I bought my juicer just about a year ago – and I am ashamed to say I really haven’t used it that much! It has been sitting on a shelf – mainly because I was too lazy to get it out! This week I bought a bunch of produce and decided to start juicing again.
And it appears it was just in time – I had some blood work done recently, and came back that my LDL cholesterol (aka the bad cholesterol) is HIGH. From the number they gave me, it is the very bottom of “borderline high”, but I am in shock! I eat pretty healthy, I don’t eat a lot of red meat, and I can’t remember the last time I had any form of trans fat. Pretty much what you see here is what I eat. We don’t go out to eat a lot, we mainly eat at home. The last time I had my cholesterol checked was April 2012, and it was below what they consider normal at that time. The only thing I can think is that I recently changed to full fat dairy, and so I have been having more full fat yogurt, kefir, and milk – as well as cheese and eggs (because that is the quickest, easiest breakfast!) Oh, and I’m getting older – so please don’t tell me that is the reason it is going up!!
I plan on having my blood checked again at the end of April, so I am hoping a few changes in my diet and exercising more consistently will help. I just keep going over everything I eat in my head – I only use olive oil and coconut oil, we eat a lot of nuts, I don’t eat a lot of sugar … and I just can’t figure out how it would have increased so much! However, I do know my problem has always been over-eating, which definitely is a work in progress.
So back to the juicing! I have been making this juice pretty much every day this week, and I just love it! My husband has even been drinking it! I figure more fruits and vegetables is definitely a good thing.
(And I love how it comes out of the juicer all frothy!)
Romaine and Carrot Juice
Print this recipe!
1 head romaine
2 large carrots
1 apple
1 lemon
1 inch piece of fresh ginger
Chop all produce and place in the juicer.
Drink up!
I also have been adding other greens to it – chard, spinach, or even beet greens. This is the one with the beet greens in it – which turned it red!
Since it is getting warmer out, and staying daylight longer, I have decided to start running again. Or should I say – start the Couch to 5K program again. I always get motivated to run when spring looks to be arriving, and then usually lose steam. We’ll just see how far I can go!
Anyone else struggle with high cholesterol? Any tips?
We recently bought a juicer. I love it. I love anything with carrot, beet, lemon and ginger. Mine does a poor job of juicing greens unfortunately, but I usually have a spinach smoothie once a day.
It’s very possible that the dairy and eggs are affecting your cholesterol. Whole grains particularly oats are helpful in decreasing an elevated LDL. You do eat a healthy diet so I’m sure it’s just small changes you would have to make. Were you fasting for 8-12 hours prior to the blood test? I’m glad to hear you are having a follow up test.
Aimee recently posted..Skin Deep: Mind Shift
Thanks Aimee! I do love the versatility of a juicer. I never thought I would like greens juiced, but I really do! However, I had some plain spinach juice while I was in India, and that was just gross! I think I need a little something else in it. I think you are right – spinach does better in smoothies! I did fast before the test – they told me 8 hours, but it turned into more like 9. When I get retested, I’ll just have to see what happens!
I read Eat Fat, Lose Fat a few years ago and stopped worrying about cholesterol. Some of the longest lived women have the highest bad blood cholesterol levels. Dietary cholesterol does not cause high blood cholesterol and it’s very important to eat those foods (i.e. eggs) for health. High blood cholesterol has a poor correlation with heart disease and mortality. It appears to be calcium landing in the wrong place that clogs arteries and that does appear to happen to some degree in all of us as we age. Vitamin K can definitely help put calcium where it belongs (bones) and removes it from where it doesn’t belong (arteries and veins). This is, of course, and oversimplification, not writing a book here.
Very best to you on your health journey,
Vicki
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Fat-Lose-Healthy-Alternative/dp/0452285666
Thank you so much Vicki! I will check out that book!
Hi Vicki, I just wanted to say thank you (again) for recommending that book! I got it just a few days ago and already have about 10 pages bookmarked!! I love Nourishing Traditions so when I saw it was the same authors I knew I had to get it!
Thanks again!
I don’t have a juicer. I would have no place to put it first and I have to many ‘gadgets’ as it is
I can’t make it past the green color of the smoothies, that is just me though! I’ll stick to the V8 fruit juices and my tart cherry juice.
Suzie recently posted..Matzo Ball Soup
I don’t struggle with high cholesterol (yet!!) but I DO also struggle with overeating, so I feel your pain there. It’s also an ongoing battle for me. I’ve been staring at my juicer for months now, willing myself to pull it back off the shelf… I think it’s time to do it now! Thanks for the extra nudge!
Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions recently posted..A Perfect Day For A Drive
Do it! I just think it is a pain cleaning out every time
But I really am loving my fresh juice!
A few months ago, my cholesterol was on the low end of high. I astounded my Doctor when I went back in a month later for another blood test. She asked what I had done to lower my cholesterol so much and I told her “Flax”.
Yes, I could’ve taken the fish oil but..um..can’t stand the taste if I happen to belch. (And let’s face it Ladies, we ALL belch. )
So I started taking flax seed oil capsules 2000mg per day and put flax seed in almost everything I cooked or baked. It’s great sprinkled on a warm bowl of steel cuts oats.
Thanks Sue. I do eat some flax. That is amazing you lowered it that much!
Your juices look pretty Jane. I don’t have a juicer but have thought about making some healthy smoothies using greens. Is a blender a tolerable substitute (I have one of those)?
I’m sorry about your test results and don’t have anything to add. You seem to me to be the epitome of a healthy eater
Just keep working on the overeating thing (I do it too). And enjoy the running!
Thanks Vanessa, see you inspire me! lol!! Smoothies are a better way of putting it when you make it in the blender. Yesterday I blended together some kale, frozen blueberries, and piece of a frozen banana, and some kefir. It was just my magic bullet (I don’t have a fancy blender) but it did get almost all the little pieces of kale pulverized! Spinach is a good one to do in the blender too. I saved for a long time for my juicer because I really wanted one!
Thanks, Jane. I have a Magic Bullet too–I will give these fresh smoothies a try.
That’s surprising about your numbers going up – I was going to say the same thing, you are probably one of the healthiest bloggers I know!
I think next time I make a Green Monster I’ll add ginger – yum!
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hahaha, thanks (I think??) My husband said the same thing. Everything I tell him I am going to eat “healthier”, he tells me he doesn’t think I could do that, I eat pretty healthy now! But more than anything, I think it was a good wake up call that I need to be more conscience about all those extra pieces of cheese…hmmmm…
I don’t have high cholesterol however from what I’ve read you may want to start eating more oatmeal, omega 3 and nuts, along with the extra fruits and veggies. (maybe cut back on the dairy a bit
) good luck!
Ginger recently posted..Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Thanks Ginger! I do eat all those things now, like I said I do have pretty healthy habits. Just a good wake up call I guess!
If I were to get a new appliance it would be either a juicer or electric ice cream maker. I know…two completely different purposes and opposing outcomes.
My BIL swears by his juicer and has lost 40 pounds because of it which should be great motivation for me because I could stand to lose a some weight. I don’t have problems with CHL so no motivation there. I hope that juicing helps to get yours back on track. It’s definitely a healthy way to go!
mjskit recently posted..Avocado, Orange and Cucumber Salad
How scary and frustrating. I hope your changes help bring that number down. Have a great week!
Rhonda (@diningalone) recently posted..The Perfect Pickler
Oh man, I have *never* had my cholesterol checked! I’m a bad blogger. I should get on this.
I have heard great things about the Couch to 5k program! Keep us updated
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