NationStates Jolt Archive

I have a few questions for a health-nut, I am sure there are either some nutritionists or someone that is really into fitness out there....

What is good for Cholesterol??
How about 220, is that "not so bad" or "heart attack waiting to happen" for a 29 year old?
How do you improve your cholesterol...

I have a few questions for a health-nut, I am sure there are either some nutritionists or someone that is really into fitness out there....

What is good for Cholesterol??
How about 220, is that "not so bad" or "heart attack waiting to happen" for a 29 year old?
How do you improve your cholesterol...

I think by the first question you are asking What is a good number for Cholesterol.... Not sure on the question, but I am pretty sure 220 is on the high side, but not quite a "heart attack waiting to happen" if that makes you feel any better. Why dont you start eating less fried stuff, to mmy knowledge it will reduce naturally.

I think by the first question you are asking What is a good number for Cholesterol.... Not sure on the question, but I am pretty sure 220 is on the high side, but not quite a "heart attack waiting to happen" if that makes you feel any better. Why dont you start eating less fried stuff, to mmy knowledge it will reduce naturally.

Hoping to get some more serious answers as well, this appears to be a very important part of one's life, and while I am quite book smart, I have no idea on health related topics. Thank you anyone who contributes.

http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/show/cholesterol-levels

Vegetarianistica']http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/show/cholesterol-levels
Thankyou very much Veg.... makes me feel better, but still a concern that needs to be taken seriously.

Veg,

If you are in fact a vegetarian (as the name implies) how do you get enough protein? Do you eat alot of nuts and legumes or have to take a supplement of some sort?

Veg,

If you are in fact a vegetarian (as the name implies) how do you get enough protein? Do you eat alot of nuts and legumes or have to take a supplement of some sort?

all of the above. you'd be surprised how much protein you get in veggies and beans, etc. just have to be sure to eat "whole proteins" .. such as not just cashews.. but cashews with milk. most proteins are not whole, and therefore you have to eat things that will form a whole protein. hope that helps! oh, and btw, check the Gladiator link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/02/wglad02.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/02/ixworld.html

Vegetarianistica']all of the above. you'd be surprised how much protein you get in veggies and beans, etc. just have to be sure to eat "whole proteins" .. such as not just cashews.. but cashews with milk. most proteins are not whole, and therefore you have to eat things that will form a whole protein. hope that helps! oh, and btw, check the Gladiator link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/02/wglad02.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/02/ixworld.html

I think this can help alot, I had no idea there were "whole proteins"....

I think this can help alot, I had no idea there were "whole proteins"....

Me neither..... Great post..

Me neither..... Great post..

thanks guys.. this is the first time anyone on NS has 1) asked me for information, 2) respected my vegetarianism. thanx!!!

Veg,

If you are in fact a vegetarian (as the name implies) how do you get enough protein? Do you eat alot of nuts and legumes or have to take a supplement of some sort?

You don't have to worry about it, and you definitely don't have to take supplements. There's more protein in vegetables than most people think and actually most carnivores "overdose" on protein most of the time; you really don't need that much unless you're trying to quickly build a lot of muscle. As far as "complete" or "whole" proteins, well, it is true that most vegetable proteins are not complete, but again it's not something you need to worry about as just by eating a variety of foods you'll get the full spectrum of essential amino acids (the constituents of proteins), and many common combinations of foods such as rice and beans contain complementary proteins. Of course, the ostensible "problem" of incomplete/insufficient protein is irrelevant if you eat dairy or eggs.

P.S. I know what I'm talking about; I've been a vegetarian all my life.

I have a few questions for a health-nut, I am sure there are either some nutritionists or someone that is really into fitness out there....

What is good for Cholesterol??
How about 220, is that "not so bad" or "heart attack waiting to happen" for a 29 year old?
How do you improve your cholesterol...

What measure are you using? Because my mum (who's a dietician, so she knows what she's talking about) says a good level is 3.5 - 5, which is clearly using a different measure or you'd be dead.

What measure are you using? Because my mum (who's a dietician, so she knows what she's talking about) says a good level is 3.5 - 5, which is clearly using a different measure or you'd be dead.

The only thing that I can think of that has that kind of range for normal values off the top of my head would be potassium, and that's in mmol/L.

Cholesterol doesn't really tell you squat about cardiovascular disease risk. I think it was something they came up with so people could feel like they knew something when their doctor gave them the results of lab tests.

Yeah - the 3.5 - 5 was in millimoles per litre (presumably that mmol/l). I don't know how that converts into the scale you're using Dan, but if you can figure it out then that's what you should be aiming for.

The only thing that I can think of that has that kind of range for normal values off the top of my head would be potassium, and that's in mmol/L.

Cholesterol doesn't really tell you squat about cardiovascular disease risk. I think it was something they came up with so people could feel like they knew something when their doctor gave them the results of lab tests.


Interesting view... However, this is where my problem come in... The doctor used to have the tests done in their office, and you would get a call explaining the results to you. Now that the doctors send you out to an independent lab to have bloodwork done, I just got a piece of paper in the mail with the data, no real explanations at all. Even a sticker with a smiley face or a picture of a coffin would have been more helpful than just raw data.

Interesting view... However, this is where my problem come in... The doctor used to have the tests done in their office, and you would get a call explaining the results to you. Now that the doctors send you out to an independent lab to have bloodwork done, I just got a piece of paper in the mail with the data, no real explanations at all. Even a sticker with a smiley face or a picture of a coffin would have been more helpful than just raw data.

Well, a copy also went to your doctor too. Sending them to you is merely a courtesy. If there was something abnormal, then I would expect one would receive some feedback from their doctor. Otherwise, it's "no news is good news".

This also brings up as to why laboratory tests are expensive. As far as the cost of providing them to the doctor, they are relatively cheap, but once someone is responsible for interpreting the results and assigned liability for the outcome of that interpretation, that's when it becomes expensive.

Well, a copy also went to your doctor too. Sending them to you is merely a courtesy. If there was something abnormal, then I would expect one would receive some feedback from their doctor. Otherwise, it's "no news is good news".

This also brings up as to why laboratory tests are expensive. As far as the cost of providing them to the doctor, they are relatively cheap, but once someone is responsible for interpreting the results and assigned liability for the outcome of that interpretation, that's when it becomes expensive.

You have to admit a copy of a letter sealed with a coffin shaped sticker from your doctor would be classic.....