Certain foods may be the best medicine for lowering 'bad' cholesterol

[bemildred]

For patients with high levels of so-called bad cholesterol, doctors routinely reach for two remedies: cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and a diet that cuts out foods high in saturated fat, such as ice cream, red meat and butter.

But new research has found that when it comes to lowering artery-clogging cholesterol, what you eat may be more important than what you don't eat.

Released online Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., the study found that incorporating several cholesterol-lowering foods — such as soy protein and nuts — into a diet can reduce bad cholesterol far more effectively than a diet low in saturated fat.

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"Patients don't want to take the medications, and I'm afraid that if you tell them there's a diet that works just as well, then they'll do that instead," he said.

"You say that like it was a bad thing, Doc."

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-cholesterol-lowering-foods-20110824,0,7258520.story

[hlthe2b]

1. Medical schools education in this country has long given nutrition

the short-shrift. It is no wonder that physicians so reflexively turn to drug therapy--particularly when pharmX reps are at their elbow constantly to spoon feed them the propaganda, that at least "appear" to be science-based. The problem is that they don't have or expend the time to read emerging scientific studies that show dietary or other natural alternatives to these costly drugs.

But, that last quote just says it all, doesn't it. sigh....

[RC]

2. Drug companies do not make money from diets.

[trotsky]

4. Actually, the primary problem is that people are highly resistant to changing their diets.

Far too many would *rather* pop a pill. That is what drives the industry.

[bemildred]

5. There is quite a lot of money in "weight loss" in all its forms.

And there is nothing more fundamental than the relationship between calories digested and weight. Anything else in the line of "weight loss" is some form or another of avoiding that fact.

[Big Blue Marble]

10. Actually, it probably is a little more complicated

than the old calories in and calories out methodology. As someone who lost over sixty pounds several years ago and is
nicely maintaining that loss eating nearly as much as I was before I lost weight. My experience says there maybe more to
that story. The kinds of foods that I eat have changed considerably. And nuts are a daily part of that story.

In fact, one study reported that the consumption of yogurt and nuts actually were the biggest predictors of successful
maintenance. I also regularly eat soy. And I have excellent heart health in my late sixties.

[bemildred]

11. Good for you.

I quite agree with your comments. So far I'm down about 25 lbs, which is about half of the target loss, trying to get down around 195.

I'm not saying it's not complicated, I'm saying that caloric intake is the fundamental driver of weight gain; but that is not to say that all food is alike.

I am past 65, and I have had to alter my diet radically in the last 5 years, I used to just do whatever I felt like, now I have to be disciplined or I pay.

[Big Blue Marble]

22. Good for you, too!

I agree that calorie reduction has to part of the mix. And excess calories will put the weight on, especially if they consist of
the typical processed foods that are part of the normal American diet.

Both research and my experience have taught me that as we age, hormone regulation becomes a bigger and bigger factor in weight management.
Insulin, leptin, and adrenaline each play a role in how we store and release fat. We can affect these hormones by the foods we eat and the timing of our meals.

I struggled with weight issues for years. Even when restricting calories, weight loss was slow and the slightest shift in diet would put it plus more
back on. Then three years ago, I discovered interval training and adjusted my diet for better hormone balance. After that the weight
did start slipping off. And my cravings for sweets and breads pretty much went away. I still eat them occasionally, but in small amounts and
feel satisfied.

Now I have to make sure I am eating enough to keep my weight up. PM me if you would like more details.
And good luck on your continued journey to health and slimness.

[duhneece]

3. Amen to both of these first two posts nt

[HuckleB]

6. Baloney.

I know a lot of MD's, and they all discuss diet with their patients almost every time they see them. Heck, my does, and I'm not even that fond of him.

[hlthe2b]

8. Discussing diet and current knowledge of nutrition are two different things..

much less following the most current nutritional epidemiological findings.... and yes, I am very much in a position to know about trends in medical school education.

Yes, they will speak of the dogmatic issues, like need to limit overall fat, saturated fat, sodium and the old outdated USDA food pyramid. That is hardly a comprehensive understanding nor current basis in nutrition.

[HuckleB]

12. Actually, I don't know any MDs who talk about the food pyramid.

Speaking of dogma, you're showing your stripes.

[hlthe2b]

14. I know about the trends in medical school curriculae

and it is your bias that is showing--as well as your rudeness. No need to be defensive. I am not one deriding the medical profession--but this is one serious shortcoming in terms of how we train them in the US. And, yes, certainly there are exceptions. I'm talking trends.

And, yes, I believe you when you say that you don't know any physicians who speak to the old outdated food pyramid. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to be because they speak to more current recommendations, but rather they don't speak to it at all.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hlthe2b]

18. ad hominem attacks--the last bastion for those who have no facts.

and you, sir do not.

[HuckleB]

19. You do realize that your first post is nothing but an ad hominem attack, right?

:shrug:

:rofl:

[hlthe2b]

20. I'm afraid you need to go back to school or at least consult a dictionary...

My first post was directed towards no one specifically and certainly not to you. Thus, there is no way for it to have been an ad hominem attack.

Don't you feel foolish? You should.

[HuckleB]

23. Wrong answer.

Nothing says the attack has be against an individual.

[laconicsax]

9. Come on, HuckleB. You know anecdotes only count when they're anti-medicine.

[HuckleB]

13. I keep forgetting.

I'm so friggin' slow.

[laconicsax]

15. They make supplements for that now.

Just head on over to lef and buy, buy, buy!

[HuckleB]

17. I once had an IPA ...

and then proceeded to entertain my friends with great anecdotes from the distant past.

Clearly, IPA improves memory.

Therefore, I will be drinking some IPA, at least before and during the Timbers game tonight.

[HuckleB]

7. Recommended.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bosonic]

24. I use alternate day fasting/intermittent fasting

as a weight control method (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting), but apparently it can also be beneficial for such things as lowering 'bad' cholesterol (as well as grocery bills).

It may sound a horrendous regime, but I found it surprisingly easy to do, possibly because it's so binary in nature. Just putting it out there as an alternative for those who've never heard of it...