Lowring Cholesterol

[flipnflap]

what non-chemical means have you used to lower cholesterol and how successful were you?

[grasscarp]

When I was told my cholesterol too high I started day with bowl of porridge. No other changes. Reading dropped by just over 2 points and doctor has not mentioned it again.

[princerupe74]

grasscarp, over how long a period was that?

[DaisyNonna]

Well that was non-instructive.

[grasscarp]

I think it was about ten months. I still do have porridge nearly every day. I put the oats in a Tupperware box and pour on boiling water and put lid on. When I get to work I eat it - often adding banana, strawberries, honey or whatever.

[mrs_overall]

I had to stop taking statins.
I take one 75mg aspirin each day and have a bowl of porridge for breakfast. It works for me.

[murraymints]

That makes you all honorary scots..only if you don't put sugar on the porrridge mind....should be salt but losalt ok ! xx

[mrs_overall]

salted porridge - urgh - the food of satan

[murraymints]

puts hair on your chest Mrs O..lol xx

[boxtops]

I'm trying the porridge remedy. I went to the GP on Friday and my level (the one they go by) has dropped another point - so that's 3 points down from the summer. I am on a low-dose statin (after considerably problems a couple of years ago) plus the doc has now prescribed a fish oil supplement - not started that yet, but it might be worth considering. When I cash the prescription I can give you more info!

[flipnflap]

boxtops - and indeed anyone else trying to get theirs down - it would be interesting to know what your cholesterol level was at diagnosis and what it is now after however long

[losgigs]

Like Grasscarp, MrsO and others, have found porridge to be the answer,though more in winter than summer(Don't always fancy hot brekky in summer) My initial level was 5.5ish. Not sure what it is now but has gone down slightly probably aver a year or so. My GP won't do cholesterol tests more than every 1-2 years. I guess if he was concerned about it, it would be done more often.

[boxtops]

Mine was 7.4 when it was first diagnosed. I went on statins, the level went down to just over 5, and I was on them a while before I started to have terrible muscle pains - a known side effect - so the GP took me off them. I was rechecked again after a few months and the level had soared to 9.4 (I wasn't particularly careful about diet at that time), so back on 6 months ago, down to 7.3 and now down to 6.4. GP said last week that triglycerate level can be improved by this fish oil supplement so he's giving that a go (as well as the 20mg statin). I'm overweight which probably doesn't help..

[starone]

I am on the highest dose of statins - 80 mgs of simvastatin - so any hints I can have will be very useful. I already eat porridge every morning and I have been eating flora pro-vita products in the hope it will help. I have a pro-vita drink every morning and I think it has reduced it very slightly, although I have not had a blood test recently. The main thing is to try to stay away from fats.

[boxtops]

Starby, porridge and the probiotic drink do seem to help me too. This is not the right time of year to be doing it, but cake and pastry avoidance helps!

I can't take simvastatin, I'm on florvastatin now and - touch wood - that seems OK now.

[Sqad]

Diet.....whatever diet has little or no influence on lowering blood cholesterol (LDL or bad cholesterol)

Exercise has very little difference on low LDL .

The only way to lower on'es cholesterol is to take statins.

[starone]

I also joined Weight Watchers boxtops, and have lost 24 lbs over 6 months, an average of about a lb a week - nice and steady. I think - or hope I should say - that might have helped. I love fat and chocolate both of which are no good whatsoever and I manage to stay off them for the main part. It is very difficult at times, especially now, at Christmas. I know someone has given me some Thornton's soft centres which are my favourite. I shall have to try and share them although I know I shall eat at least some of them.