So yesterday I had my annual day of checks on my dodgy heart. No news on that so far, but my blood tests showed that I have quite high cholesterol - I'm a 7 when I should be a 5 or below.
I'm a vegetarian/sometimes pescatarian who exercises at least 5 times/week. However I eat a load of dairy - whole milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt, coconut milk - and have very little resistance to cakes. I suspect that's what's to blame.
I'm determined to manage this through food and diet rather than take medication. I've done some research and have started my campaign this morning. But does anyone else have any experience of managing/lowering cholesterol through diet?
I had a heart attack, 23 years ago, so, my experiences may well be way out of date, but... I am still here at 73 going on 74....
At the time of my heart attack, I had high cholesterol (I don't remember the breakdown). I also had a sedentary, stressful job, didn't do. enough exercise, and, an addiction to chocolate and other. goodies. I was also about 1stone overweight, according to the now rather discredited BMI measure.
After discharge from hospital, my GP wanted to load me up with medication for cholesterol, Blood Pressure, etc. I don't like taking medication, if it is avoidable, so, I resisted this. approach.
Instead:
- I improved my diet (drastically. reduced intake of fats), mainly by cutting out junk food, reducing chocolate etc.
- I increased by exercise levels, partly through rekindling an interest in cycling, and, partly by incorporating walking into my daily routine (ie much time walk from office, walk to metro station instead of taking car).
- I have kept up the healthier diet and exercise, into retirement, although, I am not obsessed with it. ie, I still indulge in a bottle of Red Wine, a few beers with my "mates" and the odd chocolate bar.
- I learned to control the stress, not easy, but, most things I stressed about were not really that important, when compared to death
The result was I lost the excess 1 stone in weight, and my cholesterol levels dropped to acceptable levels (3-4, sorry, don't know breakdown), and BP came into acceptable levels.
As the years passed, I suppose and combination of old age and complacency, my cholesterol and BP have crept up, I am now on 10mg Atorvastatin, and, Atenenol for BP. But, levels are. still in tolerance, I feel I am taking minimum medication, and, as I said above, I am still here.
Good luck.
