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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 10:24:03 GMT
The biggest killer of women is not breast cancer but cardio vascular disease.
Cardio vascular disease (CVD) has an unpleasant way of creeping up on the victim.
Often it starts with Metabolic Syndrome which can be a pre cursor to diabetes II. Raised cholesterol and eating your five a day are constantly in the news together with the dreaded statins.
However what is the cause of raised cholesterol?
80% of cholesterol is manufactured by the liver. The remaining 20% is from diet. This explains why controlling rogue cholesterol with just diet and exercise is difficult.
It is also important to understand that cholesterol is not the cause of ill health but a symptom.Therefore just pelting the beseiged liver with statins is masking the issue rather then dealing with the cause of the production of excess cholesterol.
The liver produces cholesterol to encourage a sluggish endocrine system. There is one rare exception - a familial condition where a high cholesterol gene exists ( familial hypercholesterolaemia) and readings can be higher then 12.
However back to the point. If a woman is low in a hormone i.e estradiol - her cholesterol will rise as the liver tries frantically to persuade the ovaries to respond by producing more estradiol.
This is a vicious circle and unless halted with the correct dosage of HRT bad cholesterol will continue to rise.
A poorly functioning thyroid will also cause metabolic disruption by producing raised cholesterol levels.
From my personal experience I can tell you that my cholesterol fell from 6.5 to 5.00 when I replaced my progesterone and refused the sticking plaster of statins.
Cholesterol is one component of the story.
Menopause and lower circulation of sex hormones can trigger adverse metabolic changes including high blood pressure, excess adipose fat and elevated triglycerides.
Women are more likely to get Diabetes II then men and are also more prone to obesity in mid life.
Another important overlooked factor is dental health. Gum disease is associated with CVD due to inflamation - any bleeding from the gums should be treated promptly by the dentist..
CVD does not receive the attention it deserves. The diets suggested by heart charities are often far too high in starch and carbohydrates and the fact that menopause plays a part in causing CVD go unmentioned.
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 10:43:07 GMT
The politicaly incorrect advice is hormones and a diet which is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and plenty of dark green vegetables. Also look after gum health as gingivitis has a link to CVD
Jacks
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susan
Member
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member - Groucho Marx
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Post by susan on Aug 27, 2012 11:12:42 GMT
No science behind this coming from me, but I have always seen carbs as the big problem with weight control.
I did know that cardo vascular disease is the biggest killer of women.
It's the press that are Breast Cancer obsessed, it reminds me of 25 years ago when they convinced a whole generation that we were going to die from AIDS, probably from going to the dentist.
People walked about in abject fear for about 5 years.
Not that I have anything against people practcing safe sex, i'm all for it.
Just that I cant stand tabloid scaremongering.
Opps well off topic.
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 12:12:23 GMT
Bellacacio It is immensely complex - I tried to simplify it - been studying this stuff for years www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004546/Here is one Jacks xxx I had to convince my specialist that the Pro Gest was too weak and agravating my cholesterol- I was proved right. I haven't had my cholesterol checked since starting levothyroxine 3 months ago but bet it has fallen again along with my waist measurement. |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 12:17:06 GMT
We do need fat in our diet - it helps improve mood. We also need to eat non processed foods when possible.My old dentist told me to stick to foods which hadn't been messed about with to maintain health - he says the mouth is the gateway to health. Oily fish, plain meat, eggs and vegetables should make up the bulk of our diet. Avoid fried , barbecued and foods with sauce on them. The simpler the diet the better for your body. Sugar in moderation aviding high fructose foods including grapes and citrus fruits.
Check the ingredients in supermarket if it has fructose, hydrogenated fat or corn syrup put it back.
Jacks
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 12:23:13 GMT
Lainey
You are right turkey is better then chicken. Guinea fowl is also well worth eating. Game birds are much leaner then chicken.I also rate lean cuts of beef. I enjoy fillet and sirloin and always give the fat to the cats.
Jacks
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Aug 27, 2012 12:25:44 GMT
One interesting thing is pre 80's people didn't get obese because their diets were not high in carbohydrates. Husband and myself have a selection of old pre 80's cookery books and they are better then todays stuff for health and weight.
Jacks
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Post by Robyn on Aug 28, 2012 2:28:58 GMT
I read once that we should only eat food that our grandmother would recognise, and that makes sense. My grandmother would certainly have no clue what a hamburger or a pizza or any kind of fast food looked like. Also as Jacks said, we should eat food that still looks like it's pretty much in its natural state. It's always interesting when people talking high carb, low carb, etc, but what exactly does that mean. I was reading on a website the other day where they did an experiment with different ratios of carbs and proteins, and they found the best ratio for weight loss is 1:2 (ie for every 1 gram of protein you should have 2 grams of carbs). www.peakhealthadvocate.com/2751/what-is-the-best-protein-to-carb-ratio-for-weight-loss/I did an experiment with a website called Calorie King, which is a really good way of working out your calories, carbs, protein etc. and I've worked out an eating plan that is roughly that ratio, so we'll see if that helps me lose any weight...lol... |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Oct 11, 2012 13:45:36 GMT
Lainey
I knew all about it when I started researching seriously several years ago. It doesn't get the publicity it deserves.
Before peri my blood pressure was low and cholesterol normal. When peri began my cholesterol and blood pressure both rose.
I started hormones and my blood pressure reverted back to low. I have a few little hiccups with the cholesterol due to my thyroid but I'm confident it will be sorted out.
The leading cause of death for women is cardio vascular disease but hardly anyone mentions Metabolic Syndrome and menopause. I am especially vigilant as my father had diabetes.
Jacks
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Post by Poppy on Oct 14, 2012 15:26:46 GMT
Jacks,
This is so interesting & has made me realize that although I have low blood pressure & my surgery seems to want to do various blood tests every couple of years, I have managed to reach the age of fifty without ever having my cholesterol tested!
Going to put that right when I go in a couple of weeks.
Think I eat a natural & fairly balanced diet, but it will be good to find out.
Thanks for making us aware of this.
xx
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Oct 15, 2012 8:48:12 GMT
Poppy It is good that your blood pressure is low and I'm glad you are interested. In my neck of the woods they are always doing cholesterol tests so I'm amazed you haven't had one. I'm hoping yours is fine.
Jacks
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susan
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I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member - Groucho Marx
Posts: 749
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Post by susan on Oct 17, 2012 8:20:58 GMT
Jacks, This is so interesting & has made me realize that although I have low blood pressure & my surgery seems to want to do various blood tests every couple of years, I have managed to reach the age of fifty without ever having my cholesterol tested! Going to put that right when I go in a couple of weeks. Think I eat a natural & fairly balanced diet, but it will be good to find out. Thanks for making us aware of this. xx Ive never had mine tested either poppy and I am 6 years older than you. I started to worry about it, so a couple of months ago i bought a kit in boots to test it myself, but broke the kit, grhh! it had a little prick thing that you had to jab into your thumb and I didn't do it on the side of my thumb so I didn't draw blood. it was one use only, so then I started to jab myself with a sewing pin (what an idiot) but still couldn't draw blood. Guess I must be thick skinned. xxxx |
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Post by jacksfullofaces on Oct 17, 2012 10:12:16 GMT
Jacks, This is so interesting & has made me realize that although I have low blood pressure & my surgery seems to want to do various blood tests every couple of years, I have managed to reach the age of fifty without ever having my cholesterol tested! Going to put that right when I go in a couple of weeks. Think I eat a natural & fairly balanced diet, but it will be good to find out. Thanks for making us aware of this. xx Ive never had mine tested either poppy and I am 6 years older than you. I started to worry about it, so a couple of months ago i bought a kit in boots to test it myself, but broke the kit, grhh! it had a little prick thing that you had to jab into your thumb and I didn't do it on the side of my thumb so I didn't draw blood. it was one use only, so then I started to jab myself with a sewing pin (what an idiot) but still couldn't draw blood. Guess I must be thick skinned. xxxx Susan I had the same trouble with that cholesterol kit. I also tried one to test for coeliac disease and the blood was fine so I think the kit is at fault. Jacks |
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susan
Member
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member - Groucho Marx
Posts: 749
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Post by susan on Oct 17, 2012 12:45:23 GMT
I actually took it back and got them to replace it as I said it wasn't fit for purpose, and had cost something ridiculous like £12.99 for a pin and a bit of paper to blob your blood onto.
But I seem to keep resisting from using it. Not sure if it's because I dont want to know or if I just think the kit will break again !
xxxx
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