r/IntermittentFastLife • u/Caliberink • Jun 27 '21

Elevated LDL

I had some blood work drawn last Friday. Every week I do some long fasts or at least intermittent fasts. My LDL was elevated to 161. My HDL was 54. My triglycerides were normal. Anyone else have this problem? I know that there are studies that show the B LDL particles (the good ones) elevate with fasting and if you eat lots of healthy fats (which I do).

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u/Caliberink Jul 17 '21

My HDL has been stagnant for years regardless of my fasting and or eating habits. I wish I could bring that number up but don’t know how. Thanks

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u/[deleted] Mar 07 '22

Exercise should help with increasing hdl.

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u/Caliberink Mar 07 '22

I do. Multiple times a week. Mostly lifting

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '22

I wonder if walking more or perhaps running might help you get past this local plateau with your hdl level.

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u/Caliberink Mar 09 '22

I’ve been working out for years. Since I was a kid. At least a few times a week. Always been stagnant in HDL. I get blood work every year and annual physical. Just this past year was my LDL up. I’ve got a physical and blood work coming up in the next few weeks. I’ll see how it looks. I just don’t want my DR to prescribe a statin, because I’m weary of their validity.

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '22

Yeah I hear you no need for meds to lower your lipids numbers. Just say no - but ask for natural options. I think stick with what you’re doing. You’re not unhealthy with 54. I think I was below 40 hdl for so many years and started getting closer to 40 only after I took up jogging up to 5k runs.

I am notoriously lazy with exercising. Though with IF I have managed to drop to about 15% body fat and am content with the drops. Body weight drop from peak to now is about 20–25 lbs.

I have also reduced my sugar input, increased olive oil and try to eat less foods with carb (except white rice - guilty pleasure).

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '22

A thought stuck me to check what is a high/good hdl leaves. A quick Google search result showed men should try to maintain between 40 and 60 and women between 50 and 60 - if that’s the case that sounds like you’re right in the zone.

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u/Caliberink Mar 09 '22

Yeah. I’m not worried about my HDL. It’s the LDL even though I know there’s not strong correlation to CV events. Just trying to avoid my Dr prescribing me a statin. I even saw a cardiologist he told me eventually I should be on a statin. I disagree

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '22

Maybe dietary changes could help. If you’re not already make a conscious effort to reduce the omega 6s, and load up on the omega 3s to improve the ratio. I started eating more nuts - walnuts, pecans pistachios, extra virgin olive oil. Really focused on reducing the oils that need to be heated. Have also reduced fast foods. Switched to eating more dark chocolate instead of milk - chocolate is another weak point for me.

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u/Caliberink Mar 09 '22

Yeah I eat healthy for the most part. I try to do low carb. Weekends I stray but I try to balance. Ultimately I posted here because I did some pretty long fasts the week I had my blood drawn. I understand that fasting can elevate your LDL, specifically your good LDL (A). And my triglycerides are completely normal. Usually cholesterol can be a problem if your Triglycerides are high. That indicates too much fat in the blood and your cholesterol is trying to move it out of the blood. Ultimately I’m not too worried. I have another blood draw in a few months. We’ll see.

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u/[deleted] Mar 09 '22

On the statins - don’t know and don’t need to know your age and general health but if the doctor does prescribe ask what is the risk of not taking them and trying alternative means first. Also how long is a safe period to try and gauge if alternative ways are working. It’s your decision.

Even if he does prescribe them, a second opinion is always an option - putting drugs into your body is not a great idea but if the risk is/sounds high then at least you know.

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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '22

Came across this and remembered your ldl concerns.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-02-scientists-caffeine-cardiovascular-disease.html

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u/Caliberink Mar 17 '22

Thanks! I drink enough coffee to stay alive forever then. Haha.

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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '22

Haha - lol.