Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I just got my blood test back, and not suprisingly A1c was 7.9, which is bad.. yeah, Im diabetic, big shocker. Something to work on.

The suprising thing was my cholesterol, it was hella low Total Cholesterol 127 HDL 38 LDL was in the 70s Triglycerides were 55

This seems amazingly low considering all the meat and bacon Ive been eating, and maybe is a bit too low for good health.

Im told that HDL should increase as my A1c drops, Should I otherwise be trying to increase those numbers and if so, how?

flag	asked Oct 31 2011 at 9:57 Monkey Scribe 452●1●8

	What's your diet like, btw? – Korion Oct 31 2011 at 10:07
	for 30 days prior to this test 80% paleo (eggs, bacon, beef, salmon, chicken, avocados, veggies) and 20% SAD crap. Im still struggling with the whole fasting thing when my meal planning breaks down on me. – Monkey Scribe Oct 31 2011 at 10:13
	I have naturally low cholesterol. I peak at around 160 on a killer SAD diet or a healthy primal one. On a low fat, high carb diet (long ago) I was in the 120s. My son's first test in his teens was 118. We were both told to eat plenty of fat to keep ours as high as possible. – Nance Oct 31 2011 at 21:04

majkinetor · Answer 1 · 2011-10-31 12:47:03Z UTC

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Lower cholesterol is more dangerous then higher cholesterol. Lower HDL is more dangerous then higher LDL. Tree times, to be precise.

Brain will suffer, among other things, so its not good.

I do not think that your cholesterol is that low tbh.

answered Oct 31 2011 at 12:47

majkinetor

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there is no way you can quantify your first claim with "three times". I agree that low HDL is no good but saying three times is silly – ben61820 Oct 31 2011 at 13:21

For every 1% the LDL-cholesterol level is lowered, there is a 1% decrease in cardiac events, whereas for every 1% the HDL-cholesterol level is elevated, there is a 3% decrease in cardiac events. medscape.com/viewarticle/584677_2 – majkinetor Oct 31 2011 at 15:36

What ben, you think I am imagining stuff ? I have wild imagination but... – majkinetor Oct 31 2011 at 15:36

staceychev · Answer 2 · 2011-10-31 13:56:35Z UTC

I don't mean to scare you, but... I've read in several books (I think Primal Body, Primal Mind was one of them, maybe Good Fat, Bad Fat the other) that low cholesterol can be dangerous and is linked to cancer. I just did a Google search and the newest research is evidently that it may be a marker for undiagnosed cancer. Granted, that's health media, which is notorious for mis-reading the study-du-jour, but you may want to talk with your doc.

Tom · Answer 3 · 2011-10-31 10:15:21Z UTC

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First of all this is a great example of how wrong people can be when they think that eating meat and saturated fat increases your cholesterol! And I'm sure your doctors will be happy about your LDL level.

What is interesting though is your low HDL level. I'd think that the way to increase that will be to try to eat a bit more monosaturated and oily fish fats, rather than all meat and bacon.

Out of interest, how long have you been paleo?

answered Oct 31 2011 at 10:15

Tom
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A month or so, and only 80% effective. As noted above, Im still struggling with the drive through window when I havent properly planned stuff out. – Monkey Scribe Oct 31 2011 at 10:18

Hi again, Ah - don't suppose you're going for Mark Sisson's 80/20 suggestion by any chance? In which case, I'm impressed (read "sceptical"!) that you know it is precisely that ratio! I'm obviously not here to "tell you off", but as I'm sure you're aware, the 80/20 rule is really about trying to eat 100% paleo and not beating yourself up when you slip up occasionally, rather than aiming for 80/20 (and probably only achieving 60/40). Continued... – Tom Oct 31 2011 at 10:26

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Some primal folk seem to think that cholesterol levels are "nothing to worry about", but I disagree. I think rather than "ignoring cholesterol levels", you need to look at them as a symptom, rather than a cause. Clearly something is resulting in an HDL slump for you, and my guess would be the refined carbs and most likely trans fats that are in your drive thru's. Keep going, it can be done! And ask us for ideas and help about bringing your diet round to something easier and more manageable for you. All the best. – Tom Oct 31 2011 at 10:29

No Tom, I wasn't aiming for a 80/20 rule, but that has been the result. I am still dialing in my behaviors. I can't aim for 80, because if I do, I'll end up doing 4 days of 0% and getting actually ill from it. I will keep at it and see if I can get that HDL up. – Monkey Scribe Oct 31 2011 at 10:34

@Tom: Sisson didn't invent the 80/20 rule. It's been used in a lot of circles, not just health and nutrition, for years. – staceychev Oct 31 2011 at 13:52

Carnivore · Answer 4 · 2011-10-31 10:47:57Z UTC

Coconut oil is best solution I can think of for low HDL. It got mine up from mid-50s to low-80s. Add to that the other health benefits and it's really a no brainer.

You should do fine by cooking in coconut oil or otherwise making sure you get around 4 tbsp of it daily.

Matt · Answer 5 · 2011-10-31 11:21:06Z UTC

Yes, cholesterol can be too low. But...

You should focus on dialing in that last 20% of your diet before obsessing over slightly low HDL I would think. And if you look, feel and perform to the level you like, what's cholesterol but just a number. I don't know my cholesterol. I know I'm healthy, feel great and perform well.

Ozlem · Answer 6 · 2011-11-01 06:24:25Z UTC

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There was an article on this on WAPF website. You should check it.

answered Nov 1 2011 at 6:24

Ozlem
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Can cholesterol be too low?

6 Answers