LDL cholesterol high

Garrylocky68 · October 10

I’ve been keto almost full Carnivore for two years and my last bloods showed a 196 on LDL my doc is advising statins which I am really not keen on taking

clearly I am concerned as a 56 year old guy ! I am booking a calcium heart scan but no family history of heart issues

any input on this would be appreciated btw my HDL is 81

Bob · October 10

196 is not considered high LDL in the keto-carnivore community. It's also the general advice of keto-carnivore doctors to get your CAC score and if it's zero, then you shouldn't worry about a thing.

I have a meeting to attend but I will try to remember to come back and cite some references later.

Scott F. · October 10

What is the CAC?

I had the exact same conversation today with my primary doctor. Mine is 187.

He is thrilled with the results from the carnivore approach but gave me the 'fatty meats' spiel and encouraged me to go the same route nut lower the fats and make the proteins leaner like chicken and fish (ditching the skin on the chicken which sort of defeats the purpose of eating chicken in the first place)

Overall, he was supportive of the approach but suggested a mild shift.

I tried statins in 2018 and had a number of issues. I hit just about all the advertised side effects and when I came off after a week the issues remained and even worsened. I spiraled downward and after two to three months of testing I was diagnosed with NMO/SD.

The discussion then and now was whether the statins was the trigger for the underlying issue or the underlying (NMO/SD) manifested to all the outwardly symptoms at once. A few years later he recommended medicine for the cholesterol, but I could not gamble on it being a trigger.

Same boat today.

Reading all I can tonight. LOL

Scott

Meathead · October 10

I'm gonna say this....

F°•☆ statins and the Dr that PUSHES this crap if all your metabolic markers are good.

What's your triglyceride/hdl ratio?

High triglycerides and high hdl I have concerns but if your hdl/triglyceride ratio is 1.0> tell your doctor go ahead and prescribe, but just don't fill it after you leave.

Edited October 10 by Meathead

Meathead · October 11

Watch this video

Meathead · October 11

37 minutes ago, Scott F. said:

What is the CAC?

Basically a test that can tell you if there is any HARD plaque in your carotid BUT cannot tell you if there is soft plaque (the stuff you need to worry about).

Geezy · October 11

On my last blood test my total cholesterol count was 269.
LDL (which is technically not a cholesterol) was 190.
Triglycerides were 66.
HDL was 66.
Like Scott, my doctor is thrilled with my progress but also preaches low fat. He just doesn’t understand the significance of eating a high fat diet when you don’t eat carbohydrates.
He also wants me on a statin but here’s why I will not go on a statin. They don’t do anything for your health. Absolutely nothing.
If you have had a heart attack they may provide some benefit according to a carnivore cardiologist I listened to but they can only extend your life by 3-5 days. Sorry but that’s just not worth the side affects of that drug.
Now let’s look at LDL. High LDL does not cause or contribute to cardiovascular disease. There has never been any evidence to prove otherwise.
Now you didn’t post up your HDL and triglycerides. Those are the real indicators of cardiovascular risk. Ideally we want our Triglycerides to be less than 100 our HDL greater than 50. We then divide the triglycerides by the HDL to get our relative risk. We are looking for a number less than 2 and preferably less than 1.5.
When you do the math on my ratio it comes out to a 1. I’ll take that all day long.

I’m not the least bit concerned about my cholesterol because it’s normal on a carnivore diet because as we are using fat for fuel there is naturally going to be more cholesterol running around in the blood stream and that’s a good thing.

I have a heart condition that appears to have been reversed by eating carnivore and my cardiologist whole heartedly supports my diet. He has taken me off of all my medications and says I’ve done more to heal myself than anything he could have done for me. He has also put me on a once a year visit just to see how I’m doing.
You can do what you want Gary it’s totally up to you but I would like to encourage you to not fear the the fat. It’s what our lifestyle is all about.
I will also add, do not let your doctor pressure you into doing something that you don’t want to do. This is your life and your health and you are in charge.
Make informed decisions.
Good luck Gary and welcome to Carnivore Talk.

Meathead · October 11

Another thing to note is our bodies produce (self made not outside influence) 80% of our LDL, the brain is made of/uses 10% of our LDL.

This explains as to why vegans/vegetarians act the way they do.

Geezy · October 11

Another thing to note is our bodies produce (self made not outside influence) 80% of our LDL, the brain is made of/uses 10% of our LDL.
This explains as to why vegans/vegetarians act the way they do.

Spot on!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Scott F. · October 11

My triglycerides are 75, my LDL is 187 and my HDL is 37. My total cholesterol is 219.

@Geezy. Understanding everyone is different and results are individualistic. If I can ask, how long did it take you to from "needing medicine" til your numbers (you) felt like you no longer needed the medicine? If that is none of my business, hit me with a NUNYA.

My doctor recommended a non-statin type medicine. I won't risk the statin again as I have been basically healthy since 2019 and I still feel like the statin was the trigger for the onset of the auto-immune issues. I may be medically wrong, but it is just the way I see it (felt it, lived it).

I feel like I am on good path and I sort of hate to rock the boat.

Scott

Garrylocky68 · October 11

Wow am relieved to hear from many in the same boat and in just 24 hours of reviewing so many keto and carnivore Doctors vlogs who have really dug down on the subject I am left feeling angry at my providers pressing the statins etc

my total is 305

HDL 96 Triglycerides 81 LDL 196

Meathead · October 11

1 hour ago, Scott F. said:

I feel like I am on good path and I sort of hate to rock the boat.

Let me rock the boat, capsize, mutiny .

I'm not as tactful when pushed but results are quick.

Meathead · October 11

51 minutes ago, Garrylocky68 said:

HDL 96 Triglycerides 81 LDL 196

Dr Chaffee, Dr Barry, Dr Cywes have extensive information about lipids, statins. You must do the research and only you can make the decision after your conclusion on pro/con use of statins.

My profile pic expresses my feelings on Healthcare, government etc.

Welcome aboard @Garrylocky68.

Enjoy the ride.

Edited October 11 by Meathead

Geezy · October 12

12 hours ago, Scott F. said:

If I can ask, how long did it take you to from "needing medicine" til your numbers (you) felt like you no longer needed the medicine?

Not a problem Scott. This is an open forum and we can only help each other when we are open and honest.
Anyways, I never had a moment when I “felt” like I didn’t need my medicine although I did wonder if I didn’t need it anymore. It was actually my cardiologist that made the decisions based solely on my what my body was doing. In the first three or four months he took me off of the Metropol because it was taking my blood pressure too low. When it hit 75/54 he said get off of that NOW. My diet had brought my BP down to normal levels and the medication was bringing it down too low artificially.
After that my cardiologist made the decision to cut my second medication (Flecinide) in half at about the 6th or 8th month because I was doing so well with losing weight and getting healthy. My EEG’s were coming out perfect. My heart palpitations and PVC’s were down from 8-12 a day to maybe once a day.
After another six months he took me off of the medication completely because after a year I was still improving and it looked like I could maintain my eating lifestyle. My palpitations are reduced to maybe one or two a week and they are so mild I barely notice them.
My cardiologist said that I have done more to heal myself than anything he could have done for me. He has also put me on a once a year schedule now.
He also knows that I’m carnivore and is just thrilled with my progress and results.
None of this was my decision but his because of the results he was seeing.

Your cholesterol numbers are just fine, in fact your HDL to Triglycerides ratio is good at a 2 and shows no indication of cardiovascular risk. It would be better if it were less than 1.5 but 2 is still good.
Give your diet more time and it souls get there.
I can’t tell you what to do as it’s all your decision but your numbers are similar to mine and there is no way that I would be willing to take any kind of medication for my cholesterol when it’s just fine the way it is. Every study I’ve seen on the subject showed that those with low cholesterol were at a greater risk for all cause mortality and those with higher cholesterol, especially in my age range tend to live longer. I’m not a gambler but I’ll take those odds.

Edited October 12 by Geezy

Geezy · October 12

11 hours ago, Garrylocky68 said:

HDL 96 Triglycerides 81 LDL 196

That’s fantastic! You’ve got nothing to worry about. You are at less than 1.
Keep rockin on man.

Geezy · October 12

For more information on what causes cardiovascular diseases and what doesn’t.

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Orweller · October 12

Avoid the doctor that only talks about LDL, he is trying to sell you something. LDL is a poor marker for heart disease, let's let the myth die right here.