Cholesterol reducing drinks

[siwil1]

Been told by the Dr that my Cholesterol is high at 6.2 and needs to come down, I thought my diet was fairly healthy but obviously not !

I already do eat my five a day but I think my problem lies with my love for red meat and Cheese.

I'm willing to cut these and see this as an opportunity to Lose some weight and generally get a bit healthier.

Question is does Benecol et al work or are they just marketing blurb with no real benefit apart from lightening my wallet.

Vital stats 41yr old 5ft 9 and 14 stone. Still play competetive football once p/w (5 aside) and walk min 30mins per day with dogs.

Any info/advise will be appreciated

[Don Veloci]

Don't know about the true benefits of food products, I guess adverts can't outright lie but no doubt polish the facts a lot. Did the Doc mention Statins?

Your exercise level sounds similar to mine, you're 3st lighter but my cholesterol level is way lower.
I did improve my diet from bad to less bad but I think taking statins were the main help in reducing cholestrol levels along with exercise and better eating. No side affects for me but I believe there can be although I don't remember what.

Of course maybe the Doc is focusing on a diet fix rather than a drug fix.

[siwil1]

Ive got to go back in 6 months to see if it reduced, I assume if diet does not work then drugs are the way fwd.

Personally I would prefer not to use drugs but every thing on the avoid and in moderation list of foods are the ones I like!!!

[BIGDAI]

Practice nurse (her pet subject is diet & nutrition) told me last week that there is pretty strong evidence that they work. She also said there is no point in paying for the big brand names - just go for the cheapo supermarket ones as they are all essentially the same.

[Victor McDade]

As far as I understand it. 'good cholesterol' = HDL which transports 'bad cholesterol' LDL from the bloodstream to the liver where it can be re-used or excreted.

So when it comes to diet and lifestyle changes you need to look at ways of increasing your HDL levels. Not sure which drinks would actually do this. But other sources of HDL include omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids found in certain types of fish and flax oil for example. There is also growing evidence that exercise will increase your HDL levels as will niacin (vit b3).


ETA - here is an interesting article by an American heart specialist looking at the link between carbohydrates and high levels of 'bad cholesterol'.

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/c/7986/10...

Edited by Victor McDade on Wednesday 13th July 20:13