Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; does NSD raise cholesterol?

I keep procrastinating on getting my annual blood checkup because I'm very nervous about what my cholesterol levels will show. Has anyone found their cholesterol levels have gone up since starting NSD? (paleo blogs suggest this happens commonly)

Didier

Hi, Didier:

About 15% of serum cholesterols are from food directly, the majority remainder is produced by the liver often in response to our glucose levels, directly proportional. So eating a lot of starches can increase cholesterol, but fats and proteins do not have as much effect.

Mine was on the high side of normal but instead of taking statins I began using guggul (Indian myrrh) with some success.

HEALTH,
John

I was nervous to get my cholesterol done a few years ago, as I noticed how much animal fat I was eating and loving.... the month before my appointment I kept thinking, "Well, Stacey, enjoy this while you can.... ignorance is bliss..... maybe I could postpone my appointment a few more months just to live it up a bit longer...."... on and on....

When my doctor reported my cholesterol to me his voice literally cracked... he said that he had never seen someone with lower bad cholesterol or higher good cholesterol. I never had my cholesterol taken pre-nsd, but I know that my mom has always had problems. I had it taken about a year into the diet and it was "fine", but a couple of years in, when I was eating tons of animal fat/eggs/other oils is when it was notably excellent. I should mention, however, that all the animal products I eat are well treated and eat their natural diets, which makes me feel better about consuming meats but also makes a big difference in the health of the products. I would not go near most supermarket animal products with a ten foot pole.

I'm thinking bad cholesterol gets raised when one consumes foods that they are intolerant to and eating lots of vegetable oils&other PUFA rich sources(except coconut oil).

I had a blood check up done after 9 months NSD as I had concerns too (I eat a lot of meat/fish & go through eggs like they're going out of fashion). My good cholesterol was in the high-normal range and my bad cholesterol was very low. I think good fats (good animal meats, free range eggs, olive/coconut oils, avocado, oily fish) don't raise your bad cholesterol, I think it's only trans and saturated fats.

Thanks John, Stacey, Marion, this is very helpful. Stacey so impressed by your cholesterol results, wow!!

Since you mentioned natural meat/chicken/eggs you've inspired another question which I'll put in a new thread. As you might guess, I've been completely focused on starch, but have otherwise been eating all grocery-store proteins...

It has been years since I had mine checked... but I did at 2 times on the NSD after 3 years and 5 years on diet. Both times my cholesterol was in acceptable range for good and bad.

I should get mine checked again.. only noticeable difference in diet now is I eat more ice cream (now once a week) and beef (more common here in Argentina). So I suspect it should be fine. I also emphasize veggies on the diet.

I do recall others posting here having issues.

Tim

I just had my blood work done for a life insurance change. I always worry about it. When the results came back my Doctor said whatever you are doing keep doing it because it works! In 2009 my blood work was horrible border line diabetic, inflammation, cholesterol you name it. I don't really understand it but I am a believer at least in my case. Sometimes I think that the fact I am allergic to nsaids in any form may have saved me from my crappy diet growing into adulthood. I just pushed through what I now recognize were flares. My Doc was the biggest non believer when I refused to take the basketful of prescriptions they gave me when I was diagnosed, He is now one of my biggest supporters. Good luck you will find your way, lots of help here from good people.
ETTE.
Darrel

My experiences are very similar to light's and mulehound's. I was concerned about my cholesterol because of the high fat diet. I monitored my cholesterol like a hawk for the first few years and was pleasantly surprised.

Despite eating a ridiculous amount of high fat foods, my LDL was only slightly elevated (nothing to be alarmed about), but my HDL was off the charts good. My triglycerides were also great. We talked it over with my doc, and we both agreed that there was minimal risk.

In addition to being very strict, I think a big key is making sure you don't consume any hydrogenated oils. I only cook with extra-virgin coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, ghee, and butter. If I plan on using a very high heat, I avoid using extra-virgin olive oil as I've read that high temperatures can turn that oil into trans-fats. Not sure if there's any truth to that, but I played it better safe than sorry.

(A couple of years ago, I documented my cholesterol numbers on the forum. Not sure if it's still available using the search feature.)

I think it depends on your genetic makeup.

I have diabetes and so as john said, too many carbs will raise my bad cholesterol. By eating a low carb diet, I have been able to keep my triglycerides low normal.

But too, I've found that eating more nuts and less meat has also helped my cholesterol profile. Heart disease and liver disease both run in my family, probably due to the whole diabetes / metabolic syndrome thing.

My doctor wants me eating both low carb and low fat

He also realizes how contradictory that is.

So I just try to eat a balanced diet.