Flashback Friday: Optimal Cholesterol Level

Why don’t authorities advocate a sufficient reduction in cholesterol down to safe levels?

Here are a few newer cholesterol videos:

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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Image Credit: ToM and itsokstay_calm via Flickr.

[zpoedog]

Thought I was so cool with a cholesterol of 137 and LDL of 82. Dr Greger you just broke my bubble. Thanks, 81 year old vegan.

[JosephNJ]

For me, getting cholesterol and LDL down to 140/70 respectively had side effects: better health, lower blood pressure, less inflammation, better sleep, and lower HBA1C. Of course it took some attention to diet and exercise, but it really wasn't a major sacrifice. I recall my GP saying saying years ago, "Wow. I have patients on statins that can't do that well." I told him maybe he should prescribe oatmeal instead.

[angelm.bouchard]

Thanks for putting the truth out there where it needs to be, again.
I’m sure that most of the people who are smart enough to be here appreciate your efforts to save lives.

[elmagnificodep]

Switched to WFPB last year. I’ve hit bumps here and there like vegan cheese or non-dairy ice cream being the worst more recently, but here is where I’m at now. I go by the thought that you try to eat right and if you mess up there is always tomorrow.

BMI: 22.2
LDL: 50
HDL: 41
Triglycerides: 46
Total Cholesterol: 104
BP: 110/68

[shivaskrivs]

My LDL is 84 and was flagged as "Low" on my recent lab result. Been Plant based for 16 months now. No meds.

[DrDesHarrington]

One of the best videos on this channel, and that's saying something! Well worth a flashback. :)

[karlpilkington]

Maybe the public's greatest frustration would come from not being informed of the optimum diet for health

Yes

That is true

[DrAdnan]

It’s interesting what we consider normal levels

[renieldiaz]

Thank you Dr. Greger, keep up the great work.

[HenchHerbivore]

Since going whole foods plant-based my systolic blood pressure has gone from 140+ to 107. Does this mean that I have reversed much of the atherosclerosis?

[SpoonsForks]

OATMEAL FOR BREAKFAST EVERY DAMN DAY!!!

[TheFitnessShinobi]

I wish more people would consider looking more into this, as soon as they hear vegan/plant based often they dismiss it as insanity while depending on pills to band-aid their high blood pressure. Unaware or in denial that you can just avoid it by eating a simple far cheaper whole food diet and avoiding foods high in saturated fat or at the least limiting them.

[ScrayXXI]

>cites _the_ image from Facts and principles learned at the 39th Annual Williamsburg Conference on Heart Disease

the absolute madlad

[skebess]

Hell yeah, I can be a couch broccoli!

[charliedelagua]

What if we’re talking about an older person, who’s trying to go (mostly) plant based who has been using Lipitor for almost 20yrs? Should they continue using it?

[secretariatgirl]

I was at 109 on plant based for a long time...added About 2 grams of a plant sterols supplement...down to 73 ...in my late 60's

[dugfriendly]

It’s so simple as to be unbelievable to most folks.

[JenniferJones-btbf]

So...what about us poor schlumps who have been consistently been eating a WFPBD (with no added oil) and STILL cannot achieve optimal LDL levels?

[tamuctamuc]

My LDL was 99 when I had my heart attack. I lowered it to 68 using WFPB diet and exercise. I've added Repatha and my LDL is 16.

[stephss]

I kept getting getting palpitations/arrhythmia and the cardiologist was like...wow, your cholesterol is great, don't know what's wrong.