Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Cholesterol Tests and a High Fat Diet

Hi all,

I don't visit the site as much as I used to, but wanted to share some of the interesting findings from my latest lab tests.

One of the difficult things that I grappled with was switching to a high fat diet. Since I cut out all starches and sugars (including fruits), this was particularly hard. After months of tinkering, I ended up settling with a moderate protein, high fat, low carb diet. I easily cook with at least two tablespoons of butter a day (!), and I also consume at least six tablespoons of EV Coconut Oil. It is important to note that I've taken great pains to eliminate all trans fat (as much as possible) from my diet. No more hydrogenated oils in my kitchen. I've read conflicting assertions regarding the trans-fat-ization of cooking with EVOO, so I don't heat up olive oil as well. I also eat a lot of fish (salmon, sardines, trout) relative to the "average" US consumer and eat very little red meat now.

1/30/2009:
HDL - 51
LDL, Direct - 104

1/4/2010:
Direct HDL - 94
LDL Measured - 148

So interestingly, my bad cholesterol (LDL) increased by nearly 50% while my good cholesterol (HDL) increased by 100%. I've read other posts where people say that their LDL/HDL ratios are better after being on the NSD, and similarly, mine are also much better. I guess I'm pleased with the results, and at this point feel there's no reason to adjust my dietary strategy. In my next quarterly visit, I'll ask to be tested again to see if the LDL has stabilized or not.

The proponents of the high fat diet argue that the cholesterol model is faulty. Other various theories out there suggest that it's the types of fats which are important.

In my case, I feel that a dietary approach represents the best long term solution for disease management and continue along that path. While I'm particularly rabid about the benefits of a diet, I still it's important to not turn a blind eye to some of the "conventional" concerns that medicine has and to monitor these concerns to make sure that I'm not shooting myself in the foot. Anyhoo, I just found it to be an interesting observation. I believe I read some posts regarding EV coconut oil and the contradicting messages from the two camps (naturopathic vs. traditional medicine). While my observations don't settle the argument, it can serve as another data point that you can choose to use when you're going down the dietary rabbit hole.

Freddie

PS. Mad props to my rheumy who is willing to with WITH me on this journey and not forcing me toward a particular path. That definitely has made the whole process a lot easier.

Freddie,
Good for you!
You are right,you are lucky to have a doc who is working with you.The 2 I went to got mad and one was so mad he was shaking!! Stayed in there over an hour trying to FORCE me on TNF blockers and trying to "save" me from the damage I "don't know is being done on this diet" hahaha
Gimme a break.I gotta do it alone,no doc.Thank God for you people!
Shauna

thanks for this information.

i'll have to read more about heating EVOO, though i don't really fry much anyway, but will want to read further as EVOO is my fat of choice. i'm like you, if there is controversy, i tend to proceed with caution.

why i haven't become a coconut oil convert yet myself.

but i've heard nothing but good things concerning nuts so that is one of my big "good fat" food. i get 1-2 servings of nuts in every day. but i know not everyone on the NSD can / does do nuts. still, if you can, its an excellent good fat source. when my lipid profile was severely out of sorts, HDLs very low (39), triglycerides very high, LDLs borderline high, i did a lot of reading, then starting walking every day, starting eating almonds and hazelnuts (and their flours) (some Peanut Butter too), and converted to the LSD. HDLs went up to 58, triglycerides went down to low normal. though my LDLs are still borderline high, the HDL/LDL ratio is much better now. but your HDLs being 94, that's really impressive, so you probably don't need to change a thing.

anyway, i'll keep my eyes open to new coconut oil information, maybe over time, i'll become a convert too, especially if the news becomes uniformly good and EVOO news starts to become questionable.

wonder if you could link some info about the EVOO / heating / trans-fat-conversion?

thanks, and good to see your outstanding results!

This is really interesting. Sometimes you have to go with your gut instinct, quite literally. My instinct says coconut oil is good...I hope I am right.

I appreciate the report on cholesterol levels as it did concern me.

Cheers

Keith

So even tho your bad cholesterol is higher this is still considered a good read? is this because good so much higher and your still under 100 on bad? I thought we were supposed to be under 200 total - but i'm kinda clueless on this stuff. Mine were flagged when i had it done 2 years ago but doc said not to worry because the good was high. I'm anxious to do again because of my increased egg consumption - i eat a crazy amount!

Here's what i've read about EVOO, but please post info if you can Sue. It has a low-smoke point - quick to overheat,only supposed to use at low heat and when it does smoke or overcook it releases carcinogenic compounds or something like that - basically becomes bad for you. I'm so bad about letting it overheat too! Coconut oil has a high smoke point,so its good for cooking with, i've also recently picked up Grapeseed oil - its good for high temp cooking but kinda pricey. Coconut oil supposedly has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties - really help the immune system among other things - do a quick google. I first bought it to take by the tablespoon in hopes it would help my symptoms but the one i got was refined and tasted horrible. I believe unrefined, organic is the way to go. That's what i cook with but still haven't tried eating it by the tablespoon again:O
another tidbit: they're all good for applying to skin and hair. I always rub the leftovers on my spoons into my hands.

My most recent (although it was done last spring) cholesterol reading was 211 overall. The doctor didn't bat an eyelash since my HDL was high, my LDL was reasonably high, but my VLDL (supposedly the really bad stuff) was low. I think people sometimes forget that our body (brains mainly I believe) need cholesterol. I'm not too concerned with my overall count, but with the scores in those respective categories instead. It was once down at 133 overall a few years ago. I read (will see if I can find a citation) that too low cholesterol can be indicative of an infection of some sort.

I've been using EVOO on the stove up to a medium heat recently and, now, and wondering if that is such a good move. I'm thinking I should switch oils. I use a couple of tablespoons of virgin/extra virgin coconut oil daily, but maybe this should be one more use where it should be incorporated. I need to research some of the other oils. There's a lot of information and misinformation to sort through regarding oils. I know some (e.g.soy/vegetable, canola) to stay away from but don't know too much about safflower, sunflower, or grapeseed.

mcm, I wouldn't use refined coconut oil for anything other than external/cosmetic purposes. Only consume unrefined, virgin/extra virgin coconut oil.

thanks jay - I actually did that with the coconut oil - I had picked up spectrum naturals refined, and it was so nasty tasting i didn't want to cook with it - so moved it to the bathroom. I now use coconut oil from the Dekalb farmer's market - it says "philippines organic e/virgin coconut" and it tastes like coconut, i'm assuming is unrefined?? but I think the natual food market closer to me carries some good brands.

The oil info is so confusing! I though forever that canola was good, then hear its omega 6 so not so good? But we still use it, should i stop? I bought safflower, read that its good, then read somewhere else, not so. i need to stop reading...argh
And while coconut oil supposed to be okay for high heat, when i cook with it - it really smokes up?
My husband likes frying in peanut oil - don't know anything about that healthwise, but wondered if it might be starchy since peanuts are, then figured its all fat no starch? information overload. If you figure it out please post. thanks mary cay

i do think its good to have them checked especially as you change things in your diet, and especially if they have been out of sorts. i've read opposing views about eggs, read they were bad, then read the fats are longer chained, so maybe not so bad. i'd say have your cholesterol checked, see how things are.

i'm still concerned that in my last blood test, while my HDLs are now high (58) and my triglycerides are now low (136), my LDLs are still high (134). better than where things were in the past. and the higher HDLs are supposed to protect against the higher LDLs, still i'd be happier if my LDLs were lower.

thanks for the info about the EVOO. am also curious about the newer (to us) oils like grapeseed or nut oils. nuts are supposed to be very good for us.

i too will use the oils externally. bought food grade grapeseed oil for my bath. will rub olive oil on my hands while cooking if don't want to get hand lotion in the food. so yes, i agree with you, they are all very good externally. use coconut oil sometimes for skin, hair.

nut oils- i'd imagine that they'd have the same good healthy properties for our lipid profile as nuts. i've heard really good things about hazelnuts. they were part of my "therapy" to get my triglycerides down and my HDLs up, a serving of hazelnuts every day along with walking and LSD. not sure which did the job but amazed how well that combo worked. and don't worry about "starch", the nuts may contain them, but the oils are just the fat. and yes, peanut oil for sure, and i think other nut oils can be heated pretty high. but i don't really "fry" very much. maybe a little oil to saute some veggies or roast some veggies, though roasting is a pretty high temperature......

your numbers sound like mine now. my total is now at 219, but my HDLs and triglycerides have gone in the correct directions, so hoping that is a good sign. mine was never "too low" like yours. rather my HDLs were too low (39) and my triglycerides were on the border between high and very high, and that was definitely not good! but LSD, nuts, and walking turned those numbers around amazingly well.

It sounds like the oil you get at farmer's market is OK. It seems like much of what I've come across (from a purchasing perspective) is from the Philippines. Also, I'm not sure they use the extra virgin/virgin label on the refined stuff. I'd ask the vendor about it's purpose (e.g. consumption).

I agree the oil information is very confusing which makes me very frustrated. Similar to you, I think sometimes I need to stop reading. Personally, I'd stop using canola oil or the vegetable (read soy) oils. However, that's a decision at which you need to arrive on your own.

I don't know anything about frying. However, I do think I remember once reading that peanut oil is the best (not necessarily to be confused with healthiest) oil in which to fry food.

Sorry I can't be of more help.