I am new to this forum. Thanks for including me!
I wonder if anyone can answer this question. I am supposed to take cholestyramine four times a day. I understand that each dose has about 4 grams of sugar (I don’t want to take the aspartame version). I am wondering if this will throw me out of ketosis, especially during fasting parts of the IF cycle? Thanks!
No way to really know. Each person is different. It would knock me out. Why are you going to take it? I’d ask my DR if there is not a better alternative.
Is cholestyramine to lower your LDL? Your lipid profile should improve (if it is ‘bad’) after you have been LC for 6 months or more and lost weight. I wouldn’t test your cholesterol while getting acclimated to LC and initially losing weight. Mobilizing your stored fat will at first jack up your lipid numbers in a bad way that will freak out your doctor. Don’t test for at least 6 months.
How much weight do you need to lose?
16 grams a day is realistically about half of my carb allowance for a day. It would impact me, for sure, but wouldn’t knock me out of ketosis. For sure, I’d need to restrict anything else I eat, though.
Just a follow on to underscore what Donna said about cholesterol levels changing, especially during the firs months on keto.
I was never on cholestyramine, but I was on a statin (Crestor). I went off that after being keto a while and my LDL went up about 65% in 3 months, but has been sliding back down while my HDL has been climbing for another 2 years. My HDL:LDL and triglyceride/HDL are better after 2-1/2 years than while I was taking the drug.
Thanks for your thoughtful responses. I am taking the medication for mold toxicity. I have a disorder called CIRS that disinhibits toxins from being released. The Cholestyramine has been found to be a good binder for that purpose. However, I could also use activated charcoal or bentonite clay, and perhaps that is what I should do. In response to Donna’s question, I would like to lose about 35 pounds, having gained nearly 20 pounds from my last mold exposure. The keto diet is appropriate for this disorder and I am just starting to take it seriously. Thanks again! It’s great to be able to share issues about the veto lifestyle!
Don’t guess, test. You have medical issues that you’re trying to fix and buying a ketone/glucometer is a minimal investment for your health.
Fasting is inherently ketogenic regardless of diet. So much so that some people can maintain a state of ketosis purely by IF, without a LC diet. I find that nothing I eat will kick me out of ketosis if I fast sufficiently before and after.