I am posting this to both the Paleofood and Lowcarb lists, since
I have discussed the problem on both before.

Background: Last winter, I was 40 pounds heavier than I am now,
with total cholesterol of 226 (HDL=32, LDL=170, TRI=196).  In
March, I started the Zone diet, and after almost two months of
that switched to the NeanderThin program.  By June I had lost the
40 pounds (I haven't lost any more weight since then), but my
blood lipids changed, mostly for the worse.  Although my
triglycerides went down to 96 and my HDL moved up slightly to 36,
my LDL jumped to 242, and my TC to 302.

I started using garlic and fiber supplements, which had a slight
effect on TC, but not much.  Then I tried the strict ketogenic
approach to the NeanderThin diet, eating nothing but steaks and
salad greens for three weeks.  My TC went even higher, to 320.  I
didn't get the HDL/LDL breakdown, however.

Since there is evidence that soy protein helps to alleviate
familial hypercholesterolemia, I decided to try it, even though
soy is definitely not "paleo."  In addition, I stopped eating
beef and pork, but continued to eat chicken, turkey, and fish.
Plus, I eat about one of those "bricks" of tofu each day, usually
for breakfast, cooked in olive oil with turmeric.  My diet is
still quite low in carbs.

As of this morning, one month into this program, my TC, measured
*twice* using Cholestrak, is 249.  I don't know the ratios yet,
but will have a lab test done sometime soon.

This is a substantial improvement, and the literature suggests
that it takes 3 months for the soy protein to take full effect.
It seemingly has a normalizing effect on elevated cholesterol,
but does not do much for people whose cholesterol levels are
already close to normal.

Note that my diet is by no means low-fat.  In addition to the
olive oil that I cook the tofu in, I eat lots of nuts.  The only
supplements I am using at this time are turmeric, hawthorn,
vitamin E, and an anti-homocysteine formula called "methyl
donors."

Obviously, I'll continue with this and post new results as I get
them.  I know that there are a few other people reading this who
have similar problems.

Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]


Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]