Diet tips for high blood pressure and cholesterol...

[chiang mai]

BP = lose weight if needed, exercise regularly and minimize sodium intake (no added salt, and avoid processed foods)

Note that even with this, some people -- many in fact, especially among the over 5 crowd -- cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication.

Cholesterol = would help to know exactly what you HDL and LDL levels were 9total cholesterol is not meaningful). Avopid all fried foods at the market/restaurants (they use the worst kind of oil) and use only healthy oils at home (canola, olive, sunflower etc). Take in as much fiber as you can. Keep red meat to a minimum, ditto cheese. Avoid processed carbs but it sounds like you already do. Fish oil supplements.

"cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication."

Is it true that if you start on BP medications that you have to continue for life?

Did anyone answer this question? When I spoke to my doctor about this, he said that it is possible to no longer need meds to control BP, however, it was not common. I did not question him any further on the subject.

What I do note from my visits to the doctor is that he does not rely on the results from the digital BP measuring machines but always rechecks using his own mercury sphygmomanometer. The reading on the latter is always somewhat lower than the digital ones at the hospital I visit.

Sorry, I didn't answer because I was unable to, my guess however is that in most cases, most people are capable of changing their diet and lifestyle to such a degree that the need for medication can be mostly eliminated - case in point cholesterol lowering medication, I started off at 30mg and am now down to 5mg per day, I'm really not sure I even need that and at some point I may well stop completely, I imagine similar must be true of BP meds also? (please note the excessive use of caveats)

[CaptHaddock]

Red rice yeast is a terrible idea. It's just a statin that is produced at below pharmaceutical grade. So, you have no idea how much of the active ingredient is in the compound, if there is any at all.

An alternative to big pharma statins is red rice yeast taken with co-enzyme Q10.

I am not suggesting anyone comes off of doctor suscribed statins but if you are not on statins yet and trying to reduce cholesterol it may be worth a try.

My last medical revealed some concerning cholesterol & triglycerides numbers. As well as fixing up my diet and getting more excercise I am taking the following supplements:

Red rice yeast taken with co-enzyme Q10

Multi B

Pomegranate extract

Cod liver oil

Fish oil

Flax seed oil

Lost 10Kg in the last 3 months and plan on losing another 5 before my next visit to check the numbers in 3 months. Hopefully I will see an improvment.

[crumpled]

BP = lose weight if needed, exercise regularly and minimize sodium intake (no added salt, and avoid processed foods)

Note that even with this, some people -- many in fact, especially among the over 5 crowd -- cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication.

Cholesterol = would help to know exactly what you HDL and LDL levels were 9total cholesterol is not meaningful). Avopid all fried foods at the market/restaurants (they use the worst kind of oil) and use only healthy oils at home (canola, olive, sunflower etc). Take in as much fiber as you can. Keep red meat to a minimum, ditto cheese. Avoid processed carbs but it sounds like you already do. Fish oil supplements.

"cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication."

Is it true that if you start on BP medications that you have to continue for life?

Did anyone answer this question? When I spoke to my doctor about this, he said that it is possible to no longer need meds to control BP, however, it was not common. I did not question him any further on the subject.

What I do note from my visits to the doctor is that he does not rely on the results from the digital BP measuring machines but always rechecks using his own mercury sphygmomanometer. The reading on the latter is always somewhat lower than the digital ones at the hospital I visit.

I have just come back from seeing the nurse at my local surgery who also uses a mercury sphygmomanometer. When I did mention about my BP being so high in Thailand her reply was that they find the digital machines to be very innacurate.

Pleased to say that at 59 years old my BP is 120/70 today Better than the 170/xx they told me I had in Thailand.

[llp]

BP = lose weight if needed, exercise regularly and minimize sodium intake (no added salt, and avoid processed foods)

Note that even with this, some people -- many in fact, especially among the over 5 crowd -- cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication.

Cholesterol = would help to know exactly what you HDL and LDL levels were 9total cholesterol is not meaningful). Avopid all fried foods at the market/restaurants (they use the worst kind of oil) and use only healthy oils at home (canola, olive, sunflower etc). Take in as much fiber as you can. Keep red meat to a minimum, ditto cheese. Avoid processed carbs but it sounds like you already do. Fish oil supplements.

Cholesterol was 253, triglycerides 181 and direct LDL same 181.

Blood was 109 for the fasting blood sugar test.

We have very little salt, basically we do not use it at home and we only eat what is already in bought foods.

Are you sure it was direct LDL? Usually a lipid profile uses a calculation to estimate LDL. I think a VAP test can measure it more directly. What was you HDL?

[meatboy]

And buy your self a good blood pressure monitor because one off tests done by doctors may not be indicative of true blood pressure levels.

Very very true, when I test at home I'm always around 124/75, in a doctors office or a hospital I'm always north of 145/x, often substantially so.

I too would be very wary of the BP test done in some of the hospitals. Whenever I visited my BP was between 130/80 and 170/90. They had me on meds for a long time and it was still way too high. Odd then that since I have been in the UK over the last four months and had 3 BP tests not one has been over 127/75 and that is without any meds. One was even down to 116/70.

I would get a BP monitor yourself and check.

i bought a bp monitor 15yrs.ago and its been perfect.the doctor always told me never take your bp after any task you do.

even last month when having my medical at theparat hospital the got 3different readings on was as high as 165/85.

this morning after taking my dog for his walk it registered 150/80,now 1hr later 131/72.the monitor i have isVISOMAT 300.

[Aussieroaming]

mate

get your doctor to send you to a specialist to check for underlying causes.

I have been taking pills for high blood pressure for years

Turns out my heart valve is leaking causing inefficiency and the problem. Pills mask the truth sometimes

[Showbags]

BP = lose weight if needed, exercise regularly and minimize sodium intake (no added salt, and avoid processed foods)

Note that even with this, some people -- many in fact, especially among the over 5 crowd -- cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication.

Cholesterol = would help to know exactly what you HDL and LDL levels were 9total cholesterol is not meaningful). Avopid all fried foods at the market/restaurants (they use the worst kind of oil) and use only healthy oils at home (canola, olive, sunflower etc). Take in as much fiber as you can. Keep red meat to a minimum, ditto cheese. Avoid processed carbs but it sounds like you already do. Fish oil supplements.

Cholesterol was 253, triglycerides 181 and direct LDL same 181.

Blood was 109 for the fasting blood sugar test.

We have very little salt, basically we do not use it at home and we only eat what is already in bought foods.

Are you sure it was direct LDL? Usually a lipid profile uses a calculation to estimate LDL. I think a VAP test can measure it more directly. What was you HDL?

HDL 46

LDL 181

VLDL 36

[Showbags]

Missus has me on a good diet...I think...she has promised to fix me.

Moved over from the light brown rice to a very dark brown rice 50%, brown rice 20% and Barley 30% and it is delicious....still only eating half what used to though.

She also has these herbal teas and drinks mixed up which taste quite good.

Lost circa 1.5/2kg in last 6 days.

[meatboy]

Missus has me on a good diet...I think...she has promised to fix me.

Moved over from the light brown rice to a very dark brown rice 50%, brown rice 20% and Barley 30% and it is delicious....still only eating half what used to though.

She also has these herbal teas and drinks mixed up which taste quite good.

Lost circa 1.5/2kg in last 6 days.

keep it up dont get tooooooo excited as you will loose the first few kilo's quick its more fluid than fat.

care full with the missus helping you mine helped me and i lost £'s in no time

[chiang mai]

Missus has me on a good diet...I think...she has promised to fix me.

Moved over from the light brown rice to a very dark brown rice 50%, brown rice 20% and Barley 30% and it is delicious....still only eating half what used to though.

She also has these herbal teas and drinks mixed up which taste quite good.

Lost circa 1.5/2kg in last 6 days.

keep it up dont get tooooooo excited as you will loose the first few kilo's quick its more fluid than fat.

care full with the missus helping you mine helped me and i lost £'s in no time

But be aware, MB just ordered a box of meat pies on a different thread so his £/lbs might be going/comming from somewhere else.

[Showbags]

Forgot to get the bloody blood tap measuring device in Bangkok yesterday....bugger.

Shall have to forge ahead on a wing and prayer that it is doing the right thing for the next couple weeks until can get one.

[chiang mai]

Forgot to get the bloody blood tap measuring device in Bangkok yesterday....bugger.

Shall have to forge ahead on a wing and prayer that it is doing the right thing for the next couple weeks until can get one.

Any/all large pharmacy stocks them, Fascimo's is good and they are everywhere..

[meatboy]

Missus has me on a good diet...I think...she has promised to fix me.

Moved over from the light brown rice to a very dark brown rice 50%, brown rice 20% and Barley 30% and it is delicious....still only eating half what used to though.

She also has these herbal teas and drinks mixed up which taste quite good.

Lost circa 1.5/2kg in last 6 days.

keep it up dont get tooooooo excited as you will loose the first few kilo's quick its more fluid than fat.

care full with the missus helping you mine helped me and i lost £'s in no time

But be aware, MB just ordered a box of meat pies on a different thread so his £/lbs might be going/comming from somewhere else.

yep cm.meat pies was my downfall but since my by-pass surgery and bp.medication every day i should be good for awhile.

[Showbags]

Forgot to get the bloody blood tap measuring device in Bangkok yesterday....bugger.

Shall have to forge ahead on a wing and prayer that it is doing the right thing for the next couple weeks until can get one.

Any/all large pharmacy stocks them, Fascimo's is good and they are everywhere..

not here they ain't, but they probably in Korat so might look there, but that 75 minutes away.

[llp]

BP = lose weight if needed, exercise regularly and minimize sodium intake (no added salt, and avoid processed foods)

Note that even with this, some people -- many in fact, especially among the over 5 crowd -- cannot maintain a healthy BP without medication.

Cholesterol = would help to know exactly what you HDL and LDL levels were 9total cholesterol is not meaningful). Avopid all fried foods at the market/restaurants (they use the worst kind of oil) and use only healthy oils at home (canola, olive, sunflower etc). Take in as much fiber as you can. Keep red meat to a minimum, ditto cheese. Avoid processed carbs but it sounds like you already do. Fish oil supplements.

Cholesterol was 253, triglycerides 181 and direct LDL same 181.

Blood was 109 for the fasting blood sugar test.

We have very little salt, basically we do not use it at home and we only eat what is already in bought foods.

Are you sure it was direct LDL? Usually a lipid profile uses a calculation to estimate LDL. I think a VAP test can measure it more directly. What was you HDL?

HDL 46

LDL 181

VLDL 36

This puts your LDL calculation at about 170. Still high risk.

See this:

http://www.hughchou.org/calc/chol.php

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~geoff36/LDL_mg.htm

But these are calculations not a direct measure. Did you fast for 12 hours with no food/water before the test? Do your previous yearly tests show similar results. If yes, then you are at high risk. If not, you should test again with another lab, perhaps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_auto_profile if it is offered.

Edited November 7, 2013 by llp

[ronz28]

No meat (that includes fish and chicken), no dairy (especially cheese), no eggs, no oil (occasionally olive & coconut), in short go Vegan is what I have done for a few months now with little to no exercise (I need to work on that). Dropped 40 pounds, cut BMI to 27.6 and median blood pressure readings to 108/73, pulse 50. Total cholesterol is now 170, triglycerides 103, HDL 45, calc LDL 104, Hemoglobin AIc 5.2. No blood pressure pills but doc still has me on Pravastatin Sodium 10 mg (now pill splitting my former dosage of 20 mg) for cholesterol which I hope to get off of eventually. My inspiration is from doctors who take time to give guidance on youtube channels such as (can also search their names and get a few more hits)

Dr .John McDougall https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtpP3jb9LOpbGxdNQhk3Qg

Dr. Joel Fuhrman https://www.youtube.com/channel/HCUkNF0vQXNhM

Dr Michael McGregor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddn8dUxYdgJz3Qr5mjADtA

Caldwell Esselstyn MD https://www.youtube.com/channel/HC_YVhEYHB2tk

Dr Mercola https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxscQY7X0mtnaCbkGTjZ17g

Dr Pam Popper https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClT3Z4I5m_77EwXdpN6ajNg

and Vegetarian Society of Hawaii https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClWvuf-DKVw1uooIfrXoLvQ

[Jingthing]

Interesting ronz.

Vegetarianism definitely is very beneficial to many.

[Showbags]

Cholesterol was 253, triglycerides 181 and direct LDL same 181.

Blood was 109 for the fasting blood sugar test.

We have very little salt, basically we do not use it at home and we only eat what is already in bought foods.

Are you sure it was direct LDL? Usually a lipid profile uses a calculation to estimate LDL. I think a VAP test can measure it more directly. What was you HDL?

HDL 46

LDL 181

VLDL 36

This puts your LDL calculation at about 170. Still high risk.

See this:

http://www.hughchou.org/calc/chol.php

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~geoff36/LDL_mg.htm

But these are calculations not a direct measure. Did you fast for 12 hours with no food/water before the test? Do your previous yearly tests show similar results. If yes, then you are at high risk. If not, you should test again with another lab, perhaps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_auto_profile if it is offered.

Yes did the nothing for 12 hours prior deal.

I do not do yearly tests, this is the first one for about 5 years from memory...shall dig that one out and see what it said.

[llp]

Positive lifestyle and diet changes can be implemented at anytime, but I would never take medications without confirmation from secondary testing. Lab mistakes and improper handling of samples happen, even swapped with other patients. I'm not sure of the rate, perhaps Sheryl can comment if she has personally witnessed results completely differ from lab errors, or would this lipid profile be 99.99% correct with a small fluctuating range?

[Tolley]

No meat (that includes fish and chicken), no dairy (especially cheese), no eggs, no oil (occasionally olive & coconut), in short go Vegan is what I have done for a few months now with little to no exercise (I need to work on that). Dropped 40 pounds, cut BMI to 27.6 and median blood pressure readings to 108/73, pulse 50. Total cholesterol is now 170, triglycerides 103, HDL 45, calc LDL 104, Hemoglobin AIc 5.2. No blood pressure pills but doc still has me on Pravastatin Sodium 10 mg (now pill splitting my former dosage of 20 mg) for cholesterol which I hope to get off of eventually. My inspiration is from doctors who take time to give guidance on youtube channels such as (can also search their names and get a few more hits)

Dr .John McDougall https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtpP3jb9LOpbGxdNQhk3Qg

Dr. Joel Fuhrman https://www.youtube.com/channel/HCUkNF0vQXNhM

Dr Michael McGregor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddn8dUxYdgJz3Qr5mjADtA

Caldwell Esselstyn MD https://www.youtube.com/channel/HC_YVhEYHB2tk

Dr Mercola https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxscQY7X0mtnaCbkGTjZ17g

Dr Pam Popper https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClT3Z4I5m_77EwXdpN6ajNg

and Vegetarian Society of Hawaii https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClWvuf-DKVw1uooIfrXoLvQ

I am not sure that for a lot of people this is a viable long term option.

Firstly you have to really and I mean really monitor your food intake to ensure you are getting everything you need and even then many people on total veg, diets end up being iron deficient.

For men it might have a negative impact on Test. levels.

Further you have to eat reasonably large quantities of these foods to get all your nutritional requirements.

Practically it is very hard to follow if you have to source your meals outside home and of course it can have a big effect on your social life.

I recommend a more reasonable approach with similar benefits and that is eliminate dairy, limit red meat once or twice a week max , incorporate beans , lentils, tempeh in the diet and you will get similar results without the risks and hardship of a total veggie diet.

[jimkim]

Me and my mate , use apple cider vinegar(with the mother) Bragg raw unfiltered look on the net and read . We were high blood press.try works for us.bragg USA can get in thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Showbags]

Me and my mate , use apple cider vinegar(with the mother) Bragg raw unfiltered look on the net and read . We were high blood press.try works for us.bragg USA can get in thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Do you baste her in it?

[ronz28]

Thanks for the comments. On a Vegan diet I must supplement with sub-lingual B12. Pesticides in foods are a problem so I try to buy organic for the Dirty Dozen veggies or just use the clean fifteen. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php Pesticides and antibiotics are concentrated in meats here in the US and more so in meat fat including chicken skin and thighs so a Vegan diet solves that problem.

[tim armstrong]

I think its all been said, except for avocados. Simply the best food. Lots of fish- preferably steamed. About yoghurt. - Yolida makes the best natural one and now after 10 years they are starting to stock it outside BKK. Also Caroline - a new one, low fat , natural set.

[Showbags]

I think its all been said, except for avocados. Simply the best food. Lots of fish- preferably steamed. About yoghurt. - Yolida makes the best natural one and now after 10 years they are starting to stock it outside BKK. Also Caroline - a new one, low fat , natural set.

Caroline is around the corner from us, so nice to know, did not see any natural one in their store the other day, only flavoured stuff.

I think I have seen the yolida one in tops, but it was quite sour compared to another one tried recently.

Luckily I love a lot of the good foods, so not missing out. Avacados are great and mentioned before and fish is all good.

[ronz28]

There is an old saying that you are as old as your arteries. No white sugar and live on a lot less protein than the typical western diet to keep your body heat from ruining your blood vessels and consequently all the rest of your body. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWCZkFQdEhs

[ronz28]

A couple of interesting playlists on plant based nutrition:

Processed people or not- up to you! 14 short clips on nutrition (x off the ads to get through the list in about 30 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW2D5a7XL4c&list=PLDB08EB984B46CB4D

Here is a more detailed discussion with a playlist of 9 longer videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Warl5KfhFNs&list=PLYmM_Ej6JHAnP4a_KVgXcJ65ksLEqRuS9

[Showbags]

I visited the local pharmacy today and they did not have any blood test machines in stock, they sometimes do, but wait a week or 2 they said.

Prices they said start at 2800b to 3500b and the strips, they come in a pack of 25 for circa 500b.

Does this sound accurate or over the top ?

[ronz28]

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, mustard greens, and bok choy have the phytochemicals that are the key to helping our intestines to form a physical barrier to defend the body by locking out pathogens and sustain our immunity. Just need to make sure the veggies eaten are organic (no pesticides) or a part of the clean 15 vegetables that do not allow pesticides to penetrate beyond the outer layer of the veggie so you can peel the pesticide layer away where you are unsure if it contains pesticides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvIqa8ko4e0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUddn8dUxYdgJz3Qr5mjADtA

Treating the cause of disease to avoid the disease, medicines, surgeries, doctors, hospitals, etc. is far easier than the disease but you won't hear that from drug company advertising, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ofBnzmQMsA&list=UUddn8dUxYdgJz3Qr5mjADtA

[Showbags]

What are the 15 vegetables ??

I have poor internet to be able to watch all those youtube vids.