced by a number of things, like essential fatty acid intake (there’s the fish oil again) and, alas, simple carbohydrate intake (sadly including any form of alcohol) and stress (which bumps up cortisol levels, which actually kick more sugar out of storage in your liver). Soluble fiber is another thing that seems to “scrub” cholesterol — fruit mainly, berries, figs, like that. Your nutritionist ought to be able to fine tune where you can make the most effective changes, but if they just tell you to cut out all eggs and meat, find a more up to date nutritionist.
We’re all stressed to shit and there’s probably not enough meditation in the world to fix it, but exercise helps with stress and cholesterol at the same time — the best kind appears to be interval training where you push your capacity for a minute or so, then slow down and regroup, then another push, and so on. I know that sounds like I’m telling you to do hill repeats, but you wouldn’t believe how much you can bump up your heart rate just standing flatfooted or sitting in your chair and punching with your arms — no knee strain involved. There’s a reason symphony conductors live forever.
LikeLike
I have some harsh realities to accept here, and some won’t be easy. On the other hand, most of this sounds so sensible it would be stupid to do otherwise. Already looking into fish oil supplements but also making sure I get some nice omega fish in my diet 2-3 times a week by eating fresh mackerel, anchovies, sardines etc.
Not so easy… cutting out wine. Though of course I will start with cutting down and see how that goes.
Re: stress. hahahahaha… well, you know.I wake up every morning after barely sleeping a massive mess of anxiety. Then I take it from there!
Re:interval training. I have actually found a CHAIR VERSION of this and it’s hard af and I love it.
Just to say… I’m on it! Sort of at least. Always appreciate your love and support. xx
LikeLike
Pingback: blocked af | casa azahar
Pingback: the endo | casa azahar
Pingback: my first mri! | casa azahar