★★★★★
Oatmeal, Carrot Juice
★★★★★
★★★☆☆
So three months ago, I found out I have a high total cholesterol of 229. My LDL was 165. I am 51 and I am active only as a mom and one who does pilates four days a week. I call myself a vegan slash pescatarian slash vegetarian low on the dairy though slash turkey or chicken maybe once every two week. Put it like this people were shocked when i told them i had high cholesterol. Anywho my nurse practitioner decided to have me tested for this genetic disorder. My brother actually has the genetic disorder that makes his cholesterol high so he's on statins. Well i refuse to get on that medication because i understand the side effects are not good but to each his own and no judgment here. Not at all. My nurse practitioner put me on fish oil and red rice yeast to treat my high cholesterol but check this out before being put on red rice yeast my a1c was good. It was 5.4, but after three months on red rice yeast my a1c which has never been high shot up three points 5.7. I am wondering if this red rice yeast caused my a1c to rise. I heard prescription statins do the same thing. I meet with my practitioner this week and will ask her if this is a side effect of red rice yeast. If it is i want to get off. I have already started adding more carido to my exercise routine and cut those carbs out i know are not good for me but they taste so good even if theyre organic and used with good ingredients. Okay so what are your thoughts on red rice yeast and the possibility they elevate your a1c? I have a gut feeling it has increased my a1c. Also, my three month check up my total cholesterol went down from 229 to 209. My LDL went down from 165 to 140. So it appears it is working but I also believe changing my diet and doing intermittent fasting 16:8 has helped too. I appreciate any comments and i look forward to reading them. Bye
Although studies do show that berberine has cholesterol lowering effects and as being good for diabetics to help maintain healthier glucose levels among many other benefits, I do not consider it to be a potent anti cholesterol supplement based on my experience. If you cholesterol is significantly high, berberine may not be potent enough to get it low enough, but it wouldn't hurt to try it and it will help with lowering glucose levels.
For the purpose of lowering cholesterol, I have had good results using two level full tablespoons of soy lecithin granules each day. I use a 4 ounce glass of water and dump the granules in it and drink it down right away in one go with no mixing. Others put it into their smoothies, or yogurt.
I have no recommendation for a brand of berberine as I have used several and they were all effective. I think the divided dose would be important for optimal effect.
Art
Lecithin
★★★★★
Note: Hypercholesterolemia; is a condition characterized by high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that plays an essential role in cell membranes, but excessive amounts can accumulate in the arteries and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3065734/
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that lecithin-rich diet can modify cholesterol homeostasis and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. Considering the phytotherapeutic impact of lecithin, this work hypothesizes that lecithin administration in hypercholesterolemic patients may reduce cholesterol concentrations by increasing biliary secretion. Total cholesterol and LDL were evaluated after soy lecithin administration in hypercholesterolemic patients. One soy lecithin capsule (500 mg/RP-Sherer) was administrated daily. One-two months before the treatment beginning, blood samples were collected for total lipids and cholesterol fractions analysis. The results showed a reduction of 40.66% and 42.00% in total cholesterol and of 42.05% and 56.15% in LDL cholesterol after treatment for one and two months, respectively. A significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations was observed during the first month of treatment, suggesting that the administration of soy lecithin daily may be used as a supplemental treatment in hypercholesterolemia.
IMPRESSIVE!
Celery Juice
★★★★★
One bunch a day for a few weeks then see what your levels are.
I never got the Lecithin, no good reason, and Jan 20,2021 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Now I've had to quit some things, and have gone lower than low carbs, almost zero. My blood sugar is dropping a little after a month, no Meformin for me, but my cholesterol and Trygliserides are high. Cholestrol has stayed at the 300,330(last lab). Of course they wanted me to take a Lepitor, did that last night for the first and last time. My ears (Tinnitus) are insanely spiked to where I just can't take another of those pills. I'm getting on the Lecithin as soon as Amazon can get it sent to me. I don't know what brand to look for but I do take some good supplements from LIfe Extension, like my B Complex. I also am to take D3 and that has no side effects on me I know of.
Thanks to everyone that's posting on this. My doctor is a precious man, very young, and really seems to care about folks but I can't trust the drugs ;(
Apple Cider Vinegar
You've got a few health issues going on at the same time.
The lecithin you started today should help reduce your LDL and VLDL cholesterol very significantly as well as triglycerides. My friends who have used it took 2 tablespoons per day initially as a loading dose and then switched down to 1 tablespoon per day as a maintenance dose. Nine tablespoons a day is a lot by any standard and I would say way too much. You are a fairly small person so you may find that a tablespoon is more than adequate for you and in time and with testing, you may find you can go with a slightly lower dose to maintain benefit, but that will be trial and error on your part. Lecithin can be helpful with fatty liver disease if that happens to be a health issue you are having. One small study suggested that a component of lecithin can possibly improve insulin sensitivity making it useful in diabetes. Lecithin is an emulsifier so it can help breakdown fats which may also be useful in diabetes, but the studies are lacking to discuss this benefit in diabetes.
One friend who is using lecithin successfully adds it to her morning smoothie and said she feels it improves the flavor of her smoothie.
On a somewhat related note, Zinc and Selenium are usually helpful if hypothyroidism is an issue, especially zinc. What condition is your hair in?
Art
Apple Cider Vinegar
Niacinamide
★★★★★
Carrot Juice
★★★★★
★★★★★
By Alfredo Flores September 7,2005 source: https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2005/cholesterol-reducing-compounds-found-in-citrus/
An ongoing search for profitable new uses for food-processing byproducts has led Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to focus on citrus waste. They've recently learned that a compound found in orange oil decreases blood serum levels of the protein responsible for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that's a major cholesterol carrier.
Chemist John A. Manthey, at the ARS Citrus and Subtropical Products Research Laboratory in Winter Haven, Fla., has done extensive research on flavonoids in citrus peel byproducts. He has focused on the polymethoxylated flavones, or PMFs, which typically occur at very high concentrations in the oil that's in orange peel residue.
Manthey's research has shown that the PMFs decrease blood serum levels of apoprotein B, the structural protein of LDL cholesterol. Too much circulating LDL cholesterol can slowly lead to atherosclerosis, clogged arteries and eventual heart attacks and strokes. These problems are accelerated by chronic, low-grade inflammation in the blood vessels.
The original collaboration between ARS and KGK Synergize involved studies of the anticancer properties of citrus PMFs, but it subsequently expanded into in vitro investigations of the abilities of PMFs to lower LDL-cholesterol in animals.
Read more about the research in the September issue of Agricultural Research magazine 2005.
Red Yeast Rice
Trillions of dollars are spent on cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) and heart disease is still the leading cause of death. What is wrong with this picture?
Oatmeal
★★★★★
High Cholesterol Readings
★★★★★
★★★★★
My results are as follows: I went from 224 down to 204 down to 136. I get mine already shelled at Trader Joes. They will always be a daily staple of mine. Brazil nuts are high in selenium.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Good on you for reconsidering about statins.
Here are a few reasons why statins may not be the best choice.
1. Statins are known to cause muscle pain, liver damage, increased blood sugar and neurological side effects as discussed here:
2. Statins have caused memory loss in some people as discussed here:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/cholesterol/new-findings-on-statin-memory-loss-link
3. Statins can cause tendon damage or rupture as reported in the following study link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666488/#
On the other hand, "Soy Lecithin" lowers cholesterol and triglycerides as shown in the following study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065734/
It is worth noting that I have not as yet been able to find other cholesterol studies for other forms of lecithin such as sunflower lecithin and my experience is that "granular soy lecithin" has been effective for several friends who have used it.
Art
Apple Cider Vinegar
Note: I walk around all the time in the hot sun in prime time, and NEVER get a sunburn. For awhile I thought "is the sun getting weaker?", but NO, the answer is because I never use veggie oil!! Interesting, huh!?! Watch a video on yt of how that oil is made and prepare to be amazed; they should call that crap "Franken-oil".
Apple Cider Vinegar
Niacin
★★★★★
★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
★★★★★
Niacin
Gene DeCode has a detox for the jab that will soon be on his new site..... blessed for service.org. One brilliant man. ====ORH====
Cholesterol Testing
Re: your concern about cholesterol
Good News! The "medical/drug industry" has propogated a myth about cholesterol. The FACT is that cholesterol is absolutely necessary for health in the human body. The Good News is that you do not have to be concerned about cholesterol levels. In fact, if you want to think of it this way, if the Doc tells you that you have "hight cholesterol" just respond..."That's GOOD. Got to have that cholesterol. Both HDL and LDL. High cholesterol is good for me."
The truth is:
Cholesterol is made by the liver and transported in "shuttles" out of the liver (protein suttles) called LDL and after the body uses the cholesterol which was carried by the LDL protein box cars for proper body functioning (especially the brain needs cholesterol) then HDL shuttles carry the used cholesterol back to the liver for reprocessing.
The test that is performed on us by the industry ... the test that gives us cholesterol levels is a measurement not of the cholesterol level in our body but of the "shuttles"....and 95 percent of the folks who just read that think I must be mistaken:
So here is the youtube to read the MOST informative 9 minute analysis of the truth I've come across. Google: "Dr. Rosedale cholesterol youtube" and you'll find his 9 minute video.
Here is one of the points in this amazing video: The tests for cholesterol given to us is not measuring cholesterol but rather the "shuttles" which are not the cholesterol itself. The cholesterol tests are giving you "shuttle" reading, not the cholesterol/fat reading. Really....look at the Rosedale video.
There is some argument that very small cholesterol (which is not measured by 99 percent of all cholesterol tests) could be a source in "sticking" to the "gap junction" in the lining of the arteries thereby oxydizing and inflaming to produce ultimately blockage/plaque. But the real culprit is not the small ldl, says Dr. Rosedale, (overcome by proper diet of good raw foods) ... the real culprit is SUGAR ... good old deadly white sugar.
The effort, therefore, to make people afraid of LDL levels is totally misplaced...we MUST have LDL suttles to carry cholesterol throughout our bodies...I say MUST have it...or we will see a collapse of the body system. The rise in dementia in the last twenty years is likely due to a rise in the use of statin drugs.
Statin drugs keep the liver from producting cholesterol; and remember cholesterol is good for us. The whole effort to 1. Measure cholesterol is at best a misunderstanding of what is actually being measured (remember the cholesterol reading is NOT a cholesterol reading...it is a "shuttle" reading...LDL and HDL are NOT cholesterols) and 2. the body must have cholesterol to function. We will die without cholesterol.
So how do we keep the blockages from taking place? Isn't the probem fats? No...
Well, remember, the biggest culprit is ...again-sugar. So break the sugar habit and the sugar related cravings.
I thought I'd never get rid of the sugar cravings until I understood that the hypothalymus is the key to telling the body what to do relative to metabolism; In one day I ended my cravings. I used in the morning on an egg, olive oil and no sugar at all in the morning. For lunch I eat anything but with a teaspoon of olive oil somewhere in the mix and again at night a good oil, such as grape seed oil. No sugar at night. The next day you'll find your cravings are gone. Repeat the "good oil" use every day. The good oil can be used on anything of course; not just on an egg. I usually drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil on a third piece of whole wheat bread and I've found I'm not hungry until lunch...no cravings. The hypothalymus will respond by not using the easy to metabolize sugar and instead will be told to use oils (like my body fat) instead. Cravings end.
So please look at the "Dr. Rosedale youtube" video. Only nine minutes and you will go away wondering how so many "smart" folks in the medical industry could be so incorrect about such a fundamental issue.
Now next in the "how to keep plaque from forming" analysis: God designed us to consume foods that give us natural Vitamin E...not synthetic E...and the E has the effect of making sure the lining of arteries and veins are not tacky, which allows plaque formation if they are sticky. Even our blood can get think and sticky and E keeps that from happening. So if I get enough E, then the blood is thinned and not thick. Thus I do not need asprin. God made E to do that for us. And even if we get plaque formation, the E keeps inflamation at a minimum because E is an anti oxident. E also assists in oxygen carrying and thus helps all muscles (heart) to stay healthy. (Two big issues in cardio health: Plaque formation and oxygen delivery. A problem with either two can kill you.) I take 800 IUs daily of natural E. E has been milled out of most foods and soil depletion has taken it out of other sources; at least in the quantities we need. But at 800 IUs E is serving a theraputic function. That is, there is a longevity issue at high levels of E usage. So if you are not attempting such theraputic levels, a person should at least get 200 IUs daily. The natural E...NOT synthetic like you get at a drug store.
dave
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
It's so easy, and it gives the water a flavor that once you become accustomed to it, you will look forward to drinking your water often throughout the day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
At end of May 2013, my cholesterol had reduced to 4.1! I was amazed by this. There were no other changes to my lifestyle except sticking to only having any refined sugar (chocolate, sweets, cakes etc) every other day, rather than almost every day. Sometimes in the last year I would go 3/4 days with no refined sugar, but would have natural sugar via fruit. This is also quite a big change, but I am sure it's the vinegar that's the main cause of the massive reduction as I have always had some refined sugar in my diet.
Migs
★★★★★
Coconut Oil
★★★★★
Red Yeast Rice
You are correct in thinking that red yeast rice may be raising your HbA1c. Red yeast rise is essentially similar to the statin drug Lovastatin/Mevacor as discussed here :
Here is a relevant quote from the article :
Red yeast rice contains chemicals that are similar to prescription statin medications. One of these, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin (Mevacor). Doctors prescribe statins to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Statins are noted for increasing HbA1c as discussed here in this Cleveland Clinic article :
https://www.ccjm.org/content/90/1/53
Here are some very relevant article quotes :
- The weight of the evidence suggests that statin use is associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus, but the magnitude of the effect has varied across studies, including differences between randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
- The risk is generally greater with high-intensity statin therapy and higher statin doses. However, many other variables are also involved, including prediabetes, genetics, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, lifestyle, and other medications, most notably glucocorticoids.
- In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, statin use is associated with a small increase in hemoglobin A1c, and this effect may be greater with atorvastatin than with other statins. However, the benefits of statins in preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outweigh their adverse effects on glycemic control.
It is hard for me to understand how the potential risk to start diabetes is an acceptable side effect of statins given the many health dangers associated with diabetes.
You might be interested in reading my article regarding Nattokinase, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis here as a potential alternative to red yeast rice :
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/high-dose-nattokinase-for-atherosclerosis.html
In my opinion, cholesterol is a poor marker for atherosclerosis, which statins are supposed to help prevent.
To make matters worse, this 2020 article suggests that statins can potentially contribute to atherosclerosis :
Here are some relevant quotes from the article :
- Statin therapy is associated with higher coronary artery calcium scores and increased macrophage Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) activity in patients.
- Statins disrupt the complex between Rac1 and its primary inhibitor RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor), in macrophages, leading to Rac1 activation and Rac1-dependent IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta) expression.
- During experimental atherosclerosis, statin therapy leads to macrophage Rac1-dependent increases in IL-1β and atherosclerotic plaque calcification.
Art
