How I Cut my Cholesterol in Half Without Drugs

It is some years ago now when I cut my cholesterol from around 266 to 184. Sure, it’s not exactly in half.

Before that, I had expense account lunches and enjoyed rich foods - butter, ice cream, bacon, cheese - and I didn’t exercise enough.

After learning my levels were too high, I slashed high cholesterol and high sodium foods, I began eating oatmeal for breakfast, and eating more fish, vegetables and fruits and whole grain breads – I like the Mediterranean diet – and I stayed away from medications and supplements like Omega-3s. I also began exercising regularly, especially walking and biking. Fear works.

I also decided to eat less than other people do and to experience occasional hunger pangs. I am not talking starvation here, just good old fashioned hunger. The benefit of this is that it made me hungry to eat, which helped me to enjoy food more. It is also where restraint comes in - it meant doing away with snacks, aside from a few almonds and an occasional chocolate. I find coffee mutes the hunger pangs and beer and wine can work too. Later there came the no-food-or-drink-(besides water)-after-9PM-rule. I am not a vegetarian or a vegan. I like meat too much. But I am not a fan of high protein diets or low carb diets either. I know plenty of people who are on them, torturing themselves.

Am I being unfair in saying that people will not lose weight if they continue to eat the way they do? It is bizarre seeing overweight women coming from the gym and ordering drinks at Starbucks loaded with calories. It is bizarre seeing male friends go on heavy medications like Lipitor and Crestor and hearing them complain that they do not have time to exercise or alter their diet. They smile and claim to lack will power, but I cannot understand why anyone would want to put powerful drugs in their body.

Photo of soybeans by Scott Bauer for the USDA/Wikipedia.