LDL elevated

[moocee3]

For the past 2 years my total cholestrol has been up over 200.  I have tried every statin and cannot take them due to  muscle issues.  My last check put  my total choletrol at 251, trycyl at 68, HDL at 76 and LDL at 161.  My doctor wants me on another type of drug.  I have been taking Dr. Sinatra's Omega plus for the past 4 months and noticed no change in my LDL, but an increase in my HDL.  From what I am reading my ratios look great.  But this doctor is emphatic about wanting to put me on something as she feels I will have a heart attack if I don't.  I am 62 year old female.  What are your comments?  Is this really that bad?  I still exercise (treadmill, eliptic and weights) and pilates daily.

[gymdandee]

regularly eating shiitake mushrooms lowers blood cholesterol levels up to 45 percent.
chocolate that boasts a high percentage of cacao (60 percent or more). Dark chocolate also has fewer calories than other varieties, and when eaten in moderation, it lowers unhealthy LDL cholesterol and prevents plaque from building up in your arteries.
Pomegranates have up to three times the antioxidants of red wine and green tea – and the juice has been shown to reduce artery-clogging plaque, which in turn prevents heart disease and stroke
egg yolks contain choline, which helps protect heart and brain function and prevents cholesterol and fat from accumulating in the liver.
1.5 ounces of most nuts, including almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
garlic lowers total cholesterol and triglyceride (blood fat) levels, helping prevent clogged arteries. "Two to three cloves a day cut the odds of subsequent heart attacks in half for heart disease
eat at least two fish meals per week, especially wild salmon, herring, and sardines, because those varieties provide the most heart-healthy
omega 3s.
blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which have been shown to improve vision and brain function. Studies show that eating blueberries slows impairments in motor coordination and memory that accompany aging. These little berries also reduce inflammation, which is inextricably linked with virtually every chronic disease from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, to diabetes and heart disease.Buy Wild blueberries they have more antioxidants if you can’t find fresh then buy frozen.
Apples, Avocados, fish oil Three grams a day.  Plant sterols 2 grams a day. Derived from plants, in capsule form.
Increase fiber 25 grams/day.

The Peak 8 routine it will quickly raise your heart rate 8 times for very short bursts, with a cooling down period in between. Ideally you’ll be sprinting or cycling full throttle for 30 seconds with a 90 second cool down in between each outburst. 

This is the fastest way to lose fat and build muscle in the body. Peak 8 actually stimulates the growth hormone in the body. I encourage you to visit Dr Mercola’s site to learn more about Peak 8 fitness because I personally feel that it is one of the best ways to exercise, especially considering the speed at which you can lose fat and build muscle. 

I highly recommend you read this article and watch the videos on the page. It will give you all the information you need to know about Peak 8 – Flood Your Body With This “Youth Hormone” In Just 20 Minutes 

What you eat after Peak 8 training does matter 

It’s recommended that you do not eat sugar or carbohydrate for 2 hours after the Peak 8 exercise because these foods can impact the release of the growth hormone in the body.  The link is below 
http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2010/11/13/phil-campbell-on-peak-8-exercises.aspx 

Figure your heart rate by taking 220 minus your age gives you your max.
heart rate. when you do cardio you want to get your heart rate anywhere from 65% to 85% of your maximum heart rate!



First thing in the morning before you get out of bed have a clock with a second hand and check your resting heart rate then figure your rate by the 
Karvonen Formula above.

You burn 30 percent more fat from doing cardio after a weights session as opposed to cardio on its own.

[Red_Star]

Thyroid hormone is necessary for the healthy metabolism of cholesterol so higher cholesterol is a common symptom of hypothyroidism.  Other causes of elevated cholesterol are due to protecting the body from harm such as an inflammatory diet, elevated mercury levels, or fungal infections. The latest clinical trial on statin drugs shows a 71% increased risk of type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women! Brand name and generic versions of statin drugs must now carry warnings that memory loss, confusion, high blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes are possible side effects.

Excerpt from Cholesterol Reduction by Dr Greg Emerson...

"Recent studies have shown no reductions in death in people over the age of 65 or people with no existing heart disease on statins (regardless of how much their cholesterol was lowered) and no benefit at all in women of any age. It is very important to understand statistics here and the difference between relative risk and absolute risk reduction.

Much of the advertising with statins describe a 36% risk reduction in heart attacks. This is a relative risk reduction. The absolute risk reduction is a decrease from a 3% risk to a 2% risk. In practical terms, this means that in men under the age of 65 with pre-existing heart disease, 100 (the NNT- Number Needed to Treat) have to take a statin for 3 years to prevent 1 heart attack. The other 99 men receive no benefit.

Professor James Wright from the University of British Columbia states that “most people taking statins are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm.”"