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Health and Fitness

Top 5 Foods for Managing Cholesterol

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#1 of 26 Posted 5/16/09 11:10 AM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To All [Msg # 1554.1 ]

Abnormal cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease. Although high cholesterol sometimes runs in families, diet can play a major role in one's levels of HDL (the good type of cholesterol) and LDL (the bad type of cholesterol).

My cholesterol is usually in the normal range unless I eat unhealthy foods. Gradually, I have let my good eating habits slide. I started eating one ice cream bar per day, but they taste so good that I soon found myself eating four each day. I also started eating peanut butter on my toast in the morning. When I had my physical, everything was normal except my cholesterol. It had doubled. My LDL was triple the safe level. That was a wake-up call!

According to the Mayo Clinic, the top five foods for managing cholesterol are:

Oatmeal and oat bran contain soluble fiber, which reduces the absorption of LDL in the intestines. Other foods containing soluble fiber are kidney beans, apples, pears, psyllium, barley and prunes.
Walnuts and almonds can reduce cholesterol significantly. They are high in calories, so it is best to eat no more than a handful.
Fatty fish have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that lower cholesterol significantly. People who dislike fatty fish can take omega-3 fish oil or flaxseed oil capsules.
Olive oil with its powerful mix of antioxidants can lower LDL without lowering HDL. Olive oil often can be substituted for butter on vegetables, mixed with vinegar for a salad dressing and used to saute foods.
Foods fortified with plant sterols or stanols help block the absorption of LDL cholesterol Some margarines, orange juices and yoghurt drinks have sterols or stanols in them. Check the labels.

Click here to read more about how these foods can lower cholesterol.

Do you have other suggestions for altering one's diet to improve cholesterol levels?

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

Edited May-27 by Nancy C, Wizop

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#2 of 26 Posted 5/17/09 9:26 AM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To All [Msg # 1554.2 1554.1 ]

I am now trying to lower my cholesterol by diet.

Here are the changes I've made so far:

Only one ice cream bar each day. This is the hardest one to do, but I haven't cheated so far. Maybe I'll quit eating them totally after the ones I have are gone. I guess I should eat apples instead.
Flax seed oil capsule. It says to take 3 with meals. I have taken them with breakfast and dinner. I need to try to remember to take them with lunch. I was already taking omega-3 fish oil capsule once a day. That is about all I can stand of those even though I buy the odor-controlled, enteric ones. If I take them at dinner, the taste seems to come up to my mouth all night. I don't like fatty fish. We do eat non-fatty fish once or twice a week.
Substitute black beans, white beans or red beans with rice for meat at least once a week.

I'm supposed to go back for another blood test in two months, but I read either on the WebMd or Mayo Clinic website that one should wait three months.

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#3 of 26 Posted 5/17/09 1:35 PM

From Patricia O. Posts 600 Last 1:41 PM
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.3 1554.2 ]

>>> Only one ice cream bar each day. This is the hardest one to do <<<

Have you tried some of the low-fat bars? I eat some of the Blue Bell varieties, and like them quite well. I would suggest trying different brands, because there is quite a variance in them.

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#4 of 26 Posted 5/17/09 2:46 PM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To Patricia O. [Msg # 1554.4 1554.3 ]

The ice cream bars I've been eating are Skinny Cow's Vanilla Truffles. I guess the low fat adds up. I was eating 4 a day. Now, I'm trying to drink a cup of green tea or eat a banana every time I get the urge to eat another one.

As I look at the box, I see each one has 2.5 g. of fat, 1.5 g of saturated fat, and 20 mg. of cholesterol.

I was eating either Blue Bunny or Bo Bunny (can't remember which) ice cream bars that have either orange or rasberry sherbet swirled with vanilla. They are harder so I ate them slower. These truffles are low fat vanilla ice cream with threads of chocolate on the outside. They melt in my mouth. Maybe I should eat popsicles instead!

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

Edited 5/17/09 by Nancy C, Wizop

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#5 of 26 Posted 5/17/09 2:54 PM

From Patricia O. Posts 600 Last 1:41 PM
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.5 1554.4 ]

>>> Maybe I should eat popsicles instead! <<<

I can recommend the Dreyer's Sugar-Free Fruit Bars, and the Kroger generic version. They're both quite good. And there are sugar-free fudgesicles, if you crave chocolate.

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#6 of 26 Posted 5/17/09 3:06 PM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To Patricia O. [Msg # 1554.6 1554.5 ]

I'll look for those fruit bars when I go to the store next week or after I finish my last box of vanilla truffles. Fruit bars should satisfy my sweet tooth without adding fat to my veins.

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#7 of 26 Posted 5/21/09 9:49 PM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To All [Msg # 1554.7 1554.6 ]

I just read that Weight Watchers English Toffee Crunch (2 bars) has 12 g fat, 10 g saturated fat and 220 calories. Gee, I love those! No wonder my cholesterol jumped so high.

I wish that all the foods I love were low in saturated fat!

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#8 of 26 Posted 5/25/09 8:23 AM

From Bill Summer [UK] Posts 58 Last Nov-20
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.8 1554.1 ]

Nancy,

When I attended a cardiac clinic after stent insertion, we were told what goes in your mouth only has about a 10% effect on your cholesterol level. It takes statins to do the job.

Regards,

Bill

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#9 of 26 Posted 5/25/09 9:00 AM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To Bill Summer [UK] [Msg # 1554.9 1554.8 ]

That may be true for many people, but what I eat clearly has an effect on my cholesterol. I remember once before when my cholesterol went high and my doc wanted to put me on statins. I said I'd diet. I did and it went down significantly. Before the first test, I had been pigging out for a month or more on all the candies and cookies in all the gift baskets we had received from vendors.

I think this time my high cholesterol has to do with eating all those vanilla truffle ice cream bars and peanut butter and not exercising for a couple of months. I have to go back in two or three months and have another blood test, so we'll see.

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#10 of 26 Posted 5/25/09 1:42 PM

From Bev L [France] Posts 1323 Last 3:55 PM
To Bill Summer [UK] [Msg # 1554.10 1554.8 ]

Statins or good genes. I worked with a couple of guys who simply had enormously high cholesterol levels that they had apparently inherited. They couldn't keep their levels down except with drugs. (This may have been before statins, so I don't know what they were taking.)

OTOH, there are those who can eat pretty much what they want and their levels just don't rise that much. So far, I seem to be that way. If I can stay off the statins, I'd really prefer to do so.
Cheers,
Bev

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#11 of 26 Posted 5/25/09 2:01 PM

From Bill Summer [UK] Posts 58 Last Nov-20
To Bev L [France] [Msg # 1554.11 1554.10 ]

Bev,

I have always had normal cholesterol, blood pressure and exercised regularly and was told by my GP that I was at very low risk of coronary problems. That did is! I had a funny feeling in my throat most mornings and sometimes in the night which I had never had before so he ordered an ecg which was mostly normal, but he thought it showed some long term problems - something about waves across the chest. I saw a cardiologist, had an angiagram which showed that my right coronary artery looked like it had been pinched with a pair of pliers. Angioplasty was performed, and I now have 2 stents in that artery and have not had that feeling in my throat since.

He prescribed Lipitor, baby aspirin, and an ace inhibitor even though I had normal blood pressure and cholesterol. Seems that is done for ALL coronary patients. He seeme to think it was in my genes, and I postponed it for several years by having normal bp, cholesterol, and exercise. I've had no side effects from the medicine so just keep taking the pills.

Regards,

Bill

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#12 of 26 Posted May-31 9:43 PM

From Susan Posts 206 Last Nov-5
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.12 1554.4 ]

Nancy..I maybe eat four scoops of ice cream once a year, and never ice cream bars, which I love, but I haven't eaten one in about six years. One a day seems like an excessive amount to me.....?????? even for little ones. Popsicles have sugar.

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#13 of 26 Posted May-31 10:12 PM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To Susan [Msg # 1554.13 1554.12 ]

My ice cream bars are gone. I did by Edy's strawberry fruit bars. I like them, but I have no craving for them, so I don't eat one often. I do hope my cholesterol is improving! I'll know in a couple of months.

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#14 of 26 Posted May-31 11:32 PM

From Patricia O. Posts 600 Last 1:41 PM
To Susan [Msg # 1554.14 1554.12 ]

>>> Popsicles have sugar. <<<

Sugar-free popsicles are widely available.

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#15 of 26 Posted May-31 11:35 PM

From Patricia O. Posts 600 Last 1:41 PM
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.15 1554.13 ]

>>> I like them, but I have no craving for them, so I don't eat one often. <<<

As the weather warms up here in Texas, I eat them more often. I keep my thermostat fairly warm, and a sugar-free popsicle cools me off quite nicely, and satisfies any sweet craving I might have as well.

I can't say that I crave them specifically, but if I eat one when I want something cool and sweet, I'm satisfied.

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#16 of 26 Posted Sep-16 3:54 PM

From Arlene S. Posts 7 Last Nov-16
To Nancy C, Wizop [Msg # 1554.16 1554.4 ]

>>are Skinny Cow's Vanilla Truffles. I guess the low fat adds up.<<

Palm oil and coconut oil, which are high in saturated fat, are used in the bars. In fact they are the oils used in most "low fat" ice cream bars.

Arlene

Click Here to give free mammograms.

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#17 of 26 Posted Sep-16 4:13 PM

From Nancy C, Wizop Posts 495 Last 6:33 AM
To Arlene S. [Msg # 1554.17 1554.16 ]

I didn't know that. Of course, I probably didn't look that closely. They tasted so yummy. I am glad I now have a no fat "ice cream" bar to take their place. I don't eat as many either.

Since i got sick, I'm constantly hungry, but I eat so much at dinner that I'm usually too full to eat sweets. I've lost a little weight too despite the lack of exercise and constant eating.

Nancy C.
Seniors Community
Investing for Growth Forum

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#18 of 26 Posted Sep-18 12:23 AM

From Cal Posts 898 Last 9:36 PM
To Arlene S. [Msg # 1554.18 1554.16 ]

Palm oil and coconut oil, which are high in saturated fat, are used in the bars. In fact they are the oils used in most "low fat" ice cream bars.

It is a matter of quantity. However, coconut oil is highly digestible and not "bad" like all other sat fats. OTOH palm oil, I cannot digest, it appears.

Cal, from West Michigan

All generalizations are false, including this one..

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