Question about saturated fat

[Egardner]

I've been reading a lot of these cholesterol/bp posts. I'm a worrier (I'm very good at it ) so I would like to know if I should go ahead and worry. At the doctor about a month ago (right before I started this WOE) My cholesterol was 211 (I forgot to fast, and I had eaten some cereal, but at the gyno a few months before it had been 207, so I think it was fairly accurate.) My good cholesterol was good and my triglycerides were fine. I do have some family history of high cholesterol. The doctor said it should be watched. So I decided to start losing weight and my Dr. actually recommended a low-carb plan (she didn't specifically say Atkins, but she described it pretty much).

I really do not want to go back to the doctor in a few months and be lighter, but have skyrocketing cholesterol numbers. I've seen some people recommend that people with high numbers keep saturated fat to under 20 grams a day. I definitely have not been doing that. Should I go ahead and start now? Also, should I go ahead and take a tbls of flax and some fish oil regularly? I already love olive oil. I'm just trying to be preemptive. I know it will really scare me if my numbers get really high. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

[ValidRouge]

I have not paid one whit of attention to saturated vs unsaturated fat the entire time I've been on Atkins. I had my cholesterol done in July after being on the plan for 7 months...and my total cholesterol, triglycerides and such had dropped DRAMATICALLY. I would not worry about this at least in the early stages.

However, if it TRULY bothers you, use olive oil, stick to poultry and seafood to reduce saturated fat....but I eat butter, mayo, fatty cuts of red meat on a regular basis and am doing FABULOUSLY.

[Egardner]

Thanks Joy!

Like I said, I'm just a worrier. I think I'm just not going to think about it at all until a few months when I plan to go back and get my cholesterol tested again.

P.S. Good job on the quitting smoking. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But it's been a year now for me! How much better do you feel? It's awesome.

[sallyseachange]

I don't think you need to worry...at least until your bloodwork tells you to, which it most likely won't!

Most people on Atkins see a big drop in cholesterol levels, and for those few who don't (and I'm one of them, being menopausal) their whole liped profile usually improves greatly. I'm sure you'll be fine. If you like, stick to eating mainly low sat fat products, though I have to say that like ValidRouge, I don't pay any attention to that.

My total cholesterol rose when I started Atkins... but I also went into the menopause, so this is fairly typical. What also happened though, was that my LDL vs HDL ratios improved dramatically. I now have a 'risk' ratio that is off the charts... in a healthy sense!!! When I asked my doc if I could carry on eating plenty of butter, cream, eggs etc., he said:

"Absolutely yes!!!"

Try not to worry. Just eat the way Dr A prescribed and I'm positive you'll be just fine!

[ValidRouge]

Glad we could help you out.

Yesterday was my 3 month anniversary of not smoking. The girls on here had to point it out to me. I just don't even think about it that much anymore. Not even to think that I'm a NON smoker. I feel fantastic.

[2big4mysize]

did you know in some cuts of beef there is less saturated fat then chicken?

over 75% of the cholesterol in the human body is self made in our cytoplasm. Every cell in the body needs cholesterol as part of the membrane or we'd be a puddle on the floor.

Depending on where your body generates your excess (and 211 is very close to normal so your Atkins lowering should be all you need) based on your genetics be it liver or cellular the means to fix it are different.
Doing your Atkins correctly both the eating and the exercise parts will increase the good stuff and burn off the triglycerides as fuel. with the increase in the good you should get some lowering of the bad AND the increase in the fat eating causes the body to increase the only method other then shedding cells for removing the bad from the body and that is increased bile production. then there is the added fiber of all those OWL foods binding up the dietary cholesterol and the bile so it can't be reabsorbed and you get bad cholesterol lowering too.

BUT some of us have genetics that can cause us to need to lower ours even more then just the basic Atkins lowering effects.

what for your testing after you have been working all parts of your Atkins and see what you need to do.