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Posted on Mar 19th 2010 11:00AM by Holly St. Lifer
It all began two Thanksgivings ago. A few weeks before, my doctor had put me on a statin after my cholesterol hit 286. But it irritated my stomach and I had stopped taking it. That night, my then 20-year-old daughter had an idea: "Why don't you try eating like me for a few months and see what happens?"Eating like Lexi meant becoming a vegan -- no meat, fish, poultry, dairy or eggs -- not a diet I could embrace for long. But I thought she was onto something, so I decided to swear off red meat and dairy for three months except for the two-percent milk I put in my coffee.
I was shocked when my number went down to 260. Less than two years later I got my latest count after last week's physical: 225! Over the last six months I'd incorporated two other proven LDL reducers -- 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day of fish oil and a few bowls a week of oatmeal. This little experiment was actually working.
Internists and cardiologists have long touted limiting intake of saturated fats in an effort to reduce cholesterol and I tried that first. But limiting is too vague a directive and as a result, it didn't make much difference. "In order to see real results when you have a genetic predisposition like you do, you have to do it all and that includes exercise, which you were already doing, taking supplements and adopting a stricter diet," said my own doctor, Dr. John Getsos.
Before you assume that steering clear of burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches is too depriving, believe me, it's not hard at all. Note that I said steer clear, not give up. All you need to do is pick up the book, "The Flexitarian Diet," and you're on your way.
The author, registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner, offers up simple substitutes while not expecting you to completely forego a juicy steak here and there. In fact, the actual definition of a flexitarian is "a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat." Last night I had two slices of my son's homemade whole wheat pizza with low fat mozzarella and a little pepperoni on top.
Dr. Getsos told me to add in a daily dose of red yeast rice and I plan to get right on it. In a study conducted by a conglomerate of researchers from Pennsylvania, one group was given Zocor, the other group fish oil and red yeast rice supplements. The alternative treatment group experienced a 42.4 percent reduction in LDL (the bad cholesterol), and the statin group experienced a 39.6 percent reduction. Members of the supplement group also had a substantial dip in triglycerides, another nasty form of fat found in the blood - and they lost more weight. If like me, your cholesterol is too high and you're either having trouble tolerating the cholesterol-lowering meds, you've got safety concerns, or you just don't like the idea of taking drugs long term, chat with your doctor about options to try lowering your cholesterol through your diet. You may also have the added benefit of dropping a few pounds as you cut back on the calories from fat in your diet.
Take this cholesterol quiz to see how much you really know.
