lowering cholesterol

[SueA]

Dobby, don't know if you've seen it but ther's an ad. on T.V. for the Government's Stop Smoking Helpine & they say they will send out advice & a free DVD to help you give up. Tel.no. 0800 88 44 11.

[Two_Sheds]

i started on the healthier lifestyle thing a while back, but i've always found the "eat more veg and pulses" thing ...really off-putting

You don't need to just have a plateful of veg and lentils, y'know

Add a handful of beans/lentils to any kind of soup/stew/sauce/casserole that you make ... you won't even notice they're in there.
Ditto chopped veggies.

[Two_Sheds]

My cholesterol is also 7.8 .... I do like crisps, cheese

Both are high fat, and not good for you. Go cold turkey for a month, and see if you miss them. A lot of people are 'addicted' to the salt in things like this, not the food itself.

There is a cheese that actually lowers your cholesterol, marketed under the name Heartfelt Plus Natural Cheese, it contains Reducol. Reducol is a phytosterol, which is a plant sterol that has shown promise in lowering cholesterol levels. In addition to this ingredient, this cheese is also lower in fat. The typical cheese contains up to 40% fat. This cheese, on the other hand, contains only 12% fat.

I haven't tried it, I just googled it

[smallblueplanet]

on the smoking thing Mrs D also smokes and I toled her if I decided to give them up I would not expect her to,
the book came today with 2 cds so going to start reading it prob monday cos working sat sun

That's a good idea, its really difficult if only one of you gives up. If you both give up it'll only be a couple of days before you can smell the difference!

I siad to MrsD is there a pumpking pie and dubble cream recipe that is low fat

Try greek yoghurt instead of double cream, its very nice tasting (not the same so don't compare).

[Hilary B]

I've tried reduced fat cheeses. They tend to be rubbery and tasteless. If you like cheese 'straight' ration it. If you like cheese as an ingredient, buy the strongest tasting one in the shop and use half the quantity, also add mustard (the powdered type) as this enhances the taste of cheese (no idea why, it just does).
For mince-included meals, use the 'extender system' with bulgar and/or lentils. If you add a little bovril, it's amazing how little mince you need to make it taste right!
There ARE tricks for getting the tastes you want without the cholesterol-inducing ingredients! Sadly, the only crisps that will work are the 'baked' type, which are OK, but just not the same.
Oily fish can help, and so can using OLIVE oil whenever you really cannot leave out the oil.
Are you overweight? A lot of people with cholesterol problems find that the problems reduce (but don't vanish) if their BMI is in the 'proper' range.

[marigold007]

I made a sugar free pumpkin pie once that I preferred to the regular sugar version. It was made with nutrasweet spoonful. I don't know what the equivalent would be here. And, I am sure that a little dab of cream on a piece of pie never killed anyone. Just make it from the cream that comes on top of organic non-homogenized milk and you can rationalize that you have beat the system.

[Catrina]

How did our parents and grand parents ever manage to live to a great age without having it checked. Though they did not have the processed food that is available now. And everything was cooked from fresh. Unlike now for alot of people.

[nelliegemini]

How did our parents and grand parents ever manage to live to a great age without having it checked. Though they did not have the processed food that is available now. And everything was cooked from fresh. Unlike now for alot of people.

And at the risk of being cliche-ridden - no washing machines, dishwashers, fewer cars, more bikes and buses, fewer lifts (elevator type lifts that is), less TV, more vegetable growing, more walking, more sports at school, being taught to cook properly.

Grrrrrrr grumpy old woman talking

[di]

on the smoking thing Mrs D also smokes and I toled her if I decided to give them up I would not expect her to,
the book came today with 2 cds so going to start reading it prob monday cos working sat sun

I siad to MrsD is there a pumpking pie and dubble cream recipe that is low fat
and a yule cake recipe
my pumpkin pie is mmmmmmmmmmmm eveyone likes it the recipe is on the vine not really helthy but very very nice

Now you see I thought this thread was all about trying to encourage you along the straight & narrow paths that are healthy eating!!!....so why am I now feeling an incredible need for pumpkin pie!!??
In my opinion(must add absolutely no medical background at all~except I was a drs receptionist before~that couldn't type nor use a computer!!)but anyway,back to the point!!!I'm sure if you "do your best"most of the time then you can still have the odd slice of pumpkin pie too!!I did a really good pumpkin curry for tea,which had i have managed to stop the rather large lump of butter from falling in towards the end would have been very low fat indeed...& to be honest,pumpkins are that creamy it would probably have tasted just as(ok almost as!)good!!
Good Luck with it all!Seems tough now,but really your taste buds will soon adjust.& one more tip!!Don't leave the house with any loose change!!Just far too many shops along the way convincing you just one choccie won't hurt!!

[Two_Sheds]

How did our parents and grand parents ever manage to live to a great age without having it checked.

That's a bit of a myth. Life expectancy is greater now than at any time.
Both my grandparents had heart attacks, so has my FiL ... they all ate lots of red meat, cream & cheese. And smoked.

What they did get right was to cook from scratch, and to take regular exercise ... it used to be normal to use your legs to get around.

[smallblueplanet]

I made a sugar free pumpkin pie once that I preferred to the regular sugar version. It was made with nutrasweet spoonful. I don't know what the equivalent would be here...

Sugar-free but it was just as sweet? I think it would be better to re-acustom your taste buds to eat less sugar (and salt) rather than using some revolting artificial sweetners that are probably 'worse for you' than sugar.

[BrideXIII]

it says in this booklet the nurse gave me it says no more than 4 eggs a week
and to have a high fibre diet, well the JAs should be ready and I think they gots lots of fiber in umm, mybe not to have them as chips thow
could do um in cream only joking
whats Low GI?

poach em, no fat in them that way, and as for the chips, make your own, skins left on, sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive and bung in a hot oven, lovely.

[Dobby]

thanks again everyone I have been reading allan carrs book all I can say is oh my gods.... yea
I will not say anymore as yet in case Mrs D decides to read it
and do not play tihs if you do not wont to give up smoking
YouTube - Stop Smoking Quit Cigarettes in Minutes!
It hits you hard

[terrier]

How difficult is it to give up smoking? I havn't smoked for over 20 years simply because I stopped buying them. Simple isn't it.
I also stopped using extra salt in food, that was much harder than giving up the cigs, but now I can't stand the taste of salt on food. Salt doesn't enhance the flavour of food, it just makes it taste of salt.
Consulting a doctor a couple of years ago about my inability to lose weight, she said because of my active lifestyle, I was building up more muscle and, as muscle is heavier than fat, I would find it difficult to lose weight. Didn't mention any problems with cholesterol.
I avoid all processed foods like the plague. I also avoid supermarket mik but because it tastes awfull.
I know my diet is a lot less than perfect but as I get older I find I'm tending to eat the same foods but less of them (still not losing weight).
The biggest killer is still STRESS. I recon that's the trigger to a whole plethora of illnesses. Maybe we should all start learning to recognise the symptoms of stress in all it's disguises as a pathway to good general health.
But that's just my opinion

[smallblueplanet]

How difficult is it to give up smoking?...

Very difficult for some, it took me at least 3 goes, but I kept on trying. Its better to recognise that it can be something difficult for some rather than stop trying...

As the famous quote goes

Giving up smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times!