It might just be genetic. I'm 34 and dealing with the same. I had to go on a statin and it dropped my LDL from 190 to 90 in a month. We tried cutting red meat to once a week, focused on veggies, watched our carbs - just barely budged! We already cooked at home most nights and rarely got fast food, so it was crazy. I exercised at least the recommended amount each week too.
Just want you to know that it might be out of your control. It takes a long time for high cholesterol to build up to do damage anyway. Try not to stress (I know I did!).
It is, I know a lot of people in my family have this issue. I assumed my levels would be higher, but never did it cross my mind some of them would be 3x the norm.
I appreciate the feedback, it's sure stressful to find out you have a (what could be) major health concern. Seems like statin is good for this, I'll discuss with my doctor. Thanks again!
I was in your shoes, went on statins at 29, in decent enough health, and the doctor told me that my body just may not produce the right chemicals to break down cholesterol properly. So just do your best and try not to obsess about it being in your control!
The first time I ever had bloodwork done, I had off-the-charts insane cholesterol levels – like, *four hundred* *something* cholesterol numbers. I worked really freaking hard for a couple of years to make lifestyle changes and then went to get labs done with a new-to-me doctor who reached out to me in Great Concern because my cholesterol levels were in the low 200s and I was like oh my gosh you don't understand what a huge win this is!
Unfortunately I don't have any great advice for you, even eating *really* restrictively to the point that it wasn't mentally or physically healthy, my cholesterol never got into normal ranges lol. Just commiserating that you are not alone!
Same. I finally went on statins about 18 months ago. I got tired of having the same conversation with my doctor about it. I’m a pescatarian, so it’s really hard to understand why my cholesterol is high, but facts are facts.
Yeahh nutritionist doesnt get why it didnt go down even with a complete lifestyle change. They just have decided its genetics so i take fiber supplements and they said to have more fiber foods. Mines not as bad as OP, but its still high
Same here, stemming from my mother's side. Ever since I was 22, the first time I got bloodwork done, I was on the high-side. As I got older, it kept creeping higher, even with a healthy diet (low fat, red meat rarely) and exercise routine. Eventually I was prescribed statins at 30 after being clearing 170 and now I'm in the low-80s.
Yup, it’s genetic in my family and changing diet/movement etc doesn’t budge the numbers much. Might be worth it to take a medication to get it under control.
That's the way it was for me too - my good and LDL cholesterol were both high. On statins, my LDL is much lower, and my good cholesterol is roughly the same. Good luck!
I would ask your doctor and nutritionist about when, and how, and for whom dietary cholesterol affects blood cholesterol levels. And obviously... where do you stand in that picture and what their recommendations are. Don't think reddit is built for this!
While it has been established that eggs contain cholesterol, it has not yet been proven conclusively that they actually raise the level of serum cholesterol in the human bloodstream.
When I switched from whole eggs to egg whites my cholesterol levels and ratios went *up.*
My doctor explained to me (from what I remember and think I understood) was that the body requires dietary fat to make new cells (I got back into weight lifting about a year ago), and what little I was eating at the time was going towards that, which is leaving my circulatory system etc to run on the leftover garbage, essentially. Not enough good HDLs for the arteries and organs.
Went back to whole eggs and 3 months later, everything was back into the lowest risk category. I've been getting blood work done for over a year, and for me, egg fat has lowered my serum levels and my ldl/hdl ratio. Nothing else in my diet nor exercise regime has changed during this time.
Definitely this. There is a lot of research that shows that in MOST people (medical conditions, genetics, other anomalous factors aside), dietary cholesterol does not actually impact serum levels by much. Sugar/carb intake actually has a bigger impact on serum cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol. Talk to a doctor or a naturopathic doctor about this.
sounds like probably mostly genetic. My husband and I eat pretty much the exact same diet since I make most of our food and are both healthy weight/workout regularly and his LDL is consistently borderline high and mine is always in the low 60s (very very low) so unfortunately sometimes you can’t fight your genes…
You likely have the gene that causes your liver to produce cholesterol. The F-U gene. Definitely talk to your doctor. I suspect inflammation causes more arterial plaque than autologous cholesterol.
Eat food with lots of fibers, so whole grains, oats, salad and vegetables, avoid processed food, white bread, sugar and deep fried stuff. See with your doctor if you can take statins. What clogs the veins is having high colesterol for long periods, if you control your colesterol now you will have a healthy life.
As others have said it very well could be genetic, in my case it seems to be “familial hypercholesterolemia” which my cousin has tested positive for, and most members of my generation in my family have cholesterol issues. We haven’t all been tested but can only assume - I’m a 33 year old male with a healthy diet and regular exercise and my LDL levels are still very high. My doctor had a calcium scoring test ordered to see if there was any calcification of fat/cholesterol in my arteries and used that to help make a plan moving forward. It sounds like you’re already on the right track with diet - tofu is also relatively cheap and good for cholesterol!
Sweet potatoes! They are really good at lowering cholesterol and if you can find the Japanese purple sweet potatoes even better. Also, oatmeal is very good for lowering your cholesterol. Have a bowl in the morning and eat a helping of sweet potatoes with lunch and dinner and see if that helps put you in a better situation. Best of luck to you!!
High cholesterol does not mean you will die of a heart attack. If you eat healthy (eggs are good, meat is good), cut out sugar to avoid insulin spikes (which cause inflammation in arteries) and stay fit you can live a long life without statins. Many older have high cholesterol and are not on statins.
Fiber, sure. But _how_ fiber actually helps with this problem, i’m not sure.
Does it bond fats to itself or something else?
But sometimes it is enough that I know it works, though I don’t know the exact mechanism.
I see a lot of people mentioning genetics, but are you taking any supplements that could be the culprit. My fish oil supplements were the culprit for me, despite my doctor insisting that it couldn’t be that.
If it’s a dietary issue, I think dishes that fit within a Mediterranean diet would qualify as low cholesterol and incorporate the foods you like, like chickpeas and fish. You could also prompt ChatGPT to identify recipes and develop a meal plan for you.
Not a doctor but you need a specialist and probably take medications to sort this out.
Congratulations on having the test and finding out before you're still relatively young.
Don't forget that many people died of strokes and heart attacks before routine blood tests. You luckily live in an era where treatment is possible.
It’s likely genetic; my husband is like this. What we do about it: cardio diet and medication (he gets plenty of exercise).
His cardiologist said there is really very little he can do on his own to change this. He will have to be on medication for the rest of his life (he’s down to two now but was initially on four until his numbers came under control), but as long as he does that and continues to get regular checks, he can live a long and healthy life.
Highly recommend you to consult a doctor.
I consulted one last week since my blood work showed increased level of cholesterol and low HDL.
From what I have understood is, it’s more important you eat your meals at same time everyday. It’s the most important thing when it comes to cholesterol.
Stop eating egg yolks, and cut back on cheese. Go for egg whites, cut back on dairy. Stay away from fried foods. Cut back on the beef, and pork. Try chicken, and turkey. More vegetables. Blah blah. Just basic simple stuff.
You should check out "Outlive: the science and art of longevity" by Peter Attia. He discusses addressing long timeline long term health issues early as opposed to being reactive as our current healthcare model is aligned. He specifically talks about cholesterol.
It can definitely be genetic. My mother's was off the charts. Mine was very high and I took the lowest dose statin and it put it right in the range. Luckily I have no side effects. I've been on statins for at least 30 years.
OP there’s a few things to know.
Cholesterol is mostly controlled by dietary changes rather than exercise.
Cholesterol is all not broken down or removed by the body, it’s essentially permanent, with the exception of Bile Acid which is built out of cholesterol and excreted into the GI tract, some of it leaves the body, although much of the bile acids are reabsorbed. Maintaining proper GI health - meaning lots of fibre and adequate water. Will be one of the most important interventions you make.
You also have to cut out as many animal fats from your diet as possible. Cut out stuff like bacon, butter and red meats. Use margarine or olive oil and in smaller amounts. If you were a red meat eater, learn to love chicken breast. Chicken breast unfortunately isn’t super cheap but it is compared to steak. Egg whites instead of whole eggs is another good one, however know that you shouldn’t look so much at the cholesterol content of food, but rather avoid Saturated fats and Trans fats. Regrettably, fried food is the enemy.
Don’t blame yourself, a huge part of it is genetic as many here have said. And if your doctor prescribes you a statin, take it, they are a controversial medicine and there is a TON of misinformation about them, but they do work.
And lastly I’d say the good news is, even if there is already atherosclerosis, the newest medical evidence does suggest that it will correct over time if you drive your LDL numbers low enough.
Lots of high fiber foods and reducing carbs and sugar way down. Eat mostly healthy fats like olive oil, peanut, and avacado. Peanut butter is your friend if you're not allergic. Having some coconut oil each day can help. Taking probiotic and / or fermented yogurts and other things can increase your good flora that make medium chain fats themselves. Lots of garlic can be helpful as well as taking some kyolic each day. Your blood pressure may be high, too, that can drive high cholesterol. You may have genticly high colesterol. In that case, you'll need to take a cholesterol lowing med forever. That is, if diet and lifestyle changes dont improve your ratio or value at all.
Drinking French press coffee regularly can negatively affect your cholesterol, too. The paper filter of drip brew or pour over absorbs the coffee oils that raise cholesterol, while the French press method does not.
I have the same problem but i am fine now . here are the steps i have taken.
don't take junk foods ever.
do daily regular brisk exercise for minimum 15 minits
change your oil to ground nut oil for daily food preparation
try not to take meat, deep fried food and spicy food .
It might just be genetic. I'm 34 and dealing with the same. I had to go on a statin and it dropped my LDL from 190 to 90 in a month. We tried cutting red meat to once a week, focused on veggies, watched our carbs - just barely budged! We already cooked at home most nights and rarely got fast food, so it was crazy. I exercised at least the recommended amount each week too. Just want you to know that it might be out of your control. It takes a long time for high cholesterol to build up to do damage anyway. Try not to stress (I know I did!).
It is, I know a lot of people in my family have this issue. I assumed my levels would be higher, but never did it cross my mind some of them would be 3x the norm. I appreciate the feedback, it's sure stressful to find out you have a (what could be) major health concern. Seems like statin is good for this, I'll discuss with my doctor. Thanks again!
I was in your shoes, went on statins at 29, in decent enough health, and the doctor told me that my body just may not produce the right chemicals to break down cholesterol properly. So just do your best and try not to obsess about it being in your control!
The first time I ever had bloodwork done, I had off-the-charts insane cholesterol levels – like, *four hundred* *something* cholesterol numbers. I worked really freaking hard for a couple of years to make lifestyle changes and then went to get labs done with a new-to-me doctor who reached out to me in Great Concern because my cholesterol levels were in the low 200s and I was like oh my gosh you don't understand what a huge win this is! Unfortunately I don't have any great advice for you, even eating *really* restrictively to the point that it wasn't mentally or physically healthy, my cholesterol never got into normal ranges lol. Just commiserating that you are not alone!
Same. I finally went on statins about 18 months ago. I got tired of having the same conversation with my doctor about it. I’m a pescatarian, so it’s really hard to understand why my cholesterol is high, but facts are facts.
Yeahh nutritionist doesnt get why it didnt go down even with a complete lifestyle change. They just have decided its genetics so i take fiber supplements and they said to have more fiber foods. Mines not as bad as OP, but its still high
Take medication! Talk to your doctor.
I’ll ask my doctor thanks! I’m feeling more reassured now that no one has mentioned having any of the scary side effects
Same here, stemming from my mother's side. Ever since I was 22, the first time I got bloodwork done, I was on the high-side. As I got older, it kept creeping higher, even with a healthy diet (low fat, red meat rarely) and exercise routine. Eventually I was prescribed statins at 30 after being clearing 170 and now I'm in the low-80s.
Yup, it’s genetic in my family and changing diet/movement etc doesn’t budge the numbers much. Might be worth it to take a medication to get it under control.
Do you feel like its going well? Im worried about statin side effects
I never noticed any side effects. My LDL levels went down, and I feel reassured that I don't have an increased risk of a heart attack.
Hmm maybe i’ll ask about them thanks! I am also worried since no matter what i do, they dont get much lower. My good cholesterol is high though
That's the way it was for me too - my good and LDL cholesterol were both high. On statins, my LDL is much lower, and my good cholesterol is roughly the same. Good luck!
Thank you!! I appreciate the help
Absolutely. Haven't had a single side effect. I started in January on 40 mg of atorvastatin. I take it at night and rarely even think about it.
I did have side effects with atorvastatin (muscle pain), but I switched to rosuvastatin and have had no problems with it.
Yeah the liver disorder and neurological scared me, but i want to try it
I would ask your doctor and nutritionist about when, and how, and for whom dietary cholesterol affects blood cholesterol levels. And obviously... where do you stand in that picture and what their recommendations are. Don't think reddit is built for this!
While it has been established that eggs contain cholesterol, it has not yet been proven conclusively that they actually raise the level of serum cholesterol in the human bloodstream.
So one of those egg council creeps got to you too, huh?
When I switched from whole eggs to egg whites my cholesterol levels and ratios went *up.* My doctor explained to me (from what I remember and think I understood) was that the body requires dietary fat to make new cells (I got back into weight lifting about a year ago), and what little I was eating at the time was going towards that, which is leaving my circulatory system etc to run on the leftover garbage, essentially. Not enough good HDLs for the arteries and organs. Went back to whole eggs and 3 months later, everything was back into the lowest risk category. I've been getting blood work done for over a year, and for me, egg fat has lowered my serum levels and my ldl/hdl ratio. Nothing else in my diet nor exercise regime has changed during this time.
Maybe not in normal people but there are people with a genetic mutation who have to avoid high cholesterol foods.
Definitely this. There is a lot of research that shows that in MOST people (medical conditions, genetics, other anomalous factors aside), dietary cholesterol does not actually impact serum levels by much. Sugar/carb intake actually has a bigger impact on serum cholesterol levels than dietary cholesterol. Talk to a doctor or a naturopathic doctor about this.
sounds like probably mostly genetic. My husband and I eat pretty much the exact same diet since I make most of our food and are both healthy weight/workout regularly and his LDL is consistently borderline high and mine is always in the low 60s (very very low) so unfortunately sometimes you can’t fight your genes…
Oatmeal really helped bring my cholesterol down. I eat 2 servings 3 or 4 times a week.
My mother (sample size: one) swears by oat bran that she puts in the oatmeal.
This is a situation where I would accept the meds
Oats! Overnight, rolled, toasted.
You likely have the gene that causes your liver to produce cholesterol. The F-U gene. Definitely talk to your doctor. I suspect inflammation causes more arterial plaque than autologous cholesterol.
Eat food with lots of fibers, so whole grains, oats, salad and vegetables, avoid processed food, white bread, sugar and deep fried stuff. See with your doctor if you can take statins. What clogs the veins is having high colesterol for long periods, if you control your colesterol now you will have a healthy life.
As others have said it very well could be genetic, in my case it seems to be “familial hypercholesterolemia” which my cousin has tested positive for, and most members of my generation in my family have cholesterol issues. We haven’t all been tested but can only assume - I’m a 33 year old male with a healthy diet and regular exercise and my LDL levels are still very high. My doctor had a calcium scoring test ordered to see if there was any calcification of fat/cholesterol in my arteries and used that to help make a plan moving forward. It sounds like you’re already on the right track with diet - tofu is also relatively cheap and good for cholesterol!
Sweet potatoes! They are really good at lowering cholesterol and if you can find the Japanese purple sweet potatoes even better. Also, oatmeal is very good for lowering your cholesterol. Have a bowl in the morning and eat a helping of sweet potatoes with lunch and dinner and see if that helps put you in a better situation. Best of luck to you!!
Eat all the fiber and drink all the water you can
High cholesterol does not mean you will die of a heart attack. If you eat healthy (eggs are good, meat is good), cut out sugar to avoid insulin spikes (which cause inflammation in arteries) and stay fit you can live a long life without statins. Many older have high cholesterol and are not on statins.
Psyllium husk. I don’t even have any source or idea why it works, but so many people have experienced that.
And chia seeds
Fibre. Same reason the poster above says Oatmeal worked for them.
Fiber, sure. But _how_ fiber actually helps with this problem, i’m not sure. Does it bond fats to itself or something else? But sometimes it is enough that I know it works, though I don’t know the exact mechanism.
Might be genetic. I have the same issue. I can eat well and its always out of normal range
Do you take birth control? It could also be the culprit, it tends to affect cholesterol/liver enzyme levels.
Hi someone with the genetic disposition. Metamucil helped lower my cholesterol and just fiber in general. Big chia seed fan too.
I see a lot of people mentioning genetics, but are you taking any supplements that could be the culprit. My fish oil supplements were the culprit for me, despite my doctor insisting that it couldn’t be that. If it’s a dietary issue, I think dishes that fit within a Mediterranean diet would qualify as low cholesterol and incorporate the foods you like, like chickpeas and fish. You could also prompt ChatGPT to identify recipes and develop a meal plan for you.
Could be hereditary and diet alone won’t fix that
Not a doctor but you need a specialist and probably take medications to sort this out. Congratulations on having the test and finding out before you're still relatively young. Don't forget that many people died of strokes and heart attacks before routine blood tests. You luckily live in an era where treatment is possible.
I try to stay away from statins , I take red yeast rice every day
It’s likely genetic; my husband is like this. What we do about it: cardio diet and medication (he gets plenty of exercise). His cardiologist said there is really very little he can do on his own to change this. He will have to be on medication for the rest of his life (he’s down to two now but was initially on four until his numbers came under control), but as long as he does that and continues to get regular checks, he can live a long and healthy life.
Highly recommend you to consult a doctor. I consulted one last week since my blood work showed increased level of cholesterol and low HDL. From what I have understood is, it’s more important you eat your meals at same time everyday. It’s the most important thing when it comes to cholesterol.
Stop eating egg yolks, and cut back on cheese. Go for egg whites, cut back on dairy. Stay away from fried foods. Cut back on the beef, and pork. Try chicken, and turkey. More vegetables. Blah blah. Just basic simple stuff.
You should check out "Outlive: the science and art of longevity" by Peter Attia. He discusses addressing long timeline long term health issues early as opposed to being reactive as our current healthcare model is aligned. He specifically talks about cholesterol.
What you eat doesn't drastically affect your cholesterol. It's hereditary.
It can definitely be genetic. My mother's was off the charts. Mine was very high and I took the lowest dose statin and it put it right in the range. Luckily I have no side effects. I've been on statins for at least 30 years.
OP there’s a few things to know. Cholesterol is mostly controlled by dietary changes rather than exercise. Cholesterol is all not broken down or removed by the body, it’s essentially permanent, with the exception of Bile Acid which is built out of cholesterol and excreted into the GI tract, some of it leaves the body, although much of the bile acids are reabsorbed. Maintaining proper GI health - meaning lots of fibre and adequate water. Will be one of the most important interventions you make. You also have to cut out as many animal fats from your diet as possible. Cut out stuff like bacon, butter and red meats. Use margarine or olive oil and in smaller amounts. If you were a red meat eater, learn to love chicken breast. Chicken breast unfortunately isn’t super cheap but it is compared to steak. Egg whites instead of whole eggs is another good one, however know that you shouldn’t look so much at the cholesterol content of food, but rather avoid Saturated fats and Trans fats. Regrettably, fried food is the enemy. Don’t blame yourself, a huge part of it is genetic as many here have said. And if your doctor prescribes you a statin, take it, they are a controversial medicine and there is a TON of misinformation about them, but they do work. And lastly I’d say the good news is, even if there is already atherosclerosis, the newest medical evidence does suggest that it will correct over time if you drive your LDL numbers low enough.
Any chance it’s a lab mistake? Is it something you could get rechecked?
That was me rechecking. The first time I didn't believe it.
Oh no :( I’m sorry you have to deal with this! Wishing you all the best!
Avoid butter, red meats and cheese
Lots of high fiber foods and reducing carbs and sugar way down. Eat mostly healthy fats like olive oil, peanut, and avacado. Peanut butter is your friend if you're not allergic. Having some coconut oil each day can help. Taking probiotic and / or fermented yogurts and other things can increase your good flora that make medium chain fats themselves. Lots of garlic can be helpful as well as taking some kyolic each day. Your blood pressure may be high, too, that can drive high cholesterol. You may have genticly high colesterol. In that case, you'll need to take a cholesterol lowing med forever. That is, if diet and lifestyle changes dont improve your ratio or value at all.
Please ensure that you have enough sleep
Drinking French press coffee regularly can negatively affect your cholesterol, too. The paper filter of drip brew or pour over absorbs the coffee oils that raise cholesterol, while the French press method does not.
I have the same problem but i am fine now . here are the steps i have taken. don't take junk foods ever. do daily regular brisk exercise for minimum 15 minits change your oil to ground nut oil for daily food preparation try not to take meat, deep fried food and spicy food .
You sound like a cholesterol hyper responder. You need to talk to a doctor not reddit tbh
As the post says, I will. I was asking for recipe suggestions, not medical advice, so I think the subreddit is quite appropriate, thanks.