2 years, 3 months ago
how long does it take to lower cholesterol by 15 points
My cholesterol is currently 219, I am 38, white hispanic. relatively healthy, exercise frequently.
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M$1 Answer
In all medical issues of concern you should consult a doctor. The following is for informational purposes only.
High cholesterol which stays high despite frequent exercise, and presumably reasonable weight (since you said you're relatively healthy), could possibly be reduced gradually through improved nutrition choices. According to the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/nu00200 ):
- quote -
Recommendation: Limit your daily intake of cholesterol to no more than 300 milligrams a day. Reduce added cholesterol by emphasizing fruits and vegetables in your diet, limiting animal products, and eating no more than 6 ounces (170 grams) of meat a day.
- end quote -
According to http://men.webmd.com/high-cholesterol :
- quote -
Your risk of having high cholesterol increases if:
* Your diet is high in saturated fat. These fats, found in meat and full-fat dairy products, raise LDL cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol, found in eggs and organ meats, can also raise blood cholesterol levels.
* You eat foods containing trans fats. These artificially made fats, found in partially hydrogenated oils, raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol — exactly the wrong combination.
* You are overweight or obese. Excess weight increases LDL and lowers HDL.
* You don’t get much exercise. Studies show that a bout of exercise can boost HDL, the good cholesterol. Lack of exercise can lead to weight gain.
- end quote -
Shellfish (e.g. shrimp) are also high in cholesterol.
If changing your diet doesn't reduce your cholesterol to a better range (see below), you will need to check with your doctor who will likely start you on a statin of some sort (e.g. Lipitor). Statins are extremely effective and will likely reduce your cholesterol within days.
This just leaves the question of what levels are best. This is addressed by a short article at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-levels/CL00001 which states that you should strive for a total cholesterol level under 200 mg/dL, an LDL level under 100 mg/dL ((unless you are at extremely high risk of heart disease in which case this drops to below 70 mg/dL), and an HDL level *above* 60 mg/dL.
High cholesterol which stays high despite frequent exercise, and presumably reasonable weight (since you said you're relatively healthy), could possibly be reduced gradually through improved nutrition choices. According to the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/nu00200 ):
- quote -
Recommendation: Limit your daily intake of cholesterol to no more than 300 milligrams a day. Reduce added cholesterol by emphasizing fruits and vegetables in your diet, limiting animal products, and eating no more than 6 ounces (170 grams) of meat a day.
- end quote -
According to http://men.webmd.com/high-cholesterol :
- quote -
Your risk of having high cholesterol increases if:
* Your diet is high in saturated fat. These fats, found in meat and full-fat dairy products, raise LDL cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol, found in eggs and organ meats, can also raise blood cholesterol levels.
* You eat foods containing trans fats. These artificially made fats, found in partially hydrogenated oils, raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol — exactly the wrong combination.
* You are overweight or obese. Excess weight increases LDL and lowers HDL.
* You don’t get much exercise. Studies show that a bout of exercise can boost HDL, the good cholesterol. Lack of exercise can lead to weight gain.
- end quote -
Shellfish (e.g. shrimp) are also high in cholesterol.
If changing your diet doesn't reduce your cholesterol to a better range (see below), you will need to check with your doctor who will likely start you on a statin of some sort (e.g. Lipitor). Statins are extremely effective and will likely reduce your cholesterol within days.
This just leaves the question of what levels are best. This is addressed by a short article at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-levels/CL00001 which states that you should strive for a total cholesterol level under 200 mg/dL, an LDL level under 100 mg/dL ((unless you are at extremely high risk of heart disease in which case this drops to below 70 mg/dL), and an HDL level *above* 60 mg/dL.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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