High LDL, low HDL after a year of keto and fasting

(August) #1

I just took a large blood test to check my values. I was open with my doctor about my new lifestyle (doing keto and also intermittent and prolonged fasting), and he took a whole bunch of blood tests to check how I was doing.

It turned out that just since september 2018 my LDL has gone up by quite a lot: it is now 5.0 (ref value 1.5 - 4.8). My HDL was at 1.5 (ref value 0.8 - 2.1). My triglyserides were normal (don’t have the number available at my office at the moment).

What do you guys think about this? Advice would be greatly appreciated!

(Eric - The patient needs to be patient!) #2

A lot depends on how you ate or fasted before your blood draw. Dave Feldman has proven that these numbers can be shewed based on how the days preceding the blood draw were approached. This even includes how much coffee you drank.

It is likely your doctor does not know about this. Start here https://cholesterolcode.com/

Also search youtube for Dave Feldman. Some presentations will be very technical. You want to find one where he basically explains how the numbers vary.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

There is also no real evidence to show that cholesterol causes cardiovascular disease in the first place. There is evidence, in fact, to show that high LDL is actually associated with low risk of CVD, especially in women and in the elderly.

I could go into detail about the evidence that cholesterol in fact cannot be the cause of CVD, but it’s pretty long-winded. Google the International Network of Cholesterol Sceptics, David Diamond, Uffe Ravnskov, and Malcolm McKendrick for more information.

Dr. McKendrick’s blog is very interesting, and Dr. Diamond has a number of useful videos on YouTube on the subjects of cholesterol and statins. Ravnskov, Diamond, and McKendrick have also published various scholarly papers, as well, which you can find on PubMed.

(Alec) #4

Congratulations on your lovely “high” cholesterol levels. They look great to me. Cholesterol is a fundamental building block of life. Why we would want to reduce it is beyond me. As Paul says, the evidence says high cholesterol means lower all cause mortality, not the other way round.

You are hereby awarded some :bacon:.

(August) #5

Thank you so much for your responses, guys. I already know about Dave Feldman, and have read Nina Teicholz book «The big fat surprise», so what you guys are saying is in line with a message I already believe in.

It is a bit lonely when the health professionals in my country are institutionalized with old, outdated knowledge. My doctor lets me be the boss in my own life, so we still have respect for eachother even if he doesnt belive in the same things as i do. I did recommend Ninas book to him and he might read it.

Since I am now 40, Ive lived 95% of my life on SAD and I am trying to find new inspiration to healthy, varied ingredients/recepies to make sure I get the micro nutrients I need for good health. Im not sure I am doing so great on that since I often fall back on my staple ingredients because of a busy life. I do strenght training 3-4 times a week, and eat multivitamins every day. I drink 2-3 liters of water every day.

Things I am considering at the moment:

I am eating whipped cream almost every day. Is that dangerous?

I eat broccoli or brussel sprouts almost every day. I dont eat much of other vegetables. Is that bad?

I often eat pork meat like ribs or fatty porkchops. I dont eat a lot of red meat because its quite expensive. Maybe i eat too much pork?

I dont eat a lot of fish anymore because most of it is not wild caught, and I believe the omdga 3’s in farmed fish is critically reduced. The fish is still expensive, and the wild caught one is crazy expensive. Is that bad for me?

(Alec) #6

It depends on the source. If it is out of a spray can, that’s not recommended. But if it is fresh pure cream, and you are whipping it, go for your life! No problems.

No. But to ensure keeping in ketosis make sure you do your carb sums and stay under 20g carbs. There are lots of folks who don’t eat any vegetables, and they do just fine. You can get all the nutrients you need from meat and fat, you don’t need to eat fruit and veg.

There is no such thing as too much pork.

If you mean is not eating fish bad for me, then no. You can get all the nutrients you need from meat and fat.

(August) #7

The cream is of course freshly whipped by me from fresh whole fat cream :slight_smile:

When it comes to veggies I have tried going full carnivore, but i got chronic diahrrea from it (3 weeks of non solid poo) and it left me feeling drained and uncomfortable. Ended up feeling much better after reintroducing some vegs. I eat a whole broccoli per day and im in deep keto all the time. Ive even had a normal american pizza before christmas and stayed in keto lol :smile:

(Alec) #8

The broccoli sounds great, the pizza not so great. But I am sure you enjoyed it!