I gave blood last week and got the cholesterol result today. They only do a total cholesterol, which was 113. I have been following the BFL diet and exercise program for 7 weeks now. The last time I had my cholesterol tested while following Schwarzbein it was 129. I think this is too low but I am confused as to what to do. I read that low cholesterol is linked to depression (which I have) and cancer (which I really don't want). I was joking with dh that I need to do the opposite of the usual advice to lower cholesterol, in which case I should:

1. eat unhealthy, high-fat foods
2. become more sedentary
3. take up smoking

But seriously, do I need to increase the saturated fats? Not sure what else to do... I have been very tired lately, don't know if that is related or if it's just due to dd waking up more at night.

Jen

There is not a lot of information available on low cholesterol. I have heard that tribes in the Amazon jungle have levels in the low 100s and have no health problems from it.

I did find this link to a question on low cholesterol.
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0514.html
As long as the low level is natural (not forced low by drugs), I do not think there is any need to be concerned. I am curious as to what the individual components are with levels as low as you have.

hi Jen,

Dodger is right, it would be best to have a breakdown of the different types of cholesterol lipoproteins (HDL, LDL .. and triglycerides). As long as your HDL "good" cholesterol is over 40, I wouldn't worry too much .

FWIW, low cholesterol can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, so you might want to have that checked while you're at it.

Good luck


Doreen

You look pretty young, so I wouldn't worry about it. I think most people your age would have levels around there. Mine was only 105 until I started menopause.

Like the other posters said, low cholesterol articles I've read...and I've read a bunch, since my cholesterol dropped to below 150 on meds and I developed depression....only site problems when the cholesterol is forced down by medications. Either the docs being too aggressive or patients (like me) who are unusually sensitive to the meds.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I guess I'll stop stressing about it for now, but I will see about doing further blood work next time I go to the dr. I did exercise before giving blood, and I read that that can affect the result.

Jen

when I was 18 I got tested and had a total of 108! I only weighted 168lbs. I remember my HDL was a little low 34 but I don't remember the other levels. I worked out all the time and ate extremely low fat and high carb but stayed under 2000 Calories a day. I was depressed and had crazy blood sugar levels that went sky high then way to low and had severe headaches. I don't know what it was exactly pre atkins but two weeks into the diet I had a total of 148 hdl still low 34 ldl 99 and tri 80. My glucose level was 101 and was on induction so must have been breaking down a lot of fat. I was smoking and had gained over 120lbs in a little over 5 years. I feal great now and eager to see results so I can better determine a link between low chol and depression, headaches, etc.