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[Taz2]

Carol 

[Joyce]

I hate to think what hubby's cholesterol is!  He was put on a low cholesterol diet many years ago and after 6 months of following it faithfully, it never went down and he was cycling a lot in those days.  Mine gradually went up after I had to change to a dairy free diet.  Although I did manage to bring it down eventually last year, though I've been told it should be lower still.  But it was a step in the right direction.

[grumpy2008]

I tried eating porridge for breakfast this week... it's not the first time I've tried it, for the sake of my cholesterol. But i still don't like the stuff!!! So I'm munching through a box of muesli instead.

There's some controversy about cholesterol and the role it plays. I suppose the guidelines are just, well, guidelines  . And everything else has to be considered as well. I'd like to do what I can to keep keep it from shooting up though, just-in-case.

[grumpy2008]

I've only tried it with sugar... maybe salty would be better for me? Hmm, truth is, I'm not keen on warm milk either though... 

[Bette]

I have porridge every morning and love it. I make it with water and have it with sliced banana and cold milk - no sugar or salt. Yum! 
Bette x

[one year in]

I have porridge with a big spoonful of honey in! Yum! The bran flakes with cold milk can wait until summer.

Must mention that all this week I have been "good" but I think I've overdone the pulses.  This morning I felt as though everything was stuck in my chest.  Must learn to get a good balance.

[silverlady]

Bette you are very very very good

I could only eat porrdige with cream on top with maple syrup. if there was no cream I would consider it with condensed milk.

silverlady x

[Bette]

Far too rich for me first thing - I'll stick to my semi-skimmed thanks! That sounds nice for the afternoon though! 
Bette x

[Joyce]

It is genetic to a certain extent, but it is still possible to lower it.  Mine is down from 6.9.  I was told that if I hadn't got it down I would have to have gone onto cholesterol reducing drugs as 6.9 was too high, even though I had a good level of the "good" cholesterol.

[one year in]

Yes LD, it will be the estrogen in both that is helping to keep the cholesterol down.

I saw my doc and she said, "diet!".  She didn't mention the ratios or the trigics.  I've been reading more about it and think that my initial reaction of panic was totally daft.

You were right girls, my ratio only appears to be 3.6 and my trigs are only slightly high so I think just cutting back on the snacks and the butter is all that is necessary.  I certainly won't be buying anymore Benecol - I'll upgrade to a soft marg.

I have lost a couple of pounds in the last few weeks but the scale said that my BMI was slightly higher which is strange because I walk a good deal.

[oldsheep]

I'm worried about OH's cholesterol (7) as he eats a good diet. Doctor said to try benecol, when we remember that is.
OH is on a baby aspirin every day with food which we hope will help. His mum died at 65 from a heart attack (she ate a really bad diet: from India so lots of ghee and red meat) and he looks just like her, so I think that like me, it's genetic. We have v little margin when it comes to improving diet.

Btw what IS the received wisdom now on eggs? For years I avoided them, now I eat them again as they help with energy levels. I eat about 2 a week.
I love porridge but as we mix in syrup and semi skimmed milk and cook it for a full 10 mins stirring constantly, it's a sunday morning only thing. Other days it's oat granola with banana or papaya. That costs an arm and several legs but I love it so much. Southern Hemisphere tastes are expensive   

[one year in]

Very happy today.  My cholesterol has dropped to about 5.6 (from 7.2 three months ago).  I have also lost about 5 kilos in weight as an added bonus which I never thought would happen during menopause.  The doc just said keep doing what you're doing and don't bother to test it again until you're next general blood test is due.

I just cut out eating marg and butter and use olive oil for everything now, including making cakes and I have also given up all crisps and packaged food that is high in saturated fats.  I also haven't touched chocolate for three months but I don't intend to give it up forever!!

Now I can have a wonderful holiday in the UK and not have to worry about every pub lunch or take away curry!  Yipee!

[Bette]

Wow, well done you! 
Bette x

[Hannah1]

My cholesterol was high (7.6) due to an undiagnosed underactive thyroid a year ago. Since I have been on medication for that my last test showed it has gone down to 5.9.  I dont know the readings of HDL or LDL but I have to see the GP in the next week or so and will get those readings then. 

I want to get this down even further with any statins if possible.

OYI - I am really interested to know what cakes and biscuits are like when you use olive oil - can you tell a difference?  I have also bought that new sugar replacement, from a plant, that is advertised on tv at the moment to replace sugar in cakes and biscuits too.  Any advic?


Hannah

[one year in]

Hi Hannah

Sorry for the late reply - I've been away and had no computer access.

I think that oil in cakes makes them lighter and more moist so in some ways I prefer it but yes, there is a difference.  Butter will always be my first (lost) love!

Never tried the sugar replacement.  I use regular sugar in cakes and cooking.  At the mo I'm only cutting out saturated fat - that's enough to be going on with!