Posted
Thursday, March 12, 2009
If you have or have had high cholesterol, what has or hasn’t helped to lower it? Studies show that eating a low GL diet lowers it. High dose niacin (B3) lowers it, and so do statin drugs, but one in five have side-effects. Even though many myths abound about cholesterol, still, it is not a great idea to have a very high level (eg above 7 or 8). What has worked for you?
My husband and I both have high cholesterol, we tried taking just Niacin (Bioharmony) but unfortunately it did not work. Now we are back on the statins and take niacin as well - not sure if this is a good thing or not?
Posted by Katherine Blaine on 03/13 at 05:30 AM
When my husband’s cholesterol was causing concern, we tried an approach of using recommended levels of plant sterols, oat bran, excercise, and B3. This quickly brought his cholesterol within the normal range, but he was bothered by the flushing effect of niacin. When he stopped taking the niacin his cholesterol returned almost immediately to the previous count. I know that one can get ‘no-flush’ B3, but I have read that it does not have such a beneficial effect. For us niacin was the answer and the rest of the remedies had a minimal effect.
Posted by Phillippa Lambert on 03/13 at 07:18 AM
The niacin (also called nicotinic acid) form of vitamin B3 does lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and raises HDL. The niacinamide form, which doesn’t cause blushing doesn’t. Inositol hexanicotinate should because it is not the ‘amide’ form, but I’m not aware of studies that have used this form. I know of some people who have reported that it worked, and others that it didn’t. Merck make a slow-release niacin called Niaspan, prescribable by your doctor, that does work. If you take niacin, the cheapest form that causes blushing, but you take it twice a day with meals regularly many people report that the blushing stops or diminishes rapidly, although it can be quite intense for the first couple of days.
I don’t know of any contraindication of taking both statins and niacin, although you must supplement at least 90mg of Co-enzyme Q10 if you are on a statin.
A strict low GL diet has proven to rapidly lower cholesterol in a number of studies and I’ve received many glowing reports to that effect so I do recommend you do this as well.
Posted by patrick on 03/13 at 08:28 AM
Is anyone up for talking about lowering Homocysteine levels (or do we have to have a different article to follow)? I know the principles of supplementation needed but am having difficulty in putting it into practice.
Posted by Phillippa Lambert on 03/13 at 01:15 PM
Hi Phillippa - I work at 100% Health and wanted to suggest you read Patrick’s book The H Factor which has lots of information in it about lowering homocysteine and includes ten steps to lower it and if you haven’t tried our online health programme you might find this helpful as it will suggest specific recipes and supplements. I’m sure Patrick will open blog on this subject at some point - keep visiting the site to check and thank you for your comments.
Posted by stephanie on 03/13 at 04:33 PM
I was upset when my doctor prescribed statins because my cholesterol was 6. She didn’t mention diet or supplements. What I would like to know, if anyone can help please, is does coffee have any effect on cholesterol levels? thanks.
Posted by Margaret Hossack on 03/14 at 12:51 AM
Reply to Stephanie — Many thanks, I have read Patrick’s book on homocysteine and have tried two different sorts of the combined supplements that are sold for this purpose with all the right vitamins etc in correct quantities. Unfortunately they give me really bad indigestion, so I have been unable to take them. I am considering buying the individual elements separately to try and identify what is causing my problem. I would like to know which are the most crucial vitamins for lowering homocysteine in order to cut down the number of products I would have to buy to a reasonable number!
Posted by Phillippa Lambert on 03/14 at 03:58 PM
I’m not aware of coffee raising cholesterol but it definitely raises homocysteine levels, and high homocysteine is an independent rtisk factor for heart disease and strokes. That having been said people with high cholesterol tend also to have high homocysteine. The key to lowering homocysteine is a)to supp
Posted by patrick on 03/14 at 04:09 PM
....continuing my strangely truncated last blog (I’m somewhere in Africa today with bad internet connection)...a) supplement a combination of B2, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, TMG and N-acetyl-cysteine (some people respnod to just the B vitamins, others need TMG and others, especially older people, need N-acetyl cysteine as well - the dose depends on your H score and is given at http://www.thehfactor.com); b) eat greens, beans and wholefoods; c) cut coffee, smoking, excess alcohol and stress. These are listed in the order of the most effective. The supplements aren’t needed forever - just until your H score normalises - usually within 3 months.
I’d recommend you lend your doctor Food Is Better Medicine Than Drugs, or show them the Special Report on cholesterol lowering without drugs. I’m teaching a day for doctors and other healthcare practitioners on April 25th, soon to be listed in the events section of our website, sponsored by Biocare. Sounds like they need to learn about non-drug approaches to lowering cholesterol.
Also, the most likely reason for indigestion/nausea is that most supplements use TMG hydrochloride (same thing as betaine hydrochloride or stomach acid). TMG itself is a little unstable in humid environments so isn’t often used as pure TMG in combination supplements although you can buy it on its own. Taking a TMG hydrochloride containing formula with food might help.
Posted by patrick on 03/14 at 04:26 PM
I had a borderline high Cholesterol at 6 back in January. (however the individual numbers are not too bad with HDL at 1.22 and Triglicerides 1.5). Really want to get LDL down from 3.9.Since then I have lost 7 kg and he wants to repeat it in 2 months. He knows I am trying natural means-fish oil and salmon steaks, nuts and seeds,lots of lower glycaemic vegies, low sugar and avoiding processed foods and simple carbs. However, after reading Patrick’s info I plan to be even more specific. I think its realsonable to add more garlic and consider B3. Does anyone know a good brand available in Australia?
Posted by Marian Rigney on 03/14 at 08:31 PM
Thanks for that patrick! I am intrigued, have to admit I know nothing about homocysteine, but will now find out. The end of your response appears to be missing eg. “The key to lowering homocysteine is a) to supp…......” maybe it is there and I can’t access it?
Posted by Margaret Hossack on 03/14 at 09:10 PM
continuing my strangely truncated last blog (I’m somewhere in Africa today with bad internet connection)...a) supplement a combination of B2, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, TMG and N-acetyl-cysteine (some people respnod to just the B vitamins, others need TMG and others, especially older people, need N-acetyl cysteine as well - the dose depends on your H score and is given at http://www.thehfactor.com); b) eat greens, beans and wholefoods; c) cut coffee, smoking, excess alcohol and stress. These are listed in the order of the most effective.
I’d recommend you lend your doctor Food Is Better Medicine Than Drugs, or show them the Special Report on cholesterol lowering without drugs. I’m teaching a day for doctors and other healthcare practitioners on April 25th, soon to be listed in the events section of our website, sponsored by Biocare. Sounds like they need to learn about non-drug approaches to lowering cholesterol
Posted by patrick on 03/18 at 05:59 PM
Thank you, Patrick for the information on TMG and its link to digestive discomfort. The TMG I have bought, but not tried yet, calls itself Tri-methyl glycine as Betaine monohydrate. Is this the correct form for (hopefully!) easier digestion?
Posted by Phillippa Lambert on 03/18 at 07:05 PM
Thanks a lot! Seems like I’ve got a lot of homework to do - and so does my doctor! I’ll definitely get and read the books etc but I am not too optimistic about the latter. I’ll do my best though.
Posted by Margaret Hossack on 03/18 at 11:40 PM
How can I get my blood level of homocysteine tested, is this something I can ask my doctor? thanks.
Posted by Margaret Hossack on 03/18 at 11:57 PM
I am responding on behalf of Patrick as he’s having difficulty blogging from Africa! You can get your homeocysteine tested with a test by Yorktest which you can purchase through Totally Nourish - as a 100% Health Member you’ll get a discount - go to http://www.totallynourish.com/templates/product.aspx?ProductGuid=TN11501&GroupGuid=28
Regarding the TMG monohydrate Patrick says this is the correct form for easier digestion.
Best, Stephanie
Posted by stephanie on 03/20 at 12:25 PM
Thanks Stephanie! I’ll get the test but meantime is it ok to start taking the Connect supplement, or should I wait for the test result?
(final question I promise!) margaret
Posted by Margaret Hossack on 03/20 at 04:38 PM
I have lowered my cholesterol level from 5.2 to 4.09 in 6months.
I have been on a low G.L diet [not strictly though]eating oats for breakfast and having plenty of EFA’s. I wasn’t trying to lower my cholesteral but it just happened, by taking these simple steps, and I wasn’t going hungry at all.
Posted by Sam Lander on 03/20 at 10:07 PM
Well done Sam. If you strictly follow low GL principles cholesterol levels do fall.
Margaret - in some ways it’s best to test first because this gives you a baseline for your homocysteine level. There’s no harm in starting supplementing, but this may normalise your homocysteine score, hence you don’t know what did what.
Posted by patrick on 03/21 at 05:45 AM
Hi,
My mom has high cholesterol (despite eating fairly healthily and taking a few supplements), although our family has a history of high cholesterol. I recommended that she take no-blush Niacin. She has been doing that for about 6 months now and says that she actually feels better. I recently read that the psyllium husk is very good at lowering overall cholesterol and she is now starting to take this. Is taking Psyllium a good thing to do?
Craig
Posted by Craig Lee on 03/28 at 12:09 AM
Psyllium may help because it is a soluble fibre. Cholesterol is part of bile and some of it is not reabsorbed. Soluble fibres help to eliminate cholesterol in this way. The most common food in this respect are oats, and specifically oat bran, hence the benefit of oats and ‘rough’ oatcakes which contain more oat bran. Barley is also good. Beans and lentils are also good sources, as are many vegetables, but if you overcook vegetables these soluble fibres are destroyed. Flax seeds, containing lignans, are especially beneficial. Of the specialised fibres the best is konjac fibre for lowering cholesterol. The active ingredient is called glucomannan.
Posted by patrick on 03/29 at 10:02 AM
cinnamon is supposed to help lower cholesterol. I was at a seminar run by Patrick and he distinguished between a good cinnamon and a not so good cinnamon. I cannot remember which is the good one. One comes from Ceylon. Can anyone remember what Patrick said? Where ie what country does the good one come from?
Posted by Jacqueline Graf on 03/31 at 03:59 PM
Cinnamon, like many foods, contains coumarin, which, in large amounts could act as a carcinogen. Celyon cinnamon contains much less coumarin than other cinnamons (known as cassia cinnamon). If you buy ground cinnamon there’s no way to tell the difference. The situation is different in the case of cinnamon sticks. Whereas in the case of cassia cinnamon a relatively thick layer of the bark has been rolled into a stick, the cross-section of a Ceylon cinnamon stick looks more like a cigarette – several thin layers of bark have been rolled up into a cinnamon stick resulting in a comparatively compact cross-section.
The best option is to supplement a cinnamon extract such as Cinnulin which is guaranteed to contain less than 0.7% coumarin and has a high concentration of MHCP, the active ingredient. This means that if you supplemented 1 gram of Cinnulin the intake of coumarin would be well below the tolerable daily intake and not remotely pose any potential health risk. It also means you get the maximum benefit from the active ingredient in cinnamon.
While we need more human trials looking at the effects of cinnamon on type 2 diabetes management, based on the available evidence I recommend that type 2 diabetics include 3 to 6 grams of cinnamon daily or, ideally the equivalent (about 1 gram) in low coumarin cinnamon extracts. However, do bear in mind that your need for medication may decrease so it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and inform your primary care practitioner accordingly.
Posted by patrick on 04/01 at 09:45 AM
