Re: how do I lower my cholestrol?

Hi all,

Lets not argue or be too inconsiderate of the methods used by others. Not everyone has a completely informed
doctor and often the simplest thing for a doctor to do is to suggest cholesterol lowering drugs.

Unfortunately, once you are on such meds, docs are reluctant to suggest getting off them because they are afraid
of being responsible for a patient who develops problems or gets worse.

Reducing the refined carbohydrate intake, which includes all sugars, baked goods, (including pasta and white rice)
reducing calorie intake and avoiding saturated fats, partially hydrogenated fats etc will help a lot.

Increasing vegatables, fruits, beans, whole unground grains and nuts will also increase your soluble and insoluble
fiber intake and that will absorb much of what your intestines would take in and process into cholesterol.
A digestive system that requires a lot of bile to break down fatty foods allows some of the bile to be reabsorbed in the
intestines and this also raises cholesterol in the blood. If you have had a gallbladder removal it becomes harder to
keep your cholesterol down.
Fiber in large quantities helps to prevent bile from remaining in close contact with the gut and speeds the bowel up
taking the excess fats with it.
I don't expect you to believe me either... so that is why I am including articles from a doctor.

Here is a link or two that I hope are not considered advertising... the site is run by an MD who is also active in sports
medicine and nutrition and has a popular radio call-in show. He has info on many topics, complete with medical journal
referrences in case you or your doctor wish to challenge any claims he makes. You might get some more answers by
going to the site and searching "cholesterol"

I wonder why there are so few who seem to return to post here after their initial visit
Maybe I am not looking hard enough to notice.

http://www.drmirkin.com/heart/8273.html
http://www.drmirkin.com/heart/9860.html
http://www.drmirkin.com/ (other topics)

Take care everyone..
Ron