Rasing HDL?

[Meaplus3]

Alright! Well the good news is my cholesterol looks darn near perfect in every apsect except my HDL.. it's 29.:eek: It needs to be much higher than that to protect me from heart disease. Part of this is genetic for me.. and that I can't do anything about . So, I was told to take fish oil. My gosh.. that stuff is simply gross. I was burping fish today... Barf. I do excercise.. and I'm now drinking cranberry and that's suppose to help some. Anyone else have low HDL.. and if so tips on how to raise it would be helpful.

 

Mea:)

Edited January 2, 2010 by Meaplus3
spelling

[Tony T]

The ONLY thing in the entire word that will raise your HDL is exercise. Diet, fish oil, voodoo, magic spells, etc. are all irrelevant. Your HDL is very low, which in itself is not really a problem. But you HDL level is an indicator of your overall state of health and your longevity. The higher your HDL, usually 50 or more, indicates a long, healthy life...all other things being equal.

 

Crestor has been shown effective as a drug in raising HDL levels by as much as 10. However, anything past that will have to be done by hard work. Start by walking briskly each day for a period of time and build it up until you are walking a half hour every day. You should see your HDL climb nicely after a month or so.

 

Please work on this as soon as possible. If you smoke, stop. If you drink, drink only moderately and red wine is best. Good luck!

[TheLoneSock]

Alright! Well the good news is my cholesterol looks darn near perfect in every apsect except my HDL.. it's 29.:eek: It needs to be much higher than that to protect me from heart disease. Part of this is genetic for me.. and that I can't do anything about . So, I was told to take fish oil. My gosh.. that stuff is simply gross. I was burping fish today... Barf. I do excercise.. and I'm now drinking cranberry and that's suppose to help some. Anyone else have low HDL.. and if so tips on how to raise it would be helpful.

 

Mea:)

 

You need more Omegas in your diet. Fish oil supplements are amazing for this effect. Nearly any will do. If you can find some made from phytoplankton, that is the best kind to take. It is more expensive than other kinds, but it has a much higher concentration, and you therefore don't have to take it as often.

 

You take fish oil capsuls just like you do multi-vitamins. As for your fish breath, this can be alleviated by taking hard or powder capsules instead of gelatin capsules.

[Meaplus3]

The ONLY thing in the entire word that will raise your HDL is exercise. Diet, fish oil, voodoo, magic spells, etc. are all irrelevant. Your HDL is very low, which in itself is not really a problem. But you HDL level is an indicator of your overall state of health and your longevity. The higher your HDL, usually 50 or more, indicates a long, healthy life...all other things being equal.

 

 

Crestor has been shown effective as a drug in raising HDL levels by as much as 10. However, anything past that will have to be done by hard work. Start by walking briskly each day for a period of time and build it up until you are walking a half hour every day. You should see your HDL climb nicely after a month or so.

 

Please work on this as soon as possible. If you smoke, stop. If you drink, drink only moderately and red wine is best. Good luck!

 

Good lord! You have me scared Tony! Where are the facts that this is a picture of my overall health.. I'm curious? I walk 4 days per week for an hour. Guess I need more excercise then. I can't drink wine.. and I quit smoking years ago. I now feel doomed. It's been nice knowing ya.

 

 

You need more Omegas in your diet. Fish oil supplements are amazing for this effect. Nearly any will do. If you can find some made from phytoplankton, that is the best kind to take. It is more expensive than other kinds, but it has a much higher concentration, and you therefore don't have to take it as often.

 

You take fish oil capsuls just like you do multi-vitamins. As for your fish breath, this can be alleviated by taking hard or powder capsules instead of gelatin capsules.

 

Ok. Thanks. I'm foing back to the fish pills.. pronto. I eat salmon 3 times per week.. so I get a good dose of omega 3's.

 

Mea:)

[carhill]

Halibut and Herring approach salmon in the Omega 3 content and also generally have low levels of Mercury. Farmed salmon should be negligible in that regard.

 

Also, remember your cholesterol numbers can be crap and genetics could still give you a long life. Do your best to maintain overall health but avoid obsessing over it. Mental and emotional health is important too

 

Lastly, when you walk, how much of that hour is in your target HR zone? I used to wear a heart rate monitor when training so I didn't go anaerobic; IME, staying aerobic provided the best overall benefit. I also used a cholesterol tester to baseline; it's likely nowhere near as accurate as lab tests but consistent over time and can show trends.

 

I did a lot of this stuff with stbx when under stress caring for my mom and found that stress reduction played a large role in cholesterol, blood sugar, and vital (BP/HR) levels. Losing weight and reducing stress were the most positive noticeable factors for us. YMMV.

[Meaplus3]

Halibut and Herring approach salmon in the Omega 3 content and also generally have low levels of Mercury. Farmed salmon should be negligible in that regard.

 

Also, remember your cholesterol numbers can be crap and genetics could still give you a long life. Do your best to maintain overall health but avoid obsessing over it. Mental and emotional health is important too

 

Lastly, when you walk, how much of that hour is in your target HR zone? I used to wear a heart rate monitor when training so I didn't go anaerobic; IME, staying aerobic provided the best overall benefit. I also used a cholesterol tester to baseline; it's likely nowhere near as accurate as lab tests but consistent over time and can show trends.

 

I did a lot of this stuff with stbx when under stress caring for my mom and found that stress reduction played a large role in cholesterol, blood sugar, and vital (BP/HR) levels. Losing weight and reducing stress were the most positive noticeable factors for us. YMMV.

 

Well, I don't check my heart rate zone when I walk. I only check it if I have a panic attack and it's beating like crazy. I will do that from now on.

 

I will also look into the cholesterol test kit. It's odd because my younger bro who is very fit.. runs miles a day and has a resting HR of 55.. also has low HDL.. and so does my mom. I worry because mom had a mild MI at age 60. Her LDL was bad too.. mines not.. my LDL is 67. Mom also is over weight.. has hypertension.. and diabetes.. I have none of that. I do have some anxeity.. and I know that's not good. As for the fish.. thanks for the tips. I did take this test.. just now for kicks. Tony got me a bit anxious.:laugh: It said I will live to 88. I wonder how true it is?

 

http://calculator.livingto100.com/calculator

 

LOL. I need to add that I took another calc test and it said 91 years.

 

Mea:)

Edited January 3, 2010 by Meaplus3
add something.

[carhill]

Hey, my mom's 88 and in skilled nursing and it says she'll live to 95. I thought she was as healthy as a horse, if crazy as a loon.

 

Seriously, though, note what the test paid attention to. That's good information

 

Somehow I was hoping if one had more sex they'd live longer. My mom's been a celibate widow for 25 years. Go figure.

[Sweetcheripie]

You can put your fish oil pills in the freezer and take them frozen - that seems to help with the awful fishy aftertaste. And that awful burp seems to go away after you take the pills for about two weeks. I take the MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil and there is absolutely no aftertaste with that.

[Meaplus3]

Hey, my mom's 88 and in skilled nursing and it says she'll live to 95. I thought she was as healthy as a horse, if crazy as a loon.

 

Seriously, though, note what the test paid attention to. That's good information

 

 

 

Somehow I was hoping if one had more sex they'd live longer. My mom's been a celibate widow for 25 years. Go figure.

 

I thought it was a neat test... and Tony freaked me out so bad.. I took it.(kidding Tony.. love ya)

 

You can put your fish oil pills in the freezer and take them frozen - that seems to help with the awful fishy aftertaste. And that awful burp seems to go away after you take the pills for about two weeks. I take the MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil and there is absolutely no aftertaste with that.

 

Ok. I think I can handle frozen fish. As long as the burp goes away. Poor me!

 

Mea:)

[Tony T]

It seems you're doing everything you can. I would now feel that your HDL level is likely due to genetics. I do know there are many people with very high LDL levels who exercise, eat right, etc. and can't beat down the LDL even with statins. So my non professional, amateur diagnosis is now genetics. Just keep on doing what you're doing and hope for the best.

 

The information I gave you on HDL levels is stuff your doctor should have told you. There are many resources on the Internet you can read as well. Google is your friend!

[Meaplus3]

It seems you're doing everything you can. I would now feel that your HDL level is likely due to genetics. I do know there are many people with very high LDL levels who exercise, eat right, etc. and can't beat down the LDL even with statins. So my non professional, amateur diagnosis is now genetics. Just keep on doing what you're doing and hope for the best.

 

The information I gave you on HDL levels is stuff your doctor should have told you. There are many resources on the Internet you can read as well. Google is your friend!

 

Yes.. I agree that genetics are most likely the issue here. I mentioned the low level to my cardio doc.. and he wanted me to try the fish oil.. and more excercise. If that does not work.. then perhaps It's time for meds at some point. Lucky for me, I'm still young and don't have a ton of risk factors at this time. So, with any luck I can correct this.. and live to be a sweet little old lady rocking in a chair, taking her fish oil tablets with glass of olive oil. Many Thanks.

 

Mea:)

[RedDevil66]

If you improve digestion, you won't burp up the oils. Take the oil caps with an avocado or nuts. The natural oils in these will help.

If you're eating a lot of refined carbs, there is no way to stablized hdl/ldl. Diet is KEY even when caused by genetics.

 

Also, you can try taking niacin (Vit b 3) and you're better of with real cranberries than the juice.

 

I'm a natural health consultant working on my naturopathic degree so I have a lot of experience with this.

[Meaplus3]

If you improve digestion, you won't burp up the oils. Take the oil caps with an avocado or nuts. The natural oils in these will help.

If you're eating a lot of refined carbs, there is no way to stablized hdl/ldl. Diet is KEY even when caused by genetics.

 

Also, you can try taking niacin (Vit b 3) and you're better of with real cranberries than the juice.

 

I'm a natural health consultant working on my naturopathic degree so I have a lot of experience with this.

 

Hey.. Thanks so much! Is niacin in a multivitamin? Also, I don't eat that many carbs but I love nuts. I eat a ton of walnuts and almonds as of the late. Real cranberries? I'll have to try that.

 

Mea:)

[RedDevil66]

here you go. Best to get it from foods, but supplements are great when you can't get it all from foods.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin

[RedDevil66]

and walnuts are one of the best nuts for you. Eat them in the morning on an empty stomach with lemon water. It will help digestion and also take a good cold source (in the fridge sections of health food stores) probiotic. This is a digestion life saver.

Take the probiotics with food at supper for 2 weeks. Take 6 billion units.

[Meaplus3]

and walnuts are one of the best nuts for you. Eat them in the morning on an empty stomach with lemon water. It will help digestion and also take a good cold source (in the fridge sections of health food stores) probiotic. This is a digestion life saver.

Take the probiotics with food at supper for 2 weeks. Take 6 billion units.

 

Thank you for that link. Funny thing is I eat most of the foods on that list. As for the walnuts.. I don't really like them.. but I consume then by handlefuls each day becuase I've heard about the health benes. I also love almonds. I'll look into the probiotic too. I have made the choice to add a long brisk walk.. 7 days per week instead of 4. With any luck.. all of these factors together will help to get that number up... I'd be happy to see it climb to at least 45... that's my goal.

 

Mea:)