Cholesterol

[Cameron_R]

How many of you who truly eat like a body builder or powerlifter, get your cholesterol tested regularly?

What results do you get?

After my short intro in to 'how' to eat properly, I have a gut feeling that most body builders would have terrible cholesterol!!

eg. A single scoop of Whey Protein is approx 15% of your recommended daily allowance of cholesterol - most BB's would have several scoops per day. Add to that all the dairy, eggs, peanut butter, other fats and red meat that you need to consume and you get a recipe for a shit load of crap building up in your arteries/veins!!

I'm getting mine tested in the next month - I'd love to proven wrong ....

[thatwaslight]

lol your missing one important factor.....STEROIDS eat lots then get your cholesterol levels taken on cycle :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Cameron_R]

I haven't got a clue about steroids - are you saying it makes it worse or better?

[perpetual_injuries]

The fair of dietary cholesterol has largely been shown to be misplaced. The vast majority of the cholesterol in your body is manufactured via other means. You dietary intake has very little influence on over levels.

Also it's worth noting that Cholesterol isn't just one thing.

When you get it tested you'll have a number of results.

Total Cholesterol (You get risk factors for heart disease and chronic illness over 4.0)

LDL (get a low as possible, though new research shows there are two type of LDL, pattern A and pattern B, with A being good and B being bad)

HDL (get as high as possible)

Triglycerides (ideally you want quite low triglycerides)

The influencing factors on this make up are extremely varied.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids will give a good result

Monounsaturated fatty acids also make it better

Saturated fatty acid has been shown to increase LDL, however, there is some evidence to suggest that grain fed saturated fats will give you high pattern B (bad LDL) while grass fed fats are of less concern as the provide a lot of pattern A (good LDL).

You over triglycerides are lowered by a high HDL/LDL ratio.

[Cameron_R]

The fear of dietary cholesterol has largely been shown to be misplaced. The vast majority of the cholesterol in your body is manufactured via other means. You dietary intake has very little influence on over levels.

No offence, but I'll listen to my Dr on this one rather than you on an internet forum with no references given.

Also it's worth noting that Cholesterol isn't just one thing.

...

You over triglycerides are lowered by a high HDL/LDL ratio.

Yep. Agreed and understood.

I still think the BB'ing diet looks to me like a fast track to high Cholesterol

[samoan_muscle]

The fear of dietary cholesterol has largely been shown to be misplaced. The vast majority of the cholesterol in your body is manufactured via other means. You dietary intake has very little influence on over levels.

No offence, but I'll listen to my Dr on this one rather than you on an internet forum with no references given.

Most definately, Doctors know everything. They, in all their ignorance, should be treated like gods.

[Cameron_R]

Most definately, Doctors know everything. They, in all their ignorance, should be treated like gods.

Yeah, because I'm gonna believe a random guy I don't know on an internet forum who's name is "perpetual_injuries" over my Dr on a subject about health!!

I'm open to being convinced otherwise - but I need to be convinced. Show me some references and evidence.

[tomsammce]

[/quote

[andy s]

I was told by one of NZs top cardioligists that your Cholesterol is due to 90% genetics and 10% diet/lifestyle. Mine is naturally high as is why males in my family have a high risk of heart diesese. I take the pills and get on with life.

Andy.

[Pseudonym]

I had my cholesterol checked a few years ago and the results came back "better than perfect" - that was on a pretty standard bodybuilding diet (probably something like 40/40/20). Had them checked again last year after being on the Anabolic Diet (very high fats) and they were a little bit higher, but nothing to be concerned about.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think exercise, particularly weights training, is good for reducing cholesterol.

I'm interested that whey protein has such a high cholesterol content though - I'd have thought it would be nil. Can anyone explain this?

[Cameron_R]

I had my cholesterol checked a few years ago and the results came back "better than perfect"

Thanks Pseudo. That's really what I'm curious about - how many on here get it checked and what are your results.

Like I said - I'm happy to be convinced my gut feel is wrong - in fact I want to be convinced.

[Peachy]

I was told by one of NZs top cardioligists that your Cholesterol is due to 90% genetics and 10% diet/lifestyle. Mine is naturally high as is why males in my family have a high risk of heart diesese. I take the pills and get on with life.

Andy.

I've heard this too. That most of the cholesterol is produced by your body or sumink and only a tiny bit comes form your diet.

My dad eats the cleanest diet of anyone I have ever seen and is lean as. And he has his whole life. But he has inherited high cholesterol from his father and is on tablets everyday. Same with his sister. Shes just like my dad. Her ex husband was overweight and ate bacon and eggs every morning for breakfast and takeaways all the time and when they both got them tested his was low and hers was really high.

[mr natural]

There's a few theories floating around about cholesterol, the standard one is everyone should have levels within a certain range for obvious reasons,ie cardio vascular disease. I don't really buy into it myself. The drugs used to lower cholestrol levels do more harm than good. The body produces what it needs to function correctly, some people produce more than others naturally. I would argue free radical damage to the arterial walls and high gi diets would cause more rapid build up of plaque than simply having a higher colestrol level than average.

[tomsammce]

The drugs used to lower cholestrol levels do more harm than good. The body produces what it needs to function correctly

some peoples bodies dont produce what they need and others produce too much of it... thats why there are lots of sick people from birth... medication does help and has been proven to or else it wouldnt be being prescribed... people arent just handed pills by doctors willy nilly coz they think it might lower something in the body. many people have cholesterol issues and the medication they take helps them majorly.

[Cameron_R]

Well said Tom.

There seems to be a bit of a 'Dr's don't know what they're talking about' conspiracy theory going on in this thread!

They fricken study for 8'ish years before they're even allowed to go near a prescription book - give them some credit.

[HarryB]

The problem is though that a lot of medications treat the symptoms but not the actual cause... then over time you take more medications to control the side effects of your first medications. It's a slippery slope. I would suggest learning as much as you can about how to "interpret" your blood test results, take into account the variables such as heredity, diet, exercise, drug intake etc etc etc and then talk to your dr with some information not just blankly accepting what they say. You want a real knowledgeable opinion about it, go see an endocrinologist. Your regular GP is going to be good enough to point you in the right direction but if you want to know more you have to look further and harder.

[andy s]

The pills halved my cholesterol in about two weeks. Mine was up in the sevens even though I have always maintained an above average healthy life style. There are heaps of theories around regarding the treatment of higher cholesterol and what should or shouldnt be eaten. Paul Chek for example states in his books that eating free range eggs is fine as the omega 3 to 6 ratios balance out harmful effects or something like that.

There seems to be a bit of a 'Dr's don't know what they're talking about' conspiracy theory going on in this thread!

They fricken study for 8'ish years before they're even allowed to go near a prescription book - give them some credit.

For the record Cameron, if my father had of listened to his doctor with regards to his cardio health he would have died. Thats what the surgeon told him. There are shit loads of over worked, tired Dr's out there.

[tomsammce]

A GP is not a specialist... your cant expect a GP to know everything about everything or else they would never leave Uni.

if you have fucked up health cough up and go see someone who specialises in your problem.

[tomsammce]

The problem is though that a lot of medications treat the symptoms but not the actual cause... then over time you take more medications to control the side effects of your first medications. It's a slippery slope.

well mate thats a no brainer... if their were a cure for the cause then they would take that.. the side effects from the meds are a hell of alot better for u and more managable than the symptoms of the health issue

[HarryB]

Tom I think you misunderstood what I meant or perhaps I miscommunicated it... If we have cholesterol issues it's often a result of a sedentary lifestyle and/or poor dietary choices. If instead of just being given meds we were educated to amend these issues then we would remove the cause. Even if you have a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol that doesn't mean you can not manage it with dietary and lifestyle changes.

This applies to most lifestyle controlled diseases. Adult onset diabetes is another which is medicated for yet can be so easily handled with diet etc etc etc etc

[Cameron_R]

For the record Cameron, if my father had of listened to his doctor with regards to his cardio health he would have died. Thats what the surgeon told him. There are shit loads of over worked, tired Dr's out there.

Fair enough, but that's one example out of thousands. (admitedly taking my argument to an extreme) that's like saying that we should stop treating tap water because one guy got sick from it despite the fact that millions of people live longer because of safe drinking water it provides.

I agree if you suspect you have something serious, get a second and third opinion!!

Aaaanny way, back to my thread.

Tom, Andy, Harry, anyone else who's not bored of the thread yet - have you had your cholesterol tested, and was it good/bad/ugly? So far we have one answer from Pseudo (which was a positive result).

If you haven't - why not? a) cos you didn't think of it, b) you don't care or c) want to but haven't got around to it??

[HarryB]

I have gotten my cholesterol checked since my mid 20's at least once a year. I get my kidney and liver function done as well and basically try and get as many blood tests as I can get done when I go in. Mosty because I want to monitor how my health is. I find as long as I am training and eating well then I haven't strayed outside of what's normal. On the high side but never over the "normal" ranges. At least not for cholesterol. One of my liver enzymes goes out of whack when I am taking steroids but it returns to normal.

I actually found that over the last couple of years when I cut back training to sometimes only 2 days a week and was basically just eating whatever I felt like and doing a fair bit of socialisingmy cholesterol went up. And I wasn't taking steroids at that time or eating the high dairy, high meat, high protein diet I am following now and did previously while competing. It is probably also noteworthy that I am currently taking AAS and not suffering with any elevations in cholesterol or decreases in kidney and liver function.

I think if you look up the studies run on people utilising the Atkins (high fat/ high protein) eating regimin you will find that they showed very favourable cholesterol levels, remembering some of these people had issues with cholesterol and kidney and liver function prior to beginning this style of eating. I would look up the studies but I am sure you can just google and you'll get plenty of links to look at.

[Cameron_R]

Thanks Harry

[andy s]

Have had mine tested approx. once a year for the past six. Im 35 years old.

Ive tried various types of diet and exercise routines. As a size/weight indication im currently 79-81kgs and 176cms @ an estimated 18%bf. I stopped taking the pills about a year ago and when tested late DEc 2010 my Cholesterol was very high (7s). Im getting tested again next week having been back on the pills for the last 6 weeks. Ive not had any really noticable sides from the pills that I could tell apart from regular DOMs. I eat around 15 - 20 eggs per week and three scoops of protein/day. I grow all my own vegetables and easily do 5 serves/day. I train four times per week.

Anyway... to finally answer your question.... I have not seen any real change in my tests when using protein sups and I have tried on and off.

If yours is high I would recommend taking the pills. Ive got three kids I want to see grow up, thats reason enough for me :nod:

Andy.

[Cameron_R]

Thank Andy - in those 6 years, have you had any periods where you've not eaten a BB'er diet (apart from the sups)?

I'm asking to test against the 'the diet doesn't matter theory' with your experience.