Could veggie burgers increase your lifespan? Many experts insist that switching to a vegetarian lifestyle can greatly increase overall health, leading some to ditch their pork rinds like an old smoking habit. Still others swear by an omnivorous diet, saying that occasional New York steak never hurt anyone. Is a fresh helping of tofu just what the doctor ordered, or only a lot of empty calories?
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Myth: Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Diets Are Healthier For People
- From Weston A Price Foundation
By Weston A. Price Foundation - for Wise Traditions
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So you're going to tell me
That I was healthier on Atkins when my plasma cholesterol levels were 258?!? Of course, I was doing it for weight loss, and whereas it did work, not only did I see a spike in my plasma cholesterol, but also my blood pressure. My blood pressure was an outrageous 160/100 at rest (compared to the about 130/85 it was before...part of the reason I chose to lose weight).
So where am I now? Vegetarian for almost a year, cholesterol around 120 (about half of that is HDL), and a blood pressure of 110/75. And you're going to tell me that's unhealthy. Nice one!
A good way to increase your HDL (good cholesterol) is to drink a unit or two of alcohol everyday. You don't need meat to do this. Find some alcoholic beverage you enjoy and add that to your vegetarian diet for a great HDL level.
- bagpiper2005
October 8, 2008 10:07AM
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If you want fat, at least enjoy it. Don't feel guilty about it.
The reality is, a low fat diet is a good idea. And I mean naturally low fat, not meat and dairy with the fat removed, that's not naturally low fat. A vegan diet is often naturally low fat.
But if you want fat, have some. Want saturated fat? Have it the tasty, ethical way: coconut oil.
Try some coconut chocolate cookies:
http://www.vegansoapbox.com/vegan-mofo-chocolate-coconut-cookies /
Ingredients:
* 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
* 1 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)
* 1/4 tsp. sea salt
* 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
* 1 cup shredded coconut
* 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup agave nectar
* 1/2 cup maple syrup
* 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/2 tsp chocolate extract
Directions:
* Preheat oven to 350F.
* Mix all ingredients together.
* Drop spoonfuls onto lightly oiled baking sheet.
* Bake for about 15 minutes.
* Cool on a wire rack.
The above recipe was adapted by my husband, whose cholesterol levels a few years ago were so high that his doctor wanted to put him on cholesterol drugs. He decided to "try" vegetarianism first. His cholesterol dropped to a healthy level and now he's happy as a vegan!
(PS - Exercise is related to cholesterol, too. Regular exercise can increase your "good" cholesterol.)
- ElaineVigneault
October 8, 2008 10:22AM
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Your Husband and I were in similar situations it sounds like...
Good for your husband for trying the natural remedy first. Glad to hear he's doing well. I should have mentioned I exercise vigorously for an hour a day, but I failed to mention that.
Do either of you add a little bit of alcohol to your diets, I'm just curious, because that's really helped me get that boost in my HDL levels (exercise didn't do much for it, though I still recommend regular exercise).
- bagpiper2005
October 8, 2008 10:44AM
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re. alcohol
Yes, he's quite the beer connoisseur. We use http://www.barnivore.com / to make sure the alcohol we drink is vegan :)
Though... I think abstaining from alcohol is a good and reasonable choice, too.
- ElaineVigneault
October 8, 2008 11:20AM
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vegan alcohol
vegan alcohol ?? are you serious ??
- mattsson
November 6, 2009 2:57PM
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Role of physical activity
In Framingham, Mass., the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person's serum cholesterol ... we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, [and] ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active.
The role of physical activity is probably a powerful influence on health . Any studies that don't take that into account may be compromised.
- Golfer
May 25, 2009 2:04PM
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