Conflicting high cholesterol and triglycerides advice

I read that ALL processed seeded oils should be avoided and to only use olive oil for cooking. I must admit I hate the taste of rapeseed oil. Like the OP I am very confused when tests come back outside the reference limits to be told “no further action needed” Who decides - the lab or the GP who reads them? My cholesterol is high at 6.9 but triglycerides are good which just adds to the confusion. I was told I should go on statins but have resisted as I have fibromyalgia and can’t cope with any more pain (muscle pain being a common side effect).

I was told years ago that my cholesterol was high...I think it was 7.1....gp prescribed statins, it came down a bit but I had sore muscles....I tried diferent statins, then after a few years I had type 2 diabetes.....but I had no symptoms....my blood sugar reading was 11.5....I cut out everything with sugar in it and lost a stone, Then I read an article about statins, how they raise your blood sugar, making doctors think you have type 2...., I stopped taking the statins, and I bought a diabetes monotoring system....and check my blood sugar,,,it's always around 5 to 7
gp wasn't happy when I told him I wasn't taking any more statins...but I never will...

I managed to get mine down into normal range simply by swapping butter for Benecol spread. No I don't work for them :D

I'm reluctantly on low dose of statins but they are making my moods very low and I'm seriously thinking of coming off them- anyone else having that problem?

Sara1954

Redhead, I agree, I was told my cholesterol was too high, I was advised to take medication, I said I wanted to try and get it back to normal by diet, which I have done.
I have never heard of triglycerides, what is it,?

fat in the blood

I have tried 2 statins unsuccessfully because of the side effects, and the pharmacist says she can’t prescribe the latest injectable one because I haven had a stroke or a heart attack yet.
I already eat a low fat diet and have lost a stone in weight. But to get my cholesterol down to the advised 2.6 is nigh on impossible

My cholesterol was low but the ratio between good and bad was bad! Put on statins, which I have just stopped as they made my constipation even worse. I think statins seem to be the answer to everything at the moment

DS2 age 44 had a blood test and got a high triglycerides reading. The health centre rang him to discuss it. DS pointed out that the blood was taken two days after Christmas! Another test took place and showed a normal result. I think most people would show high readings after Christmas.

The British Heart Foundation website is worth looking at.
As with all things, it seems to be moderation is key, plus plenty of exercise. I suppose the problem is, what is considered to be “moderate”?

Ask a doctor- then you'll be even more confused.

nel379

Is anyone else confused about what we should or should not be eating to bring down the above? My phlebotomist tells me one thing (red wine bad, use rapeseed not olive oil. Then heart health website says wholegrain carbs and low fat - but advises oily fish which surely is high fat? A website 'expert' says carbs are the problem not fat and we shouldn't cut out dairy. No advice seems consistent. Do any of them really know? My nurse said "your triglycerides and LDL are too high. If they are still high after this blood test we must thi k about medication" My bloods came back still a bit high (slightly above recommended levels) but was told "no action needed". Am I the only person getting conflicting advice

A phlebotomist is trained to take blood. If that their only qualification, then they are not qualified to give health advice.

If you get told results and don't understand, you are allowed to ask the person telling you them to please explain what is meant and what you can do about it. If they can't tell you, change your practitioner

Thanks to all of you that responded. I've since read more articles but the best one really said there is no "one hat fits all" and that sometimes you can get your levels down and others need a bit of help from medication.bju Although some professionals are saying that statins are not a, silver bullet and a healthy lifestyle is the best course of action to start with. The take aways I've got is that processed foods are bad, wholegrain in moderation are good, and oily fish, nuts and seeds are good. But what is just as important is exercise and keeping a healthy weight, plus little or no alcohol. I was hoping for the "red wine is good' advice, but sadly (for me anyway) this is no longer recommended!

Thankyou

Sara1954

Redhead, I agree, I was told my cholesterol was too high, I was advised to take medication, I said I wanted to try and get it back to normal by diet, which I have done.
I have never heard of triglycerides, what is it,?

This link explains triglycerides well:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186

I tried six months of the correct diet and mine remained the same, GP said it’s familial, so I take a statin which has bought it down.

Redhead, I agree, I was told my cholesterol was too high, I was advised to take medication, I said I wanted to try and get it back to normal by diet, which I have done.
I have never heard of triglycerides, what is it,?

Specific oily fish have good fat, salmon, mackerel and sardines I think.
www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/how-to-lower-your-cholesterol/&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi4jb-b3uKFAxXsUEEAHRO9BDEQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0I7x0GeKH3x4Dsbv_Pnhfg

I have been getting the same conflicting information about this same problem. I have got my cholesterol down by being even more careful with my diet. I am not being bullied into just going on tablets it does seem to be the trend. As for the triglycerides I have no clue what is causing this.

No I’m confused too with mine.