Raised Lipids / Raised Cholesterol Level

While cholesterol is vital in helping our bodies digest fat, a high cholesterol level can lead to a build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels, sometimes known as plaque. This can cause narrowing of the blood vessels and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. It is important to consider that cholesterol is only one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and you need to consider that smoking, lack of exercise, stress, being overweight, family history, having a high alcohol intake are other risk factors.

Only a small amount of cholesterol comes from your diet as most is produced by your liver. However, if you eat a diet that is high in saturated (animal) fats this can lead to an increase in your level of cholesterol. The amount that diet affects your cholesterol levels does vary between people.

I find it is rewarding to work with people who are often motivated to change their diet in order to avoid or delay starting medication to lower cholesterol. Keeping a food diary of foods eaten and the amounts for a few days prior to an appointment can help me to assess your current intake.
Link to downloadable food and fluid diary

Body mass Index - If you agreed, I would measure your weight and height and calculate your Body mass Index (BMI).

Your current fat and saturated fat intake - Biscuits, cakes, pastries, fat on  meat, hard cheese, butter, crisps are high in fat and saturated fat – we can discuss how these can be reduced and what alternatives you may wish to try

Soluble fibre is found in fruit and vegetables, beans, lentils and oats and can help to reduce cholesterol levels. Aim to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day.  We can discuss how these can be incorporated into your diet on a regular basis. Remember that tinned fruit and dried fruit also count as a portion.

The role of soya in cholesterol reduction – 25g soya protein / day can reduce cholesterol levels. Although soya is not commonly consumed in this country at this level we would discuss if this was an option for you.

Stanols and sterols – are found in a range of spreads and yoghurt drinks and can reduce cholesterol. To achieve a reduction in your cholesterol level it is important to take the recommended daily amount of the product. We can discuss if and how you wish to achieve this level of intake.

Fish intake – populations such as the Innuit (Eskimos) eat much more fish than the British and have a much lower risk of heart disease. It is thought that the omega-3 fats help to reduce the risk of heart disease. We would discuss the amount of fish recommended for you, taking into account whether you were pregnant, breast feeding or about to become pregnant.

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