I hope someone can help me with this.. My husband has been lc for 1 year now and has lost 35 lbs (he is no longer overweight at all) We are on lifetime maintenance--we don't really follow a plan anymore, we are just careful to watch carbs and avoid processed carby foods like bread and pasta and sugar. His cholesterol has greatly improved (don't have the original numbers on me) but still is not great.
Triglycerides 66
LDL 161 (this number used to be 149)
HDL 39
TOTAL: 208
His doc is pushing ZOCOR but neither of us feels these numbers are bad enough to be THAT concerned about especially since they are lower than when we were on a near vegetarian diet!
Now dh thinks he should eat lower fat and have some oatmeal a couple of times a week. Does anyone else have any experience with this? What do you all think? I suspect that cholesterol is not a dangerous as everyone says. Any links to articles. Thanks ahead of time for any help! :-)

Triglycerides are the only number I would concern myself with and 66 is great!

you are right thinking cholesterol is not as dangerous as everyone says.

here are a couple of links

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_yo...fats_phony.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/askdoct...holesterol.html

http://www.thincs.org/

I would just make sure to avoid any hydrogenated fats and vegetable oils (except olive oil) and try not to eat too many fried foods which would cause the oils to oxidize.

btw great jobs on your goals! I would personally avoid the drugs, and please dont fall into the low fat mindset, if I can see anything it would be making matters worse (if cholesterol concerns you) Steel cut oats are not a bad idea once in a while since you are maintaining.

I suppose there would be more info and links in the cholesterol forum.

good luck,

mj

Thanks MF, I will check out the links. I thought the tri. number was good too--baffled at why the doc. is pushing so hard for drugs--tho I guess not surprised. Quick question about fats for cooking though. I usually use olive oil but sometimes canola. I don't deep fry anything but I often will saute things in oil for a stir fry or something. Is this the same thing? Does cooking this way make the oils harmful? Other than that, we don't eat any hydro fats.

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/conola.html Thats a link on canola oil

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/oiling.html Thats a bit on oils

I would cut out the canola oil since by the time you get it in the store its already rancid and very delicate. Instead try using butter, coconut, palm oil or lard. Ghee is also something I am looking into, from what I understand its clarified butter.

I used to use a lot of canola oil too... now for baking I will use melted butter or coconut oil (btw if you want a good coconut oil go to www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com ) Coconut oil has a ton of health benefits as well as tastes yummy. For eggs I use butter, for chicken, meats and veggies/salads its olive oil.