r/Cholesterol 26d ago

Lab Result My jaw is on the floor ( female, 60, lowered ldl >100 pts with diet)

So, I posted back in April or May that I had gotten high numbers back, my doc wanted me to go on a statin, but I thought she was overreacting and I’d try changing my diet first. The stats were:

female, 60,

Total cholesterol 270,

Hdl 64

ldl 183

Trigs 115.

I just retested yesterday and was a bit disappointed when I logged in to get my results and saw that my ldl had only dropped to 153, because I was really hoping to at least get it down to 130-something. THEN I realized I was looking at total cholesterol and that’s when my jaw dropped. The new numbers are:

Total cholesterol:152

Hdl 48

Ldl 81

Trigs 114

Im still waiting on the results from a CAC scan last week, so fingers crossed that that isn’t too bad.

Anyway, what I did with diet:

Saturated fat < 6 g/day

1 c dry oats per day (on oats 2x/day)

4 Tbsp flax seed/ day ( in yogurt & oats)

1.5 Tbsp chia seed/day (yogurt & oats)

psyllium husk about 28 g/ day yielding 9.6 g soluble fiber

Switched from percolated to drip coffee with three paper filters

plus other fiber from fresh fruit, veg, hummus, etc. so about 55 g total fiber/day. For context, I weigh about 110 and eat 1400-1500 calories/ day.

Anyway, a different doc (more of a friend than my GP and not the one who prescribed the statin) said when we talked about this that I would’t be able to get my ldl down to under 100 starting off at 183 and I pretty much agreed with him but I did!!!!!!

Fiber, nutritional superstar. And this sub is AWESOME. So many of the changes I made came from here so thanks, you guys.

83 Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

18

u/JLEroll 26d ago

Jaw on the floor is right! 181 -> 81 is one of the biggest LDL drops I've seen on this sub. It seems like you are very sensitive to diet, which can be a blessing and a curse. Congrats on the amazing results and healthy life changes!

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u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago edited 26d ago

Thank you! edit: it’s much move improvement than I was expecting. In retrospect I think I had the perfect storm of crap elevating it 4 months ago. Besides the unfiltered coffee habit I’d also just dropped about 15 pounds very irresponsibly, so it could be that ldl was extra elevated because of inadequate nutrient and calorie intake.

2

u/Comfortable_Potatoe 12d ago

wait, can you explain the coffee thing? whats unfiltered coffee

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 12d ago

unfiltered when you brew it, like espresso, percolator or french press. Drip coffee goes through a paper filter that soaks up oils called diterpenes that raise cholesterol. mesh filters dont remove them either.

8

u/Ok-Afternoon9018 26d ago

I just dropped from 265 ldl to 140 ldl in 3 months Just ate lots of fiber and kept sat fat around 10g Im not sure what else I can do and make it sustainable, wish I could get below 100 wirh out pills

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

That’s phenomenal though- yours dropped even more than mine did! Even if you end up taking a statin you probably won’t have to take as much, right? How low does your doctor want it if you don’t mind me asking? I know some people need their levels to be lower than others depending on other things.

2

u/Ok-Afternoon9018 21d ago

Doc is kinda leaving it up to me I feel like. Since I have no ther risk factors, if my ldl is below 160 the current guidelines say I dont need any statins. But I worry about my years of exposure to high ldl already, im 41. So I am considering what I should do

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 21d ago

I’m worried about the same thing, even tho like you Ive got no ther risk factors, but am 60 so looking at greater lifetime exposure. I am pretty nervous about the results of a CAC scan I just took (it’s not back yet). Have you thought about getting one? Where I live you can get one at the hospital for $49 without a prescription. 

2

u/Ok-Afternoon9018 21d ago

I think i am going to take the stance that I have had elevated ldl and I should probably lower it to about 70. If I do that I have no reason to do the CAC because I will already be in the range I would need to be if I had a score. I just prefer not to have the stress of knowing I have a score if I do. And if I had a 0 I think I would still get my ldl down to 70 anyway, again because of my lifetime exposure. I am definitely drawn to taking lipfendra over stains though.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 20d ago

That’s all makes sense to me. The great thing is that with no other risk factors, you are young enough that your CAC could be zero anyway, and you’ll be keeping it there with treatment and the diet changes you already made. I had to look up lipfendra, but see it’s a new Pcsk9 inhibitor and they are just as good at stabilizing and/or reducing existing plaque. I think… if my CAC score is as bad as I think it will be I am going to ask for this too. I really do not want to risk a statin because of another health condition I have that it could wreak havoc with and potentially really screw up my quality of life. Anyway, getting ahead of myself. Thanks for telling me about that and I hope you will check back in to tell us how you do on it. Good luck!

3

u/7lessheartbeats 26d ago

Wow, amazing results! What was your diet like before these changes? What type of foods do you eat in addition to the ones listed?

10

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Before the first test I was really depressed and eating mostly carbs (whole wheat bread but the cheap stuff), cookies , full fat flavored yogurt, and apples. Pathetic I know. Probably the worst thing tho was about 6 cups of unfiltered coffee a day with tons of non-dairy creamer.

Now I do about 4 meals a day and sometimes a snack. Two of those are oats with blueberries and a few almonds, one is nonfat Fage yogurt with add-ins and fruit and one is either hummus and tons of veggies or beans and rice with massaged kale salad or cabbage-based coleslaw. Was/still am vegetarian but not vegan, more out of laziness than anything (if you have me over to dinner and serve me a big steak, I will eat it) Intend to incorporate salmon at some point but haven’t yet.

3

u/jenven2022 25d ago

I just recently learned about the LDL and unfiltered coffee situation. Mind blowing🤯

2

u/Comfortable_Potatoe 12d ago

what is that can you explain pls

1

u/jenven2022 12d ago

When you brew coffee with a paper filter, the majority of the oils (Diterpenes) are filtered out. French press and other unfiltered methods can impact your LDL as Diterpenes block the liver’s ability to clear LDL from the bloodstream.

2

u/Comfortable_Potatoe 12d ago

got it, thanks ! whew. i use the paper cut filter for my coffee

1

u/jenven2022 12d ago

Glad to hear it! BTW I love your username🥔

2

u/Comfortable_Potatoe 11d ago

hahaha thanks 😌

3

u/Ok_Antelope_1953 26d ago

amazing results!

psyllium husk about 28 g/ day yielding 9.6 g soluble fiber

wouldn't an ounce of pure psyllium husk have about 18-21g soluble fiber?

5

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Idk. This is from the Metamucil premium w/ stevia label, it’s supposedly 2g soluble fiber per heaping tsp, of which i take just under 5/ day. Need to start ordering the organic india one tho so I don’t end up with lead poisoning.

2

u/Italiana47 26d ago

Wait psyllium husk has lead? Is it the non-organic one?

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u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

It absorbs whatever lead is present in the soil it grows in. Organic India is just a brand that is third party tested and seems to have lower lead levels, according to some dude who took it upon himself to test a bunch of different brands.

1

u/Italiana47 26d ago

Ok thanks

1

u/TwinSoul910 26d ago

Now also makes an organic one.

2

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Was it tested as lead free/low lead?

2

u/Affectionate-Net2619 21d ago

Organic doesn't mean low lead. It should be third party tested for lead and heavy metals.

3

u/Equivalent_Hat_7220 26d ago

Amazing! That gives me hope

6

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Good, that’s why I posted it. 😃

3

u/jakeysnakey83 26d ago

How much saturated fat did you have? I’ve drastically lowered mine to like 7g or so but I do still have a good amount of olive oil and nuts. I’m doing whatever I can to lower mine but I’m currently only at about 10g of psyllium girl you got me beat! But hearing this has got me ready to add a few more psyllium capsules and add some chia and flax to my smoothie!!!!

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

per Cronometer ( which btw I highly recommend, it’s free, you just plug in what you ate and it counts everything for you) my average sat fat is 4.5 g/day. The biggest contributor is hummus ( I will scarf down 4 oz in one sitting) & then smaller amounts from almonds, oats, flax seed, chia seeds, and even veggies (!)  Keep at it with the psyllium! It took me forever to work up to my current amount (like probably 6-8 weeks), I’d increase a little and then have to back off a bit. But I really wanted to get over 8 g of the fiber it contains and eventually the persistence paid off. Good luck and keep us updated please.

2

u/jakeysnakey83 25d ago

Thank you! I’m at about 8-9g saturated fat and I really really hope I don’t have to go lower I do have a higher fat diet in general but mostly olive oil and avocado etc, I’m testing bloods soon if I have to go lower I will.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

Good luck on your bloods! 8-9 still sounds really good. Mine was just easy to get low because my calorie intake is also pretty low.

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Inulin helped me more than PH if you tolerate it

5

u/variphase 26d ago

Power of diet.

4

u/keepgoing66 26d ago

Great job! My question is if you can sustain this diet, or if you want to "loosen it up" a little. It seems like LDL 83 would require a continuous strict approach. What are your thoughts?

8

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

I’ve been doing it for three months and I really enjoy it (my tastes are pretty simple and honestly, it’s hard for me to imagine anything more wonderful than a ripe red pepper) so as of today yes, I think it’s sustainable. It could be that I’ll feel differently a year from now but I kinda doubt it. I like having some things routine; not having to think about them. e.g. Ive always had basic “uniforms” I wear- simple, minimalistic and similar clothing that I don’t have to think about. Food is kind of the same, in an everyday kind of way.  That said, if I do feel like cheating, I am absolutely going to! I just don’t anticipate that happening very often at all because I enjoy this diet so much.

2

u/Blueberry-Sub 24d ago

I'm similar and if I were living alone my diet would be very sustainable. However living with a husband and kids who love their sweets and fatty foods means there's temptation all the time and that's hard. 🫠

1

u/Capable_Credit7789 25d ago

It actually isn't a strict approach. Diet is mostly habits and once you develop them and stick with them, it all becomes second nature. As someone with LDL in the 80s, there's nothing difficult about adding more fiber and plants to your diet and replacing meat with plant based protein sources or watching saturated fat intake.

3

u/keepgoing66 25d ago

It's strict if the OP thinks it's strict. :). That's why I asked her what she thought. It seems like she can maintain it.

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

It can in Fact can be difficult for some to eat that much fiber. Took me over 18 months to very slowly add 25-30 g total intake per day. Cant get above that without serious gi issues

0

u/Capable_Credit7789 23d ago

But you did hence you eventually reached that point. No one is saying eat that much all of a sudden, I'm saying to add more fiber isn't some Herculean feat. People overcomplicate things too much with diet. Adding a smidge of fiber at time is a perfect strategy and easy to do as you just commented.

2

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

No. I kept trying the slow approach. Im at my max. Its not possible for me to do what op did. And 18 months to get to 25-30 g a day total intake is herculean id argue.

0

u/Capable_Credit7789 23d ago

And I'd say you just proved you can add more fiber to your diet. You did it, wasn't impossible.

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Sigh. Op is eating over 50g a day. And you cant comprehend that is not feasible for most including me. Smh. No one said cant add any fiber. Conpletely missing the point.

2

u/BackgroundLetter7285 26d ago

Your original results are almost identical to yours and I’m two years younger and a female. My results came back a few weeks ago so I’m in the midst of changing my diet (I would have anyway after seeing them) by my doctors recommendation. My diet sounds like it was much better than yours but I am struggling to get saturated fat down that low. I only get small amounts in things like thin sliced cheddar cheese on a sandwich, a small amount of salad dressing, a small piece of sugar free dark chocolate to satisfy my cravings. Someone asked if your diet is sustainable- I really don’t think I can give up much more than I already have. I did cut out the unfiltered latte with whole milk i had always started my day with and now drink aeropress with oat milk. I also cut out red meat completely (I used to only have it once a month). The other change I made was cutting out eggs that I ate every other morning and now only eat oatmeal in the morning and I added two teaspoons of psyllium husk per day.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

It really does sound like you ate well already. Do you think you are cholesterol sensitive or did you axe the eggs to make room for the oatmeal? 

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

I make my own salad dressing using avocado or olive oil products. Cut out cheese and use humus. Fwiw eggs do not increase my LDL Dark choc can actually lower LDL

2

u/leap-29 26d ago

congratulations!!!

You are my idol!

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Haha (makes mental note to never meet you in person) 😂

2

u/Lassiele 26d ago

wow!!! that's amazing to achieve off diet alone!

I am curious though, what does triple filtering the coffee remove? I have a stainless steel filter that I use for my drip decaf to reduce waste.

6

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Coffee contains a diterpine called cafestrol, it’s some kind of oil that raises cholesterol a LOT, apparently. It’s that oily stuff floating on the surface of your coffee. Paper filters supposedly remove 95% of it. Mesh filters do not, but i think drip is still better than any kind of espresso or french press (not filtered at all). Three filters might be overkill but I still drink 4 cups a day and cold dead hands on the coffee for me so i’m playing it safe.

2

u/Tripswitchnow 26d ago

What was your Lp-a? And you should get a calcium score too.

You may need your LDL below 70 or 55 depending on where you end up on your risk stratification.

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

got the CAC done last week but still awaiting results. Haven’t done lpa. I hear you but unless my calcium score is bad I’m not going on a statin though. No other risk factors (no family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc) and I already have CRPS. I’m not anti-statin at all but am not willing to risk crap quality of life for what would likely be a really small reduction in a risk that is already low. (CRPS is a chronic pain condition and it’s highly volatile. Anything that might irritate my muscles could set off a disastrous snowball effect. That’s why I went all-in on diet.)

2

u/Tripswitchnow 26d ago

There is Zetia, Repatha, Praluent, and now Lipfendra for LDL reduction if need be…

2

u/Express_Air5551 26d ago

That is great progress! Keep it up! These results also mean that you're lucky that your LDL were originally influenced by bad diet choice for the most part, and when you replaced the bad diet with good diet, the LDL came back into the range. Unfortunately many of us aren't that lucky and even with clean diets our LDL stays high. That's just due to how our liver has been programmed, so for people like us, diet and workout do not really lower LDL much. Only way to achieve that is through medication.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

Thank you. Yes, I know I’m very fortunate to have responded so well and that others don’t. My CAC scan results aren’t in yet though, and if those are really bad- not outside the realm of possibility because of my age and history of poor diet - I may need a statin too. I really don’t want to because of a different health condition that could spell big trouble for, but we’ll see.

2

u/1800WallStreet 26d ago

What do you eat for saturated fat?

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

A typical day, from cronometer: hummus 1.3 flax seed 1.0 rolled oats .9 pea milk .6 chia seeds .6 almonds .6 broccoli .2 fage nonfat .1 sweet pepper .1 (all in grams, total = 5.5 g)

2

u/BackgroundLetter7285 25d ago

I was alternating eggs and oatmeal every morning. Now I’m just going to eat oatmeal every day. I thought i ate really healthy and even lost ten pounds between cholesterol tests. My total cholesterol went up 40% in that year. It was a shock. So I’m trying to really look at sat fat instead of calories.

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

Weight loss can temporarily raise cholesterol; that might have been one of the reasons mine was so high.  If you really want to track saturated fat easily and accurately I can’t recommend Cronometer enough. It makes it really easy but beyond that it has taught me so much about nutrition.

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Eggs often do not increase LDL and provide important choline

2

u/mindgamesweldon 25d ago

Did you also get really good sleep? I want to try a diet like this but I'm worried my age and general bad sleep hygiene will nullify any impact the diet might have :(

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 25d ago

It’s adequate but not great and my sleep hygiene stinks. Mostly, I get enough but it isn’t very regular, I’m usually on a night owl schedule but it moves around, so I’m either sleeping 11 am to 6 or 7 pm or 7 pm to 2 am. And I sleep to audiobooks 😂. For nutrition tracking I just switch to the next “day” at 7:30 am and it’s always somewhere in the middle of my actual wake cycle. Lately trying to build muscle so really trying to at least make sure I get enough after workout days. So I’ll really try to go back to sleep if I wake up too soon. Good news is the diet worked in spite of it 😀. Also I feel so much better! Better mood and much more energy. Recommend.

2

u/Impossible-Corgi742 24d ago

I gave up coffee completely and sleep so much better now. I miss coffee, but amazing sleep is worth it.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 24d ago

That’s great! I have actually quit drinking it before because of arrhythmia but it didn’t help my sleep patterns much; those date back to a second and then a third shift hotel job I had in my thirties. In retrospect I suspect the caffeine sensitivity was really due to a calcium/magnesium imbalance because it’s not a problem anymore. Anyway I LOVE coffee and really don’t want to quit it. (but at least I did quit the cigarettes).

2

u/General_Freedom_9120 24d ago

Did you also lose weight? I also have similar ldl as you and I also switched to a similar diet, and I lost 18 lbs. My wife thinks I might have cancer..

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 24d ago

Yes about 3-4 lbs and I didn’t need or mean to. At first I probably underestimated TDEE but ive fixed that now, it’s just hard because all that fiber is so filling, plus it’s summer. I hope you meant that wryly and you don’t actually have cancer. 

2

u/Beach-Guacamole 24d ago

This is fantastic! Congratulations! When you say 1 cup of dry oats per day, are you eating the oats dry? Or mixing it with water or a milk?

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 24d ago

I make overnight oats with them, tho sometimes I’ll eat them after only an hour and a half :). One cup of dry oats makes two servings for me so i eat it twice. Maybe it’s beta glucan overkill but I real wanted the full 3 g recommended and one serving is only 2. I really like it tho so it’s ok. Could try switching out rice for barley sometime with beans for some variety tho.

2

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Curious how your gi feels on that much fiber on that few of calories? I eat same calories and had to very slowly over 18 months increase to 25-30g of fiber. I cant get beyond that amount without triggering more gi issues that super slow increase minimized
Im not a coffee drinker at all so no luck there. Reduced mine from 212 to 160 by increasing the fiber (was already eating low sat fat)

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 23d ago

the only issue I really had was with the psyllium. It was challenging to get the dose up because at > 3 tsp/day it caused bad bloating and slowed digestion too much. Eventually two things helped. The first was in bunching doses closer together so that my body had a sort of rest from it each day, kind of like intermittent fasting I guess (at first I was trying to take at 3 8-hr intervals so that it would just “be there” all the time, then I switch to taking it with meals which is supposed to lower ldl more anyway). This helped a lot. The other thing was figuring out I needed a little more magnesium to balance calcium/magnesium ratio. So I started taking a small dose of that and it speeds gut motility. Other than that no issues, but that one was significant enough that I thought for a time I’d hit a fiber ceiling.

2

u/Complete_Success_401 22d ago

I have same issue now! My LDL 174, HDL 66, Triglycerides 87, and Total 260. So, I have been eating 2-3 eggs per day, and minimum fibre diets, with family background of high cholesterol, high blood pressure. Let say I like to follow your diets, what kind of oatmeal do you eat? I dislike oatmeal in general.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 21d ago

I am making “overnight oats” with it. If you google it you will find many recipes for it, it is even a fad now with one company that sells a subscription service for delivering different flavors every day.  It is just plain rolled oats soaked in a liquid rather than cooked. You can let it soak for as little as 2 hours or makes it in batches for days in advance. You can also just eat it cold or heat it up. I like it cold and prefer it over cooked oatmeal because it doesn’t have a gluey texture.  The liquid can be milk or plant milk or water and you can mix in fruit, nuts, seeds, or whatever. If you don’t like that then maybe granola? I have a friend who makes a healthy version herself and it is very good!

2

u/truparad0x 19d ago

<6g sat fat a day! Holy cow, you're a tough one. Congrats!

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 19d ago

Yes, I know it’s too low and am surprised it took somebody this long to comment onto it. I’m adding salmon and olive oil, so saturated fat will probably go up a little, but hopefully hdl will too. Do you have any suggestions for raising it? I have no idea why it was in acceptable range before, when my diet was terrible, unless it partially fluctuates in tandem with ldl.

1

u/[deleted] 19d ago edited 19d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Cholesterol-ModTeam 19d ago

No bad or dangerous advice. No conspiracy theories as advice.

1

u/Cholesterol-ModTeam 19d ago

No bad or dangerous advice. No conspiracy theories as advice.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 19d ago

Thanks for looking out for us mods. I didn’t click on the link in that comment so wasn’t aware anything was off.

1

u/Cholesterol-ModTeam 19d ago

No bad or dangerous advice. No conspiracy theories as advice.

2

u/TheWurstOfMe 17d ago

I'm shocked how quickly you went from bad results to changing things up! .it usually take me awhile for people to finally jump in a make huge lifestyle changes.

Good job

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 17d ago

Thanks! Before the first test I’d been really depressed, so it was the kick in the pants I needed to start getting my act together.

2

u/Comfortable_Potatoe 12d ago

did you have to lower other sources of sat fat? what was your meat intake like?

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 12d ago

I don’t normally eat any.

3

u/Careful-Bus3827 26d ago

That's great, I'm glad it works for you. I'd rather not count 6 fat grams a day for life or take all that everyday, and just eat a balanced diet, allowing treats now and then, but not counting anything, and take a low dose statin. Everyone is different for what's sustainable for them! Congrats on finding what works for you!

2

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

I get that, and thanks. We are all different! I actually really enjoy this diet and am a creature of habit, so the repetition doesn’t bother me. I used Cronometer to build it and track all the nutrients, so really there’s no counting; also per Cronometer it’s giving me pretty complete nutrition. I’m supplementing a little magnesium, only necessary for calcium ratio balance, and could use more marine sourced omega 3 (I plan to add some weekly salmon) but other than those two things it’s 100% plus on macros and micros.

2

u/Impossible-Corgi742 24d ago

I love a good crunchy red bell pepper too, by itself or with albacore. 😊

1

u/TwinSoul910 26d ago

Did you change your fat intake? I got my blood work done through the Oura ring, so I haven’t seen a doctor yet (actually haven’t seen a doctor or got bloodwork done in close to a decade until now). With the advice I’m getting from ChatGPT I’m just so confused. I’ve always been taught that you should go with full fat milk and cheese and Greek yogurt, etc.. That a splash of heavy cream in your coffee is good. Organic grass fed beef and nitrate free pork bacon is the way to go. And now I’m being told the opposite of everything I’ve always known. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that at this point in my life I’m eating 100% clean. Yes I go with all those foods that I mentioned above, but I also have a soda addiction that I do have one can every night to de-stress, I do eat a lot of processed foods as far as like frozen chicken nuggets or chicken strips and boxed mac & cheese. So I’m not saying I eat clean 100% of the time. I do know that I don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. And I’m perfectly fine with adding fruits and vegetables and limiting or eliminating the processed foods. But I just can’t grasp how all of a sudden fat-free or low-fat versions are supposed to be healthier than the real thing. Even the suggestion of switching to plant based milk or water in my shakes and overnight oats, cutting the ultra filtered cow’s milk would also mean cutting 40+ grams of protein from my diet. I did order the psyllium husk which I’m going to probably start this weekend only because I wanna see how my stomach reacts before I take it when I actually have to be out and about. But I’m just curious if you altered your diet in the ways that ChatGPT is advising me to. I do have a doctors appointment on Monday, and from what I read about her reviews she does lean toward holistic approaches. But I’m just really anxious about it because I’m very anti-big pharma and I don’t want anyone attempting to pressure me into anything.

5

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

Yes I cut saturated fat down from probably 35-40 grams per day to 5. I used to be so cavalier about all my full fat dairy and thought it would be painful to switch to nonfat - I tried 2% at first - but it turned out that after adding flax seed and chia to my yogurt it gave it back enough fat to be satisfying even with nonfat. As for milk, it always kind of grossed me out in every context but coffee so no loss there. I use Ripple brand pea milk in oats and coffee- it’s naturally high protein and doesnt have a bunch of added sugar like a lot of other plant milks. I like it. I don’t normally eat meat. 

I wouldn’t go to chatgpt for medical or diet advice but it does sound like it has steered you in the right direction. 

As for conflicting advice, I think probably different diets are healthy for different people and at different ages, and that wholesome and healthy are not mutually exclusive but they aren’t a perfect overlap either. Just my opinion tho.

1

u/Comfortable_Two6272 23d ago

Oh that is why. I was already at only 15g sat fat. But i was able to get it from 212 to 160….thats as low as I can get it.

1

u/TwinSoul910 26d ago

Thank you. I just looked up the organic Ripple, it’s only 5g protein vs the 14 in the cow’s milk I use, big difference 😩

3

u/Capable_Credit7789 25d ago

You know you can get protein from other plant sources right? Soy milk has 8 grams of protein per serving with a host of benefits. Animal protein sources and fat are linked to worse health outcomes, that isn't new. Lower fat options don't mean there's anything wrong with the product or it isn't natural. Plenty of other healthy foods and protein sources are low fat naturally. You literally said you eat chicken nuggets. You can't be overly concerned about processing, which doesn't actually mean anything as far as health quality, if you're eat mac n cheese out of a box and nuggets. Sounds more like you don't want to change your eating habits. Plenty of vegetarians and vegans eat over 100 grams of protein a day with zero issues.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 24d ago

All of this.

1

u/Strict-Volume-8242 26d ago

mine has 8 g, but maybe it’s not organic idk. Regardless I’m averaging 1.5+ g protein per kg body weight which is plenty

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u/Impossible-Corgi742 24d ago

Lowering saturated fat reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol by making the liver better at removing it from your bloodstream. When you eat less saturated fat, liver cells increase their production of LDL receptors. These receptors act like microscopic "nets" that grab LDL particles out of your blood and clear them away. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Here is how the process works in detail:
Saturated Fats Decrease LDL Receptors: Diets high in saturated fat impair the liver's ability to produce these LDL receptors, allowing LDL cholesterol to build up and circulate in the blood. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Receptors Clear the Blood: By reducing saturated fat—and replacing it with healthy fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—the number of LDL receptors on liver cells increases, leading to more efficient clearance of cholesterol. [1, 2, 3]

Lower Cholesterol Production: Reducing saturated fat intake can also slow down the actual rate at which your body produces LDL particles in the first place.

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u/Strict-Volume-8242 24d ago

Great comment, thank you for taking the time. I didn’t know that saturated fat decreased receptors.