I think the Atkins diet made my cholesteral go too high

[kcwayne]

I just had a physical exam, and the doc tells me my cholesterol count is 220 when it should be 200 or below, and the LDL count was also high (but I forgot what numbers he gave me).

They suggested that I get off the Atkins diet and go to the South Beach diet, and exercise more to burn off fat. I am 5-11 and 182 lbs, so I am not overweight by more than 5 lbs if that.

I had been eating omelets and bacon every day for a couple of weeks before I had the blood work done, and I wonder if this was a large contributing factor. Some of the reading I have done suggests that dietary cholesterol is not that important, but then I am confused as to what processes would cause the counts to go high.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I would say..yes the breakfasts are a contributing factor...I'd back off

the high fat protein and see what happens. Good luck! :hi:

[KurtNYC]

2. Both Atkins and Zone are carb restricting diets

The types of fat you eat could influence the number. 220 is not super high but worth addressing.

Found this on a dietician site:
Some researchers have proven that blood cholesterol is fueled more by liver produced cholesterol than cholesterol from food.

If your LDL is high, then I would recommend that you exercise and substitute monounsaturated fats like olive oil and peanut oil for the fats you currently use. Your weight is appropriate for your height and you have a healthy BMI so you don't need to adjust your calorie intake, just the kind of fats you eat.


http://www.dietitian.com/choleste.html

[SarahB]

3. How much sugary stuff in addition to the omeletes?

I've been eating a low carbohydrate diet for 2 & 1/2 years and my cholesterol went from 289 to 185.

(Yes people, I do eat fruits and whole grains. Just plenty of veggies and protein as a base.)

[kcwayne]

7. Not very much

I average 2 scoops of ice cream a week, but other than that the only sugar I get is what is in the processed foods and condiments. My diet consists mainly of eggs, cheese, chicken, tuna, ham, salad, and green vegetables, low carb beer, and diet Coke. I have been eating low carb tortillas wrapped around tuna or ham for lunch.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. Atkins isn't for everyone. I love it (I'm a carb addict), but it's not for

everyone. Be sure to modify it a bit if need be, but maybe look into other "diets" and exercise programs as well!

Good luck. Although being the height and weight you described, you won't need too much! :)

[Joe Power]

5. Check out the ABS Diet

Lots of cholestral lowering items are required eating. Combined with exercise, you'll be losing weight, gaining muscle and dropping back down below 200.

[flvegan]

6. Cholesterol comes from animal products

Considering that the majority of your diet comes from animal protein, voila! High cholesterol.

Cholesterol, of course, clogs the ole arteries, leading to heart attacks, impotence, etc.