Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: one year in on January 27, 2012, 02:55:11 PM
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Well, something else I didn't know about menopause.
I just received the results of my general blood test and I have quite high cholesterol levels. I knew it wasn't good news as the doctor asked me to sit down.
I was shocked to learn that cholesterol levels can escalate in menopause (because of lack of oestrogen which is a natural body protector in women). At my last test in 2008 I was borderline at just over 200, but have now shot up to 280.
The doctor asked me whether I eat a lot of sweets, chocolate, fried foods, etc. and I really don't but then I remembered that I switched from marg to butter (which I love and do tend to lather it on a bit thick) about two years ago. I don't know if it is that but she suggested that I cut it out altogether from today and then go back for another test in six months to see if it has made a difference.
I don't know why I'm so shocked. I feel angry too. Bloody menopause.
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OYI
My levels were slightly high last year,
I love butter but don't have it every day and no longer eat much fried stuff.
Ain't losing any weight though, am going to try cutting out alcohol next. (Boring hell) Well just for a while ;D
Bloody menopause
Ricky
Xx
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one year in, I would change to Benecol and walk walk as much as you can.
Did she tell your your ratio's of HDL and LDL, also your triglycerides, they are considered now the most inportant reading, the lower the better.
Are in the UK as the measured number levels that you quote are different to here, usually 7 or over is considered very high in the UK.
Thes estrogen connection is a difficult one as I have read that supplementation can cause cholesterol to rise along side triglycerides, though the patch is not suppose to effect levels so much.
Maybe its something else that happens after menopause to effect women.
silverlady x
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Ratio is the only important number in these tests. If your ratio is below 5% then you are fine regardless of the total result. I too have found mine has gone up since peri meno but still under the 5% ratio.
I was already using benecol and my Dr said save your money they don't help at all!!
Cut out saturated fat - exercise and lose weight if you need to - so much easier said than done!
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M-i-l managed to get her levels down without drugs and was convinced that it was due to Benecol products but who knows? :-\
Bette x
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I use the dairy free benecol and my cholesterol came down by about 1.5 over about a year or so. It's still above what they would like, but it stopped GP having to give me drugs to reduce it.
My problems started when I had to give up dairy produce and substitute with soya based products.
I'd love a slice of hot buttered toast! Menopause or not I hate it!!!!!! :(
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Hi there...
I can only offer this info following my husband being diagnosed with high cholesterol and blood sugars last year.
Basically he never ate sugary foods or fat, we have followed a low fat diet for over 20 years.
his vice was carbs, not sweets or desserts, only wholemeal bread with every thing and potatoes he loved too otherwise we have fresh cooked veg at least 5 days a week with chicken. fish etc.
As soon as they gave him the diagnosis the dietry advice was to start a low carb/low GI diet.
This was easy as I have followed this regime about 5 years ago but gave into pressure about fat being bad for you and shouldnt eat eggs, cheese etc.
long story short, we both went onto low carb with eggs, cheese, butter instead of low fat plastic poison and within 3 months and NO medication his blood sugars were down to normal AND his cholesterol as was mine. (please note, his bloods and cholesterol were very high) I forgot to mention when I did it before my cholesterol came down from 7 to 4.8 in 18 weeks. At the same time my friend was put on a low fat diet and hers continued to go up.....
As I say, I am not preeching anything here just passing on results.
problem is the food industry has been wrongly advising us for decades to eat low fat, my friend who is a food science dr at a university told me that eating dietry fat,ie butter does not make you fat or raise cholesterol, it passes through the body. However eating excess carbs result in them being converted to BODY FAT which is stored on us and in our blood as CHOLESTEROL.
Personally, I am a believer as our results and those of friends who try it are good.
good luck which ever way you go.
Jacky x
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Actually I agree with what you say jax, if you read any on the Atkins forums many posters say the same thing.
I do think though that Benecol has it use in bringing down cholesterol as long as you keep to a lower carb diet too and healthy fats.
Its just that most people find it very hard to cut out carbs, I found that after a while on the Atkins like diet, I was climbing the wall craving them, getting irrratable and not sleeping, though the weight did drop off.
As I said in my post its the triglycerides that the real problem, as you say excess carbs are transformed into fat into the blood stream.
silverlady x
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SL, I think my UK equivalent is 7.2 so it's pretty high. My triglycs were slightly higher than the recommended but not much and my blood sugar level was mid-range (normal). It seems to be the LDL (bad) one that's gone up a lot although my HDL is quite high too.
I am annoyed because I do already walk most days for around 50 mins and I do yoga once a week. I am overweight and could definitely do with losing about 20 lbs, but I don't smoke or drink in excess. It just seems to me that aging always gets you with something no matter how careful you are!
I've already bought the Benecol and read up on it. Seems that there is truth in the claim that it reduces cholesterol - it blocks it from passing through the intestine wall into the blood, sending it instead to the bowel. Plant stellars or something.
However, I will not be defeated! I firmly believe in all things in moderation and once I've got my levels down a bit I will stop using Benecol and go on to a normal (albeit careful) diet. Think you're right jax, it's not just the fats - it's a lifestyle.
Won't be eating butter again for a while though. Blast!
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Hi
When I had my blood test to check for hormone levels which showed in theory I was post, my cholesterol had risen to over 7 which freaked me. I did read somewhere that meno can cause this but the doc kind of poohooed it.
Anyway, Googled some stuff and all I did was to swap to the special spread (not that I eat a lot of it anyway), I skipped the fish oil as it gave me a bit of reflux even though I bought the one that said no reflux, I did try and eat fish twice a week, I swapped brekki to porridge or muesli and now I make my own without dried fruit just a variety of nuts with fresh fruit, tried but failed in the exercise dept but the main good thing is physillium husks. I used to grind up a mixture in the UK when my IBS was bad an couldn't take normal fibre which was linseeds, pumpkin & sunflower seeds and sprinkle it on my brekki. However, here in Oz I can get Gentle Fibre which is the same thing but with the husks.
Anyway, I went back for another test 6 months later and it had come down to 5.1 again - yippee!
It could be just a blip, try the above and get retested in 6 months. Oats and physillium and fish oil if you can take it and a good daily walk are the best things. I'm sure a glass of red wine a day is good for you, doesn't seem to do the French or Italians any harm :)
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Mine is around 6 but my doc looks at the overall picture and has decided that my risk is low. There is information on the BHF site http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/high-cholesterol.aspx
Taz x
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My cholesterol has gone up in the past year and I found it a bit of a shock too. My diet is relatively healthy, I think, so can only put it down to changing hormone levels. Previously my good to bad cholesterol ratio was extremely good, but the gap is narrowing so I really need to make some changes to stop it getting worse :-\.
What a bugger it all is!!!!
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Men are also at risk of raised cholesterol as they get older but I am not sure whether this is related to their hormone levels too?
Taz x
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Grumpy, I haven't seen the doctor who ordered the blood test yet but the microbiologist was quite certain that it is lack of oestrogen in menopausal women that causes LDL to go up.
Wombat, it could be a blip but the shock has made me rethink my diet which is no bad thing. I need to lose some weight anyway and I think if I just cut the cr_p it's the way to go. I can't do most of the things to the same extent that I did when I was younger (notably drink alcohol!), and I guess eating is no different. :(
No sex, no food, no drink - what's left to live for ;D
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I know the if your parents had/have high cholestrol you too can have raised chol in later years, they say porridge helps too, mine has come down to 4.6 since being diagnosed with diabetes and on slimming world diet had helped me to lose near on 3 stone, still another 2ish to go x
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Carol :congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:
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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.
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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.
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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... :D
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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! :P
Bette x
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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.
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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
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Far too rich for me first thing - I'll stick to my semi-skimmed thanks! That sounds nice for the afternoon though! :P
Bette x
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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.
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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.
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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 ::) :(
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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! :D
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Wow, well done you! :congrats:
Bette x
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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
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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!
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Thanks OYI - I was wondering what the olive oil spread would be like in cakes. Have you tried that?
I am trying to stop having my beloved butter too - only used to have it on toast 3 times per week and dont have it anywhere else other than if I make a cake. The other soft margarines with their trans fatty oils are worse than butter I think.
I am having the real dark good chocolate - a couple of squares per day as they say that helps with cholesterol lowering too.
Hannah
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Ooh that's good news! I haven't had any chocolate since February. I'm just such an addict - I can't control myself once I start. I'm one of those have to eat the whole bar in one go people. My sis says it's genetic programming to survive - haha - any excuse!
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I had no idea about the high cholesterol link to menopause!
I was diagnosed with hereditary high cholesterol earlier this year (my dad died of heart woes) and am now on statins. Mum has also got high cholesterol but she manages to get hers down using Benecol (which has no effect on me).
I don't drink or smoke and I'm veggie (no eggs either). I walk everywhere (don't drive) and have watched my food intake for years (currently 4 stones overweight despite all the diets). I use olive oil spread, not butter and I have garlic oil capsules every day (plus garlic in food whenever I can).
I eat porridge for tea (with sultanas instead of sugar) and I avoid cheese if humanly possible (even though I crave it).
The statins have brought my cholesterol down from 7.8 to 5.6 in a matter of weeks (!)
I hate being on yet another tablet, but I have to accept the fact that I'd rather put up with potential side-effects of statins against the very real threat of heart disease...
I WAS wondering if the statins were causing my current muscle/joint pains but after reading a few threads on this forum this could well be yet another symptom of the menopause.
Karen x
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Statins are renowned for causing muscle aches and pains, my OH had to stop taking then due to this, even though his chholesterol is higher then it should be.
His doctor tried him on various different types but it still cause the muscle aches, so now has stopped prescribing them, there is a lot if information about the side effects of statins and forums with people with who have been effected by taking them.
On the other hand there a lot of people who can take statins and not have these side effects.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7481845/Health-warning-over-statin-taken-by-millions.html
silverlady x
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Thanks :)
I was warned before starting statins they COULD cause muscle pains, but as I've just found out, it could also be meno. I'm hoping that if/when I get my hormones sorted out I'll be able to know whether it's the statins or not (was told testo can help alleviate muscle/joint aches).
When you take a variety of tablets it's soooooooo hard to know which one/s are to blame when you feel ill or painful without stopping everything at once and introducing them again one at a time (not recommended!!)
Karen x
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Hi Susan,
I do hope so (once the nausea wears off!)
xxx
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Ladies
Have a look at Dr John Briffas blog on Cholesterol , lots of info on there.
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Hi panda, you sound like you eat a really sensible, balanced diet so I don't understand how you can be 4 stone overweight. The cholesterol problem, as you say, is hereditary - I know a number of folk who are as slim as rods and have high cholesterol. I had always had bad eating habits and would eat things like a jumbo bag of doritos instead of dinner at night, follow lunch with half a pack of chocolate biscuits and stuff like that. I tried counting calories but kept cheating! It was only by cutting out eating between meals that helped me to lose weight (and the high cholesterol). I guess everyone has to find their own solution.
Susan, sorry you dropped your test! Can't your GP order a test of your cholesterol levels? I had to go privately to a microbiologist.
There was no way I was going to go onto drugs to solve my problem - I really believe that many health professionals give drugs as an easy solution (because they benefit from it, not you!) when good health can be achieved by a change in diet and/or lifestyle. My OH was prescribed pills for his high blood pressure on his first visit to a doctor - the doctor didn't even bother to take into consideration OH's weight and penchant for beer!
I do realize that sometimes drugs are necessary though. :'(
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Cholesterol is a tricky subject because its not all down to one number, also it's not always directly linked to diet for some people its hereditry.
Benecol contains plant sterols which can bring down cholesterol, you can also get plant sterols from Boots in tablet form. My Husband has taken these for six months and his cholesterol is coming down although slowly.
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Your doctor can arrange for you to have a cholesterol test on the NHS.
Its really the triglycerides that have to be watched more then the cholesterol levels.
silverlady x
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I am trying to lower my cholesterol naturally too without going on statins. It is currently 5.9 and the GP has agreed to give me a year to get it down further.
Does anyone know if the Benecol drinks are worth buying - do they lower it significantly? I am trying to eat more oats such as porridge etc as well.
Hannah
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My m-i-l managed to avoid going on statins by using Benecol products.
Bette x
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We use Benecol and the Benecol cheese too, its quite good aswell, also use very small amounts of butter. Eating eggs do not make too much difference.
The best way to bring levels down is to avoid sweet stuff and trans fatty acids, exercise and cut down on stress.
If you lose weight all your cholesterol levels go down unless unless you have the hereditary type.
silverlady x
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Thanks Better and SL
I didnt realise that you could get Benecol cheese - presumably in the usual supermarkets? Do you have the Benecol drinks as well?
I am trying to lose weight as well so hopefully all these measures will lower it further.
Hannah
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I think that m-i-l used the foodstuffs (spreads etc) rather than the drinks.
Bette x
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Hannah1, Waitrose sell the Benecol cheese.
silverlady x
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Thanks Bette and Silverlady - will have a look at Sainsbury's when I go next time too. Unfortunately, we do not have a Waitrose closer than 25 miles away.
Hannah
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M-i-l shops at Asda and Tescos - Sainsburys very rarely. Definitely never been in a Waitrose! ;D
Bette x
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One Year In - I've despaired of my weight gain since before my hysterectomy 2008 (fybroids). I was 13st when I went into hospital, had an organ removed, didn't eat much for over a week (hospital food) and STILL weighted 13 st when I was discharged!!
Since then I've been gaining steadily (14.5 st and under 5 ft 4 inches tall). I've done the whole diet diary / weight clinic (GP surgery) etc etc but no matter what I do I can't seem to stop gaining weight.
GP hasn't been particularly helpful, saying it's my age (!) or it's just part of meno! Another favourite is "Eat less and exercise more" (Doh!)
Of course, I guess it could be down to some of my meds (statins, omeprozole, amlodipine and now HRT).
I was hoping the testo implant would give me enough energy to do more exercise (if/when it decides to start working).
Weight obviously doesn't help with the whole cholesterol issue, however, as I have the hereditary type it's not a contributing factor in my particular case.
xxx
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I'm not sure with Benecol if it acts like drugs, ie. when you stop eating it your cholesterol levels shoot back up again?
Panda, it definitely sounds as though it's the drugs you're taking that are causing your weight gain.
Hannah, good luck! I try not to think about dieting/cholesterol loss now - I have just cut out high fat snack foods (for ever I hope!) and try not to eat much animal fat (although I love cheese!). My weight loss has been very slow and I hope it will continue. I am still large but feel better!
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I wondered that too OYI - if you have to stay on the Benecol drinks for ever to keep it down. I guess once down though you can keep better control of it maybe - I live in hope anyway.
I have the weight issue too and find it so hard - especially with the underactive thyroid as metabalism slows up too.
Maybe we should eat, drink and be merry and live for the day!
Hannah
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found this quite good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dm56KFDBTI&feature=player_embedded
silverlady x
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Have just looked at this Silverlady and very interesting - I have started taking coconut oil capsules recently as was advised that they were good to help lower cholesterol.
Hannah
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If you look down the right side of the youtube page there are some more excellent youtubes too.
silverlady x
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I just had a look at the link too SL. I found it quite hard to follow what he was saying but I think he was basically saying instead of taking whatever the doctor says (drugs), take a look at your lifestyle first. Also not to take it too far because some cholesterol is obviously necessary for your body to function. However he didn't seem to say at what point you should consider your cholesterol levels to be high and didn't mention menopausal women or hereditery high cholesterol.
It didn't help that I lost the track half way through though so I didn't get to hear it all! My internet connection is not the best! Anway, I think his message, all things in moderation is very sensible.
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I eventually got my cholesterol down using Benecol but when I asked if I could give it up, GP told me to keep using it. So still a pot every day, well when I can remember to take it. ::)
My brother has to watch his cholesterol too, but not sure if it's hereditary though.
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I bought the benecol cheese yesterday and it isn't ver nice but if it's the only cheese that I can have I will eat it, I also have the benecol spread and start every morning with the little pot of drink, I must admit my cholesterol went from 6.3 to 5.4 in 6 months, so am gonna keep at it for the next 6 months and see how I get on. Good luck everyone, almonds, celery and passion fruit are great to lower it too. Xx
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I've altered my diet, included porridge, even though I struggle with the stuff. Used to be able to get benecol dairy free, but no supermarket beside us stock the stuff now. However, I will persevere with the porridge, nuts etc.