Cholesterol Question

Happy Monday everyone. This morning at work I had a health screening down. All my levels were great except for my HDL (good cholesterol). It was 29 and it should not be lower than 40. The nurse said I should exercise and I told her I joined the Rochester Atheletic Club and have been exercising. I asked if there was anything else I could do -- she suggested eating more of the "good" fatty foods. Yeah, right. . .that's not going to happen. Any one have any suggestions as to what I can do? (I do have an appointment next Monday with my PCP and surgeon so will ask them also.) Thanks and have a wonderful day. Cindee 310/245/?

Cindee, If you hear anything please let me know to because I am sure I will have to deal with this myself. I need to go and get my blood done, I have the script but have been putting it off to go to LI and see my family PCP but we have not been down for a while. Well good luck hun ~Hugs~ Debra P

Deb, My doctors appointments are next Monday (we have off for Columbus Day) and I'll let you know what they say. I did do alot of reading on-line last night and most articles seem to stress more exercise. Thanks for your response to my question. Have a great day. Cindee 310/244/?

CINDEE... my blood work was the same way. I was told that will balance out when i start excersising. I didnt excersise much the first 3 months but now I got clearance to return to my gym so i am hopeing to fix on this issue. MY doctor said its the excersise that will help! GOOD LUCK LISA

Hi Lisa, Thanks so much for your response. It looks like I'll have to start exercising more than I am now and that is doable. Right now I only go to the gym when I can fit it into my schedule but I guess I should be more proactive and make sure it gets into my schedule on a regular basis. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. Thanks again and have a great day. Cindee

I had the same problem, my endocronologist (sp?) put me on Niacin to bring my good cholestorol back up. You may want to ask if that is an option for you also. Christine

Hi Christine, Since I'm going to see both my PCP and surgeon next Monday, I'll be sure to ask about Niacin and the exercise thing. Did you have any trouble taking the Niacin? Have you had blood work done since you starting taking the Niacin and has it helped? Thanks for your response. Have a great day. Cindee

Here's a suggestion my endo gave me. He said instead of adding fats to the diet to eat a quarter cup of nuts a day. He said almonds and walnuts are the best, followed by pastachios and peanuts. No more than 1/4 cup though as they can also be high in calories. Nuts are the perfect food, especially almonds and walnuts..protien, carb and good fat all rolled into one. I measure out my 1/4 in the morning (or put them in baggies and store in the fridge. Then I try to have them throughout the day. Mostly I add a few nuts to my meals, but I try to save some for the evening for a snack. He told me that the addition of the nuts with the monounsaturated fat along with my current exercise program will help to raise my good cholesterol. Mine was 39 on my last test. Hope this info helps. Love, Debra 239/186/125

Good morning Debra, Thanks so much for forwarding your info on adding nuts to my diet. I love almost all kinds of nuts and it will be a pleasure to start incorporating them into my daily routine, especially if they'll help bring up my HDL. Even though I'm still not hungry, I look for things to snack on at night and 1/4 cup of nuts will be perfect. Any idea of peanut butter would work? Yours was 39 last test - that's only 1 point below normal so you're almost there. Congratulations. Thanks again for the info - have a wonderful day. Cindee 310/244/?

I asked the doc about peanut butter and he said I should go for the whole nuts as there's also good fiber in there. So I stick with the nuts. Actually, peanut butter doesn't agree with me since my surgery. I've tried it several times and I always get sick from it. I like the nuts better because I love the crunch . Take care, Debra 239/186/125