Forums: April 2011 Kickstart Forum: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21)
Created on: 05/02/11 12:01 PM Views: 1694 Replies: 6
gnovak Joined: 05/02/11 Posts: 3	Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 12:01 PM Well, I was the least likely person to make 21 days as a vegan. Loved my steaks, crab, and cheese. But I have. and it's pretty good I have to say! I used to be on simvastatin for cholesterol/lipids, but have been off of it for the last 6 months because it was interfering with liver tests. Before putting me back on it, I'm trying the vegan diet to hopefully not need the simvastatin. However, I had lab work done lsat Friday ( day 1 and had a lipid pannel done. My Triglycerides were 250 on the simvastatin and the cholestrol was 167. Now my triglycerides jumped to 450 and my cholestrol to 197. My cardiologist said that we'll do another in 2 months and that typically Triglycerides are high in vegans because of the carbs. Am I doing something wrong perhaps, or is this to be expected? Any comments sure would be helpful. I have lost about 14 pounds in the last 3 weeks (was 220, now 206ish). Jerry
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2087	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 12:42 PM gnovak wrote: However, I had lab work done lsat Friday ( day 1 and had a lipid pannel done. My Triglycerides were 250 on the simvastatin and the cholestrol was 167. Now my triglycerides jumped to 450 and my cholestrol to 197. My cardiologist said that we'll do another in 2 months and that typically Triglycerides are high in vegans because of the carbs. Am I doing something wrong perhaps, or is this to be expected? Any comments sure would be helpful. I have lost about 14 pounds in the last 3 weeks (was 220, now 206ish). Jerry Make sure that the carbs you are getting are whole grains and such - not processed foods or faux meats. And, keep an eye on the fats you're adding - one of the keynotes of the kickstart is 10% of calories from fat. I've gotta say that both hubby and I have been mostly vegan since the September kickstart and in both of us, the whole lipid panel is better than ever. Mine was never really a problem, his was; but both of us have seen reductions in triglycerides and LDL along with better HDL as well. --Deb R
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Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1212	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 4:48 PM What Deb said - watch those refined carbs. If you have the vegan and low-fat aspects down, start thinking more about the glycemic index. You have clearly done great so far, a HUGE accomplishment. But this will probably help with the TG numbers. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
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kandoo Joined: 01/01/10 Posts: 76	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 6:31 PM Jerry, Ditto the advice from Susan and Deb. I just want to add a bit about oils. My husband is DonTx. He posted earlier on this forum about his heart attack and cholesterol levels. He is one of "those" with genetically high cholesterol. He was vegan approx 6 weeks before his heart attack and was able to get his levels to an "OK" range (too late), but he didn't really see great results until after his heart attack when he started following Dr. Esselstyn's plan for preventing and reversing heart disease. The difference is that he is now eliminating all concentrated fats. That is, we modify all recipes so that we don't use any oil...that includes olive oil. We saute in water only. He is also eliminating all nuts, avocados, and coconut. The only deviation is that he sprinkles ground flax seed on his cereal in the morning. It goes without saying that there is no cheese or milk. We left a restaurant the other day because they use olive oil in their rice and their beans. It takes getting used to, but we are enjoying the challenge. His total chol. is now 119, LDL 56, and Trig 93. We've only been this strict since March, but the results are great. You may need to be on a low dose statin until you can get this tweaked, but you can...just hang in there. It is wonderful that you have a doctor that will work with you!
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gnovak Joined: 05/02/11 Posts: 3	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:38 PM Yep - it looks like I have to eliminate the pistachios I've been eating like a banshee. It was a nice crutch, but now its on to the second step in this clean up process. Took 57 years to get into this mess, so I gottta give me at least another month Thanks everyone. Any other tips are definately welcome.
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Dontx Joined: 04/01/11 Posts: 51	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 8:14 PM Gnovak, you are almost my exact age and situation right before I had my heart attack. If you have not had a heart scan get one. Mine was a window into the future. I just wish I would have been emphatic about no fat earlier, but with no symptoms it seemed a bit overboard, (my mistake). If you have plaque build up in your arteries the heart scan will show it. Looking back on the day I had my heart attack I can see several things that contributed to it: I had been working outside all day and was not hydrating. I had taked Aleve the night before. (there is a heart attack warning by Aleve) I was exerting my heart rate to the max (running up hill) This was the first hot day (temp 90) in the spring that I was running. Please read "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Dr. Esselstyn it is very encouraging with a lot of good information. On the bright side the recovery has been spectacular. Every day I could feel and see improvement doing cardiac rehab. 6 1/2 weeks later I'm back to running the same pace as before the heart attack and did a 5K last weekend! You have the chance to reverse plaque without the aid of a stent, take it. I'm making sure I don't clog this one up or ever need another. Don (edit: I think the hospital was impressed with my rehab also, they just notified me that they was to do a newspaper article about the rehab.)
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gnovak Joined: 05/02/11 Posts: 3	RE: Carbs, Triglycerides (day 21) Posted Monday, May 2, 2011 at 9:22 PM Yep - it's a good thing I strated the vegan approach to eating when I did. I've been feeling great and since we hired a trainer since last October, it's really made a difference. SInce the loss of weight, even after the last three weeks, my BP is finally controlled (135/80) with the help of meds as well - the meds alone didnt help prior to the weight loss. I'm on the right track, just tweaking it should do it. Have to be like my dad - he's 94 and going strong - still gardens and lives in the house he built about 60 years ago....
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