What do you eat to stay under 30 g carbs?
(deactivated member)
on 7/29/11 10:39 pm - Woodbridge, VA
on 7/29/11 10:39 pm - Woodbridge, VA
Low-carb can sometimes increase your level of LDL cholesterol, which we're generally taught should stay low. However, what most doctors don't even know and certainly don't TEST for is that there are actually two different forms of LDL, and an additional test (called a VAP test, I believe) is needed to identify which type of LDL you have most of.
The two types of LDL are commonly described as "tiny particles" and "big fluffy particles." It's only the TINY particles that are dangerous to health - the fluffy particles don't stick together to help clog up arteries like the tiny ones can. A low-carb diet can cause an increase in the fluffly type of LDL for some folks, but not the dangerous tiny LDL particles.
So, if you have been eating quite low in carbs and see your LDL (and, therefore, your total cholesterol) increase, it's not likely to be as bad as you or your doc might think. Eating lots of fat while on a low-carb diet does NOT typically have a negative impact on the cholesterol levels that actually matter (though it can sometimes cause a spike in triglycerides in the first couple months as additional stored fat is released into tthe blood stream, but it's usually temporary and will go back down without any changes to diet since it's not actually caused by the fat you're eating).
If your HDL is in good shape and your triglycerides are normal, those are the primary cholesterol indicators of good health. If your LDL is high, request a VAP test be run at your next set of labs.
The two types of LDL are commonly described as "tiny particles" and "big fluffy particles." It's only the TINY particles that are dangerous to health - the fluffy particles don't stick together to help clog up arteries like the tiny ones can. A low-carb diet can cause an increase in the fluffly type of LDL for some folks, but not the dangerous tiny LDL particles.
So, if you have been eating quite low in carbs and see your LDL (and, therefore, your total cholesterol) increase, it's not likely to be as bad as you or your doc might think. Eating lots of fat while on a low-carb diet does NOT typically have a negative impact on the cholesterol levels that actually matter (though it can sometimes cause a spike in triglycerides in the first couple months as additional stored fat is released into tthe blood stream, but it's usually temporary and will go back down without any changes to diet since it's not actually caused by the fat you're eating).
If your HDL is in good shape and your triglycerides are normal, those are the primary cholesterol indicators of good health. If your LDL is high, request a VAP test be run at your next set of labs.
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