My Cholesterol Test Results Are In...

[Einy]

Just got my lab test results today. Here are my cholesterol readings,

Cholesterol --> 1-week Pre Atkins = 180
After 3-months Atkins = 153

Triglyceride --> 1-week Pre Atkins = 263
After 3-months Atkins = 84

HDL --> 1-week Pre Atkins = 41
After 3-months Atkins = 34

LDL --> 1-week Pre Atkins = 86
After 3-months Atkins = 102

CHOL/HDL --> Almost the same, 4.4 pre-Atkins and now 4.5.


Healthy Ranges (as per to the blood work sheet):

Cho --> 100-199 mg/dL
Tri --> 0-149 mg/dL
HDL --> 40-60 mg/dL
LDL --> 0-99 mg/dL
CHOL/HDL --> 2.5-4.5


Just wanted to share this with eveyone here.

Although VERY happy with the Tri and Cholesterol readings. Not sure why my LDL elevated and HDL dropped this way. Is it may be the type of fat I eat? Comments anyone?

[sallyseachange]

Congrats on your trigs and total! Your other numbers are good too, with the exception of a very slightly raised LDL... but only very slightly raised.

Did you fast for 12 hours before your test? This is very important for a reliable reading. Doesn't seem to me like you need to worry though.

Exercise is a great way to lower LDL, if you're concerned.

[mystic]

Yeah exercise is one of the biggest contributors to good HDL/LDL numbers.

[ValidRouge]

Einy, I just found this and thought of you!

http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/5/1/6

Conclusion

A CRD (Carbohydrate Restricted Diet) with daily intake of eggs decreased plasma CRP and increased plasma adiponectin compared to a CRD without eggs. These findings indicate that eggs make a significant contribution to the anti-inflammatory effects of CRD, possibly due to the presence of cholesterol, which increases HDL-C and to the antioxidant lutein which modulates certain inflammatory responses.

[ttdriver]

First of all, your numbers are terrific.

The best indicator is the ratio of HDL/LDL and yours is 3, which is VERY LOW CHD risk. See here:

http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/choles...hdl-ratio.html

Cardiovascular exercise will RAISE HDL levels.

Betty

[Einy]

Thanks ValidRouge and ttdriver. I just saw your replies, been on the road for sometimes and haven't logged in to the forum for about a weeks or so. Great info.. Yea, 3 as LDL/HDL ratio as per to the link is even lower than the low-risk category. My doctor was not concerned at all about it, and she told me that my readings overall are great and shouldn't worry and asked to keep doing what I am doing (she knows I am on Atkins)..

ValidRouge, now you have mentioned it... I was trying to avoid egg as much as possible during my first 3 months, I used to eat may be two eggs every week or so. Not that I don't like eggs, it is just that when I eat them in the morning they just make me feel too full especially when they are not boiled, butter (or olive oil sometimes) added to the equation is too much for me in the morning.. not used to eating that high fat breakfast.

For the past couple of weeks or so been eating eggs almost every morning mixed with 1 tblsp of butter, 3-4 black olives, 1 tblsp celery, 1 tblsp sweet green/red/yellow pepper and 1/8 cup of shredded parmesan cheese... Although more fatty, just mixing the olives and the pepper along with the eggs, makes it beter and "lighter" for some reason. Hopfully this along with other slight modifications in my diet (eating more nuts now) and exercise should help get the ratio even better.

Thanks again for your input.

[Bloomer]

Hello there.

I just wanted to pipe in here. My husband is 38. He had a massive heart attack the day before he turned 38. It wasn't his first. His cardiologist is not only highly experienced and qualified, but is also a teacher to residents in two hospitals. With that said, I had asked why my husband had almost died at such a young age, even after quitting smoking and normal tri and cholesterol.

His Dr. informed me that even though his bad cholesterol was only slightly elevated, his good cholesterol was too low. The good cholesterol fights the bad off. So the fact that your good cholesterol is lower and the bad is higher concerns me. This is not "ok" in my opinion.

My husband was put on a strict diet of lean protein with salads. Not only this, but he added avocado and fish oil to his daily regimend. He also jogs for 30 minutes per day. After three months he finally had better cholesterol in that the good cholesterol went up and the bad went down. He was on medication before and after all testing, as well as excercise. I really feel the fish oil and avocado with lean proteins and salad made a big difference.

I would see a cardiolist and get maybe a thorough check up. You may want a nuclear stress test done where they can check out your arteries, and/or an ultrasound of the corotid arteries. The cholesterol shouldn't be ignored. An overall lower number of cholesterol is not good when your bad cholesterol increased and the good has decreased. If ths pattern continues you could be in trouble with your heart at some point.

My husband was not an obese guy. He looked fit. His heart was very clogged. His Dr told me if he had not chewed up and eaten all the aspirin he would have died on the way to the hospital. Two main arteries were almost shut (1 was the other was like 95% blocked.)

I am not tryiing to scare you, but I have real experience with heart disease. Your heart is not something to toy with. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the country for men and women. It is not something to take lightly. Prevention is the best medicine.