For those who think a LC WOE is bad for cholesterol...

[April]

I'm not going to only post this in my journal, but am starting a thread about it because I want everyone to know the direct results of living a low carb way of eating on cholesterol values.

I just got back from the doctor, and these are the BEST numbers I've had since I've been keeping track of my bloodwork in 2001.

Drumroll, please:

LDL = 128
HDL = 76
VLDL = 12
Triglycerides = 58
Total cholesterol = 216

What does all of this mean? Here's the skinny:

Total cholesterol to HDL ratio = 2.84 (Total/HDL = Good Cholesterol). The ratio should be below 3.5. Anything below 5 is acceptable.

LDL to HDL ratio = 1.68 (LDL/HDL = Bad Cholesterol). This ratio is more important than the total cholesterol/HDL because LDL is a measure of bad cholesterol. LDL/HDL is a better accurate measure of heart disease. Low risk is considered 3.3 to 4.4.

Triglycerides should be less than 150. For women, the HDL should be greater than 50. The LDL should be less than 130.

Holy bleep.........my numbers are AMAZING and Dr. Blanchard was nearly turning cartwheels.

And you haven't heard the best yet.........HE TOOK ME OFF OF MY CHOLESTEROL MEDS!!!

YAY!!! And neener, neener, NEENER to all the nay-sayers about a low carb way of eating being detrimental to cholesterol levels.

[Goddess]

oh,that's WONDERFUL april!

and thanks for 'splaining what the numbers mean for us health-understanding impaired folks...congrats for getting to ditch the meds!

[Maggie]

Great news, April! Those numbers are golden!

[Maxibee]

April, I found an old thread of mine with my last cholesterol numbers.....and I'd like to add them to your thread here as further evidence that you (of course!) are absolutely right!

(copied from another thread 10/25/05)
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I got the results back today:

Lipid panel:
Triglycerides: 83
Total cholesterol: 180
HDL: 60
LDL:103
Chol/HDLC ratio: 3.0

I've heard that the ratio is actually more important than the numbers themselves. I am concerned about my LDL being a few points higher than "optimum".
************************************************** ***************

I don't want to sound mathematically challenged here, but how does one figure the other ratio: the LDL to HDL ratio? My report only listed the Chol/HDLC ratio. If I divide my LDL# by my HDL#, (103 divided by 60) it equals 1.72. Dividing it the other way gives me a .58, so I know that's not right.

If all the naysayer scientists and doctors would just run 10,000 lowcarbers and 10,000 lowfatters through a quick cholesterol screening, all this lowcarb bashing would (almost) come to an end.....if they had the guts to report the results accurately.

[BC]

Congrats April!!! Wonderful news!!!!

[Rob]

Excellent!

[April]

If I divide my LDL# by my HDL#, (103 divided by 60) it equals 1.72.

Right. That's your bad cholesterol, and your number is very good!!

[Maxibee]

Cool. I know that genetics partially play a part in the cholesterol story, but diet is probably the most major factor. But people still think it's the fat that's the problem. And I have trouble explaining the whole fats/sugar/insulin thing to people who are skeptical anyway.

I wonder WHY there are not more studies done about lowcarb eating as it pertains to cholesterol levels. Maybe there have been and I haven't seen them. I think it's time for a Google search!

[kelly]

Wow! Awesome labs! My Triglycerides have been off the chart this last year.. something like 800. I believe they will be MUCH better in a few months! Thanks for sharing your results!

[spride]

Just adding my chart to the LC is GOOD for cholesterol chart:

Conveniently enough, I went to the doctor's office 5 months apart.
Old numbers (12/8/06) versus new numbers (5/8/06)

--------------------- Old ------------New -----------Ideal Range
BP --------------- 130/90 -------- 102/62
Weight ---------- 300 ------------- 236
Chol (total) -------186 ----------- 114 --------------- 100-199
Triglycerides ---- 229 ------------ 65 ----------------- 0-149
LDL (bad) -------- 114 ------------ 72 ------------------ 0-99
HDL (good) ------ 25 ------------- 29 ----------------- 40-59
Chol/HDL --------- 7.32 ---------- 3.9 ---------------- 0.0-5.0

My doctor, who hadn't seen the old numbers told me:

"I don't know what your cholesterol numbers were before, but they're better now!"

[kelly]

What a difference! WTG!!

[CushieButterfield]

Great numbers April. Thanks for providing those formulas as well. My cloestrerol was done when I decided to come back to LC in force and I will be having them redone at the end of the summer. Can't wait to see what happens...my good was already really good and the total and bad weren't very high at so I know with this WOE I can bring them back down in check.