More crappy numbers
So I just opened the results of my last round of blood tests ordered by my GP, and it turns out all the important numbers that you want to keep low have jumped. What a shit!
My cholesterol, already high (for some reason I remembered it as being ‘on the high side’) has jumped to 8.1 (equivalent to 313 mg/dL in common US units).
That my blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides are all up so substantially from less than 2 years ago is a bit of a shock, since I’m about as fat now as I was then and eat roughly the same. The only really obvious change is my transition from occasional drinker to regular drinker, largely as a substitute swapped in for that other nasty I’ve given up, cigarettes.
I guess perhaps I may have been a little too regular with the booze (liver function tests bear this out) so that’s something I’m reducing permanently, but I’m still totally pissed off that I gave up the smokes more than a year ago and all I’ve got to show for it so far is this really crummy medical report.
From what I recall, ‘high cholesterol’ has been exaggerated as necessarily being a problem. I can’t recall whether the same goes for triglycerides (it’s many years since I used to study this sort of thing).
I take 75g of aspirin per day, some dark chocolate and black or green tea for my health.
There is definitely a ‘cholesterol skeptic’ movement out there, but only the hardiest of them would argue that a jump from high to very high is nothing to worry about.
the other change is age, you’re obviously 5% older. your propensity for higher everything is likely heredity and needs to be kept in check by more of what you’re aspiring to be doing. alcohol like carbs is sugar that isn’t helping the situation.
some say get some regular sunshine exposure, vit d is helpful in ‘bad’ cholesterol reduction (apparently) at the risk of skin damage of course. but even 15 mins unprotected exposure at beginning and end if each day is still beneficial and better than not doing it. you are better served in Thirroul for this:)
I heard (actually seen the results in someone I know) that you can do a ‘liver cleanse’ crazy believe it or not Epsom salt with olive oil drinking regime that results in you passing blobs of the bad stuff (chol) out of your system, apparently it’s green :) you do it at the start of a 7 day fast every 6-8 weeks and commit to the lifestyle changes too. Yep the person is known to me…
I looked it up and stopped at the first sentence: “This procedure contradicts many modern medical viewpoints” Not a strong selling point IMHO.
http://falconblanco.com/health/cleansing/liver.html
Then I saw the copyright message in the footer: “The Cure for all Diseases”: Copyright 1995 by Hulda Regehr Clark, Ph.D and I decided to never listen to any anecdotal health advice from anyone ever again ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulda_Regehr_Clark
I’m pretty certain the best detoxification I can do right now is to stop putting toxins into my body (alcohol, overly processed carbs). Occasional fasting would probably not be a bad thing, although 7 days seems rather extreme (and I doubt I could handle a single day without getting really incredibly cranky and irritable).
crapola.
Sorry to hear it dude. Maybe you should LOVE God more? Try the popular J first, if that fails go the M man, fallback on big Buddha, or perhaps even go Satan, just believe in a God as Im sure it will help. If anything it helps put you at ease and lower your stress :) God’s will.
Failing that, get younger, or keep walking everyday and lay off the cigs n drink.
Im getting my blood test later in the week, i better start praying now.
I’m pretty sure arguing endlessly on twitter wasn’t helping my BP, but unfortunately I can’t blame high cholesterol on that.
Do it by the numbers. I use MyFitnessPal and stick to 2000 calories a day, tracking absolutely everything that passes into my stomach bar water and black coffee. If, like me, you want to eat volume, then you quickly work out bitter chocolate ice cream leaves you hungry for a large portion of the day and alcohol is empty calories.
In an effort to deter hunger, you’ll eat healthier food and lose weight. you have to stick to it though and do allow yourself treats or you’ll go mad and give up.
Cholesterol is hard to keep down. My cholesterol exceeds the NZGG optimal levels (so says my last diagnostic medlab result), and my main food sources are bran, soy, and tuna. If you find the secret to lowering cholesterol, then let me know!