conquering cholesterol
I just wanted to share this with you guys and possibly give hope to those of you who might be having trouble with cholesterol.
I was a vegetarian in my teens and continued to be so until about 1997, when my mind must have went on vacation because I started to eat meat. I ate all kinds of crappy disgusting meat, including Big Macs and Whoppers (good lord). After five years, my cholesterol started shooting way up and reached a total of 270 (whereas it had been very normal before). My doctor suggested I go on pills to bring it down. I hate being on any kind of medication, so I promised her I would try to bring it down by changing my diet and exercising. Apparently my mind returned because I started remembering all the reasons why I became vegetarian in the first place in my teenage years (mostly out of love for animals), and I gave up all meat once again. After about a year of being a vegetarian, my cholesterol went down to 240. After transitioning into become a vegan it got down to 211. I have been a full-on vegan since September, and last week I got my cholesterol checked again. It's 192 now! 200 is apparently the point where it is starting to become unhealthy, so I've gotten below that level finally. I try to exercise 3 to 4 days a week, but I don't always do that, so I really think the main reason I was able to overcome my cholesterol is by eating vegan. I haven't cut down on the amount of what I eat at all--in fact I allow myself to eat as much as I want most of the time. I just try to keep within the boundaries of being vegan.
Anyway, just thought I'd let you know IT CAN BE DONE! :) Thanks to all of you at vegweb for the fantastic recipes and advice you've posted that made it possible!
Thanks!
Wow, your bad cholesterol level is way down there--that's great! I'm hoping that as long as I stay vegan, my bad cholesterol will continue to decrease.
There have been so many studies that prove that the best way to lower your cholesterol, as well as lower high blood pressure, and treat diabetes is through a vegan diet and exercise. You'll never see them published in the mainstream press, because the pharmaceutical companies can't make any money off of a good diet and exercise. >:(
Goto www.pcrm.org for info on the studies that have been done.
-dave
Thanks for the link to pcrm.org--I'm going to check it out.
I applaud you!!! I just watched a 2-hour special on PBS about obesity (and cholesterol is a similar cure). Most people who try to lose weight can't keep it off. Diets don't work and once you have achieved obesity, it is pretty well impossible to reverse. You are very very much the exception to the rule. You have not dieted, you have made lifestyle chances and been consistent about it. Consistency is not a natural human trait. You have beaten the odds.
Breastfeeding an infant for at least the first year of life is the best of all starts. Human milk is so high in cholesterol and fat (higher than cow's milk) and as a result, a child's body doesn't turn on the switch to make its own cholesterol, and will always be dependent on consumed sources for needed cholesterol.
So much of cholesterol problems are genetic, as well as environmental. Some of us are blessed, some of us are not. Before going vegan, my cholesterol was a whopping 140 and I was 42 at the time. I doubt it is lower now, however because I know that my triglycerides have come up from the 76 they were at that time because I have gone back to eating a few grains and starches.
Baypuppy, thanks for the tip on Dr. Furman's books--I'm going to see if they're available at the library.
Thank you LadyDragonfly1 for the encouragement! High cholesterol does run in my family; I have a sister, a brother, and a mother who all have very high cholesterol. I would love to be the example for them to turn to veganism, but I don't think it will happen. They are all pretty much serious meat eaters.