Low Vitamin D & High Cholesterol...advice?

[wystearya]

I don't yet have all my test results back, but I do have some.

 

I was "negative" on the celiac panel (I plan to ask for copies of my actual numbers.)

 

"Low" on Vitamin D - Apparently the doctor wants to put me on 50,000 'unit' Vitamin D pills.  To be taken once per week.

 

The thing that really bothers me is my cholesterol results.   I had slightly high before and was able to lower it with cutting back on carbs.  But this time it is worse than ever.  :/

 

LDL = 150   HDL = 52  Cholesterol = 235

 

This is very upsetting.   I know I haven't been watching my carbs as closely, but still, this is very bad.  I need to be at a total of less than 200.  All the sheet says is to "decrease fat, increase fiber."  Not helpful at all...

 

Anyone else have high cholesterol issues?  It runs in my family, my father had to have triple bypass some years back and is still on statins for cholesterol.  Statins are awful!  I do NOT want to end up on them!

 

I'm going to get back into really watching my carbs.  That did help me once before with my cholesterol levels.  I have read that LDL can be released if there is damage in the body.  Is this true?  Maybe I need to heal my intestines?    I'm just worried and feel a little lost.  :/

 

Thanks for reading.

 

----------------

 

PS - My Thyroid is apparently 'normal'.  TSH = 2.418

[nutritionguy]

Perhaps one of the most common causes of elevated cholesterol is glucose intolerance.  Have you ever been diagnosed with diabetes?  Even an elevated fasting blood sugar without overt diabetes can be associated with increased cholesterol--so have you had a recent fasting blood sugar done.  If you do have glucose intolerance, this is most easily approached by daily exercise (minimum 30 minutes of continuous walking daily) and eliminating foods containing added sugar or sugar alcohols.  Also, diets excessively rich in fruits can worsen glucose tolerance.  A diet in which carbohydrates are carbohydrates from whole foods (gluten free grains and other foods rich in complex carbohydrates) and vegetables is best.  As for fruit, berries in moderation are an excellent as they contain a number vitamins and other substances that promote health and have anti-cancer activity.  The reason that watching your carbs helps you is that most of your elevated cholesterol is due to excess cholesterol that your body synthesizes, not too much cholesterol in your foods.  Improve your glucose tolerance and you have a good chance of lowering your cholesterol.  If you want to read about someone with elevated cholesterol and a history of familial heart disease who improved his health through diet and exercise, look up Nathan Pritikin.  If you want to read about a well known person who strongly advocated exercise and avoidance of sweets and added sugars, look up Jack Lalanne.

 

As 

[wystearya]

My diabetic study is always marked "excellent" so no issues there.  This last blood work was with fasting.

 

Thank you so much for the information.  I do eat an apple nearly every day, but other than that I don't eat a lot of fruits.  But I do believe I need to cut out most (if not all) prepackaged foods.  I have been taking frozen (gluten-free) meals to work for my lunch nearly every day.  They are fairly high in carbs and have a lot of corn.  I suppose I need to start cooking and taking leftovers for lunches. 

 

I also eat a lot of Greek yogurt.  It's probably not really that great for me either.  Added sugars.

[frieze]

!My diabetic study is always marked "excellent" so no issues there.  This last blood work was with fasting.

 

Thank you so much for the information.  I do eat an apple nearly every day, but other than that I don't eat a lot of fruits.  But I do believe I need to cut out most (if not all) prepackaged foods.  I have been taking frozen (gluten-free) meals to work for my lunch nearly every day.  They are fairly high in carbs and have a lot of corn.  I suppose I need to start cooking and taking leftovers for lunches. 

 

I also eat a lot of Greek yogurt.  It's probably not really that great for me either.  Added sugars.

please get copies of all blood work.  if your fastings are creeping up, you are the sort of person that nutritionguy is taking about.  they may look excellent, but if they are creeping up, potential fixable issue here.

forgot, please take D3 not the D2 that your doc scripted for!

[wystearya]

Thank you!   I will make sure to get D3, a friend of mine also suggested this!