Cholesterol

[carolyorkie2010]

I had a blood test yesterday to check my Cholesterol levels, will get the results in a couple of days. I also found out that when I last had it checked, 5 years ago, it was 5.9 The nurse said they prefer it to be under 5 So how do I lower it? Is the fact that I have a sweet tooth anything to do with it? The nurse said as long as I burn off the sweet things that I eat, it's ok, otherwise they just turn to fatty deposits in the body. I cannot tolerate alot of  high-fibre foods due to my Crohns, so have to eat as healthily as I can under the circumstances. Any feedback gratefully received.

[bankhaunter]

but I did eat 2 squares of milk chocolate today, naughty me!!!

I never understood when people said they were chocoholics thinking it a bit silly.

Until the day the dietician told me not to eat more than 200gms of cheese a week.

Now I understand.

[lhasa.two]

Perhaps cut out salt by using unsalted butter or whatever you like to use.

I've stopped using salt when cooking anything these days. Your palate gets used to it. On the very very rare occasions I buy something ready cooked I notice the salt content is enormous and I can barely eat it. Avocados are good if you are able to eat them.

[ed_blackadder_1]

Agree about the salt, OH had a problem a few years back and I stopped putting salt in anything,  always buy unsalted butter, beans, tomato sauce and gravy.  Since then OH hasn't had a problems with cholesterol.

Very rarely do I buy ready meals and like you say you really do notice the salt when you eat it.  Some of them have more than half your daily intake of salt in them.  Biscuits are terrible for the amount of salt they put in, not to mention the fat. I don't buy biscuits any more because they are too moorish.  The last time I bought salt was to put on some weeds on my drive, although I do have some Cornish sea salt lurking in the cupboard, really nice on homemade chips for a treat.

Sadly my thing is chocolate and unless you have the really pure stuff that is bad for you as well.

If my body craves salt I will have some marmite on toast and that does it

[saasher2012]

I sympathise with you on the cheese addiction, I'm also a lover of cheese& no matter how many low fat ones you can buy it's not the same. As to salt , well how many times have you seen someone put salt on their food before even tasting it?. I haven't used salt for years & it teaches you how to use herbs for extra flavour if you need it!. Basically I think it boils down to moderation , eat as much fresh produce as you can grill rather than fry & so on!.

[bankhaunter]

I add a small pinch of salt when cooking vegetables to avoid the loss off salts from them while they are in the water, osmosis and all that, but otherwise I don't use it and do find often processed food is far too salty.

Use a lot of black pepper though.

You are right in that low fat cheese is not the same at all, I'd rather just eat less real cheese.

[carolyorkie2010]

Delighted to find out my Cholesterol level has gone down and is "satisfactory." I must be doing something right.