Discussion Board

I recently got some lab work done and here are the numbers:

Total Cholesterol: 126
HDL: 38
LDL: 70
THS 1.2
Glucose 87
Triglycerides: 92

Is it unhealthy to have the LDL almost twice as high as the HDL? I'm not very compliant with the "no oil" and "low fat" right now, but would this have anything to do with the "imbalance" of HDL and LDL? I thought that the thing to worry about with a vegan diet yet not low fat, besides obvious weight gain associated with high fat intake, is the endothelium being harmed.

How does one even check the endothelium?

NO--there is no reason to have high HDL. HDL is only there to clean your arteries of the LDL--so when your LDL is lower high HDL isn't needed. Here's what Dr. McD says about it:

http://www.nealhendrickson.com/mcdougal ... pufav5.htm

And even more info:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_hot_cholesterol.html

HOWEVER, note that what he says there assumes that you are following the McDougall plan, which is plant based with NO added fats (oils, etc.).

I think your numbers look great! I looks like you're on the right path!

Michael

If I understand Dr. Esselstyn's work correctly, people who are active and eat a plant based diet can eat nuts and seeds without having to worry about heart disease.

It's only the obese and or people who have dangerous lipid profiles who must refrain from all fatty foods. If one keeps a healthy weight and has heart attack proof lipid profiles, then it's okay to eat nuts and seeds.

Is there something else I'm missing besides keeping good lipid profiles?

I recommend this DVD:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/store_nuts_health.html

And Dr. McD on the subject:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2009nl/nov/nuts.htm