Fat chance
A while ago I wrote about the discovery that I have a high level of cholesterol. My doctor had prescribed statins to reduce the level but I was against taking them, as they can produce nasty side-effects and it is also recommended that once you start taking them, you have to stay on them for life. Instead, I decided to tackle the cholesterol reduction by diet alone and devised my own saturated-fat-free diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, grains, porridge, chicken, fish and extremely low-fat dairy options. Without even trying to lose weight (remember my sole aim was to reduce cholesterol) I lost half a stone in the first week and another half-stone in the following few weeks. My clothes fitted better than ever, my skin looked radiant, I felt much healthier. I continued this "diet" for ten weeks and had a fasting blood test at the local hospital to measure my new cholesterol levels. I got the results this morning. My cholesterol levels have drastically reduced and the doctor is very pleased with me. It was only then that I confessed to her that I had not started the statins at all, as I had been conscious of all the junk food I had previously resorted to as a comfort in times of stress and hoped that by eliminating the junk and lowering fat in general, I would solve the problem. She congratulated me and said I could now tear up the statin prescription.
As a rule, I normally take prescribed drugs without question, but this time for some strange reason, I decided to rebel and find an alternative solution. I am glad I did and that I have saved myself from possible adverse side-effects. It just goes to show that modern medicines are not always the only answer. Sometimes good old-fashioned common sense works just as well.
16 comments:
Well done! Sometimes I think we all reach a point in life where we start to rebel - even we dont consciously know why exactly this point is now. However whatever made to act this way - it worked beautifully 4 you! Certainly an inspiration to try diffent ways more often. Paula xx
I'm a great believer in natural remedies, where possible. Comes from my rural background, I suppose, but most of those humble farming folk lived long, healthy lives.
Congratulations! and thank you (of behalf of A Darling) for saving the NHS a tidy sum :)
Why didn't your doctor suggest the diet first? I'm sure they just give out pills as a quick fix. Well done you for fixing it yourself, and you've probably done your general health a lot of good at the same time.
you're fab! I hope the doctor has learned a lesson, not only that self help is the best and most empowering kind of help, but that these things can be managed without costing the NHS for the pills, or indeed any ill health later on resulting from using the statins. Well done Rosiero! MH
Congratulations!! I think that Doctors have a tendency to hand out the prescriptions because very few people will actually make the drastic life changes that would improve their conditions.
In answer to what you've all said so far, yes, my doctor actually said that a diet would not work in getting the cholesterol down!! But because I knew I had been eating junk as comfort, I thought I would at least give it a try! My doctor had to eat humble pie!
I totally agree. Cholesterol is a diet thing and can be controlled.
My doc knows I don't like drugs and will try anything else instead. And he respects that which is rather rare.
Three cheers for you; none for the doctor's prescription
Well, it's a strange thing with cholesterins and cholesterol. It's very complicated and even the doctors don't know enough: good ch., bad ch. and so on. It's great that you have found a way to reduce it in a natural way. Btw: I use only olive oil inthe kitchen ...
Greetings from cologne
April
That's wonderful Rosiero - I am so pleased for you that you managed to stick to it and got such a good result. A x
You have done so well! How brilliant to change your lifestyle so dramatically that you avoid a lifetime of medication - that's inspirational :-)
Everything in today's society is about the quick fix. A health problem is quickly matched with the relevant bottle of pills. I'm glad you decided to take the problem into your own hands and provide your own solution. It has done you well by the sound of things. Well done.
Nechtan
Wow! I'm well impressed.
Good for you,
GG
Well done! I think I ought to follow your example :) Hx
Absolutely right. I wish I didn't have to take my anti-convulsant drugs but I do. I think though that there are many meds on the market today that could be stopped if people just led a healthier lifestyle.
CJ xx
I got my total cholesterol down from 9.3 to 6.3 through exercise and diet. Unfortunately I couldn't keep it up longterm and eventually did resort to a prescription. My doctor wouldn't even consider the meds until he was convinced diet and exercise were not working for me any more. They only worked for me when I was young and single and I could work out for at least an hour every day and was completely obsessive about what I ate. Although it lowered my cholesterol, it was not a really healthy way to live!
For most people with lower cholesterol levels than mine, a few changes in diet can work wonders - especially if your diet was not that healthy in the first place. Good on you for changing your diet instead of taking the easy way out with the drugs! MUCH better for you in the long run!
Post a Comment