Anyone with high cholesterol?

[tulip]

I've been as high as 317 (when I was in my 20s) to the 190s. I got it down by eating right and exercising, which has enabled me to lose the amount of weight I needed to. I was perhaps 20lbs overweight at my heaviest. I eat alot of veggies and always an apple a day. I don't like oatmeal very much, but I do like cheerios.

I haven't tried the Metamucil, but perhaps I will. I go in for a checkup this summer.

My doc said that with my family history, the low 200s is fine, but I need to make sure it doesn't creep up.

[surgtech1956]

The doctor wants to give me 3 months to lower my cholesterol - without medication. I don't really eat beef and pork, but do eat margarine/butter, eggs and cheese. I use way too much butter, so I'm going to cut butter and cheese and keep the eggs. I'm going to try the oatmeal(long cooking) - I eat the quick oats - thought this was as good as the long cooking, but guess not. Almonds are good too? I also need to reduce my weight, with gas just going up to $3.79 a gallon, I'll be commuting as soon as it warms up a bit. She suggests I swim, I'm not a swimmer, I'll bike and walk.

[Pax]

The doctor wants to give me 3 months to lower my cholesterol - without medication. I don't really eat beef and pork, but do eat margarine/butter, eggs and cheese. I use way too much butter, so I'm going to cut butter and cheese and keep the eggs. I'm going to try the oatmeal(long cooking) - I eat the quick oats - thought this was as good as the long cooking, but guess not. Almonds are good too? I also need to reduce my weight, with gas just going up to $3.79 a gallon, I'll be commuting as soon as it warms up a bit. She suggests I swim, I'm not a swimmer, I'll bike and walk.

My doc told me she'd give me six months to let the veg diet and exercise do it's thing and then I'd have to go on Lipitor..I said "no". She seemed surprised by that.

[Chile Pepper]

I eat the quick oats - thought this was as good as the long cooking, but guess not. Almonds are good too?

Quick oats are fine--they contain the same fiber and nutrients that traditional oats contain. The problem is with the flavored packets of instant, which contain lots of sugar and not as many oats. I use plain instant, add nonfat powdered milk and a dash of brown sugar or syrup, maybe some raisins or other fruit.

Yes, almonds are also good, but watch the calories.

ETA: by plain instant, I mean the big box of plain oats, not the "regular" flavor packet that still contains added yucky stuff.

[surgtech1956]

I've always liked oatmeal - my favorite next to french toast. I quick eating the instant oatmeal a year ago. We buy the quick oats, but DGF bought the longer cooking oats.

[Brandi]

I still eat the oatmeal in the summer. Just put a bit of yogurt and fruit on it and let it cool it down a bit before eating. It also keeps me from getting hungry mid morning.

Stacy

I secound the oatmeal. Good way to help definatly. My dh eats it every single day! Maybe a piece of toast and and egg breakfast once a week if that. Tradre joe's has REALLY good instant oatmeal. not only organic but flax and blueberries and the sugar is next to nothing!

[Red Rock]

This is all good eating info. I have been a longtime supporter of the long cook/old fasioned oatmeal. I can't stand the quick or instant stuff, it just does not taste the same for me. I have come across in the grocery an oat bran hot cereal as well. It has been a good change of pace with the oatmeal. Not only that, but it seems to cook faster than the regular oatmeal.

Brandi-thanks for the Trader Joe's info. Whenever I go to Vegas, I will try to stop by there and check the place out. Are they online too? I will have to see.

I am currently looking into the museli idea from Knot. It sounds like a great way to have a cold breakfast that will stick to the ribs and not be hamful to everything else. I was on the food netwok to get some ratios of food items and other ideas and that helped at lot (for the museli).

Ellen

[sundial]

I've been as high as 317 (when I was in my 20s) to the 190s.

One time my then fiance (now hubby) and I stopped by a quickie cholesterol check at a health fair. Mine came back as 350. They re-ran the tests because they just knew they got the results mixed up with my hubby. Still the same results. At that time I was in my early 20's, did aerobics, running and weight lifting, had a low % body fat, and avoided fast food for the most part. I got so mad when they whipped out the diet sheet and told me to quit eating McDonald's hamburgers.

[surgtech1956]

Yes, I like Knot's idea too. Knot you use powdered milk or you mix it into the museli mix and then add milk?

Wish we had a Trader Joe's here.

[KnottedYet]

Yes, I like Knot's idea too. Knot you use powdered milk or you mix it into the museli mix and then add milk?

Wish we had a Trader Joe's here.

We always mixed the powdered milk into the muesli. Then when you add regular milk (when you eat it) you get more protein and a nice rich flavor.

I have no idea what the proportions were. We just mixed and added until it looked right...

[pll]

I was dealing with the high cholesterol issue last fall and managed to avoid medications so far... My favorite winter breakfast is oats: I boil a chopped and some raisins in water, then add the thick oats. I serve that with a tiny bit of honey and cinnamon.

In the fall, I started adding 2 tblsp of ground flaxseed. I also started to have a glass of red wine with dinner and tried some "Promise Activ supershots" I found in the supermarket -- has anyone else tried those? I don't know if they work, but I'm drinking them as dessert...

Once it gets warm, I'll switch to muesli with plain kefir (and a grated apple).

Now that you mention almonds, I will get some!

[mcoleman]

Another way to add oats, especially in warmer weather, is to put 1/4 cup of raw oats in a smoothie. I make mine with plain yogurt, strawberries, oats and a little milk.

[Crankin]

What's the daily dosage for Metamucil?

[divingbiker]

Here's a recipe for muesli a friend gave me a few years ago. (Don't know which cookbook it's from, so I can't credit it properly.)

Morning Muesli

4 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups whole bran cereal (like All-Bran or Bran Buds)
3/4 cup chopped almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans
1 cup dried apricots or dried pitted sweet cherries
1 cup dark golden raisins

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir to mix well. Transfer to an airtight container and store for up to one month.

To serve, place 1/2 cup of the muesli in an individual serving bowl. Add 3/4 cup skim or low-fat milk or plain or vanilla yogurt. Stir, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutritional info for 1/2 cup muesli only:
Calories: 168
Carbohydrate: 28g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Fat: 3.9g
Fiber: 5.9g
Protein: 5.6g
Sodium: 65mg
Calcium: 54mg

[KnottedYet]

What's the daily dosage for Metamucil?

What I got from the research papers and from the Metamucil jar is 7 grams of psyllium a day. (well, one paper I read used 7.25 grams a day, but that's close enough)

Pretty much one "dose" (which is about 2 1/2 g fiber) with each meal.

I buy the Metamucil with sugar and flavorings, so 1 tablespoon of that is one dose. Mixed in a big glass of water, tastes kinda like orange juice, drink it fast before it congeals.

3 doses a day caused me ummmm a little distress, so I just do two. Had my chol checked a couple days ago and we'll just have to see if 2 a day is enough.

Edit To Add: one cool side effect for me is that the Metamucil seems to really help stabilize the surge in my celiac disease which afflicts me every spring. Spiffy!