Blood Test Back....

[loco-ladi]

well, got the blood tests back from the dr office last week.......

dr says only my folic acid is low and wants me to "take a pill"

ok, so for those that dont know I hate freaking pills.......... so whats folic acid in?

also garlic is good for reducing bad levels of cholesterol if I recall right?

Dr dont know about that one yet cause it was done at a free clinic they had with works flu shot...... going to get it under control before I tell her

Cholesterol: 238

HDL: 27

BP: 84/50

obviously bad has to come down and the good needs to come up i think as well

[Ridgewalker]

Folate stuff-- It's found in dark green leafy veggies, like spinach, collard greens, romaine lettuce, and broccoli. Also found in beans and peanuts, avocado, strawberries, and oranges.

I hate cooked greens and spinach, but I like it raw in my salads.

[Ursa Major]

Actually, cholesterol below 200 is worse than it being over 300. Because your body NEEDS cholesterol to function! The reason that they have lowered the threshold now is, that they want to sell you cholesterol lowering drugs (which don't work and are dangerous).

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Butter will lower the 'bad' cholesterol and up the good. Omega 3 fatty acids are good, too. In fact, saturated fat is NOT the enemy at all. It has been proven that low fat diets cause heart attacks!

Studies have shown that older women with higher cholesterol levels live longer than the ones with so-called perfect cholesterol. They haven't figured out why yet, but it is a fact.

Your blood pressure is dangerously low! If your upper value is below 100, or your lower one is below 60 (and your's is both), that is too low and needs to be addressed.

You might want to be tested for adrenal problems. Especially low aldosterone will cause low blood pressure. I had that problem, and I am taking fludrocortisone because of it, it has brought my BP back to somewhat normal levels (usually around 110 over 65 or so, which is still low but acceptable).

Here is a list of foods rich in folic acid.

* Dark green, leafy vegetables

* Whole wheat bread

* Lightly cooked beans and peas

* Nuts and seeds

* Sprouts

* Oranges and grapefruits

* Liver and other organ meats

* Poultry

* Fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grain products

Other than the whole wheat bread, you can eat all those I guess (unless you don't like them).

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[neesee]

My dr. tells me a healthy cholesterol is over 120 and under 200. Mine is 151 after 20 yrs of being gluten-free. At diagnosis it was 96.

That said, I failed my stress test last summer. I have ischemia. My large arteries are clear, but my cardiologist feels I have small artery disease. He wanted to take me to the cath lab. I am scared to

death of that ,so I told him no. So I'll be having another stress test in six months.

Half the people who suffer heart attacks do have normal cholesterol.

neesee

[mamabear]

Many celiacs have lower than normal cholesterol when diagnosed with celiac disease, but the numbers may normalize or increase as foods are absorbed better after a gluten-free diet.

No matter how you slice it, an HDL("good kind") less than 40 is an independent cardiac risk factor ...period. Natural ways to increase it is to lose weight and exercise. Of course if you are a weight-challenged celiac, it makes it more difficult. One glass of wine has been recommended for years to increase HDL, but you can also have a glass of Concord grape juice instead.

[loco-ladi]

Your blood pressure is dangerously low! If your upper value is below 100, or your lower one is below 60 (and your's is both), that is too low and needs to be addressed.

Low blood pressure is a family thing, mine is actually higher than most others in my family, the dr's have never been to concerned due to the family history and I dont seem to have any ill side effects from it, no fainting when standing up quick etc..... but I do have fun when they want to take blood the low pressure combined with my fainting at the sight of blood and my tiny arteries and top that with a healthy dose of moving arteries as well and its a joy so I only do it when I need to.

Here is a list of foods rich in folic acid.

Well the bread is out for sure, and along with that goes the liver, spinich and broccoli so guess I will increase nuts and poultry and see what that does for me.

Natural ways to increase HDL is to lose weight and exercise.

Well, I just got my exercise room set up again from the move so I will be able to start using that again once the guests leave and my weight is pretty good... body fat hanging right now around 25% but is normally a bit lower when I exercise.

[cyberprof]

Low blood pressure is a family thing, mine is actually higher than most others in my family, the dr's have never been to concerned due to the family history and I dont seem to have any ill side effects from it, no fainting when standing up quick etc..... but I do have fun when they want to take blood the low pressure combined with my fainting at the sight of blood and my tiny arteries and top that with a healthy dose of moving arteries as well and its a joy so I only do it when I need to.

Well the bread is out for sure, and along with that goes the liver, spinich and broccoli so guess I will increase nuts and poultry and see what that does for me.

Well, I just got my exercise room set up again from the move so I will be able to start using that again once the guests leave and my weight is pretty good... body fat hanging right now around 25% but is normally a bit lower when I exercise.

Eating 15-20 almonds a day is said to lower cholesterol and should give some folate too.

Also, cinnamon has recently been found to help naturally lower cholesterol and helps stabilize blood sugar, so you could get some gluten-free cinnamon. Do a google search, but I think it's 1/2 teaspoon a day, which you could get by sprinkling it on pancakes, deserts, hot chocolate etc.

My cholesterol shot up in the last few years, just when I started to get sick with celiac. One thing I read said that celiac could interfere with cholesterol and increase the body's level. Mine has gone down 20 points in three months, hoping for more. My HDL is 57 and my total is 260, down from 280. I don't know how long you've been gluten-free or how your recovery is going, but maybe over time it will go down, if you eat right and exercise more.