Do you think that high cholesterol only occurs in people who don't control their diet, don't exercise, and are "unhealthy"? In fact, many people in our country think so. But when you listen to this story we are talking about today, you will understand that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, cholesterol can increase due to reasons beyond our control. This is a story that may seem a little surprising, but we can learn a lot from it.
Heart disease risk
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Healthy lifestyle and surprising diagnosis
This story is about a guy named Dan. Dan is a guy who has been accustomed to a healthy lifestyle since he was a child. Both his mother and stepfather are very healthy people. When he was in school, his friends made fun of him because he didn't like to eat food from fast food restaurants.
But despite living so well, Dan's cholesterol levels were always a little high. They were usually around 215 or 220. Since his mother also had high cholesterol, he thought it might be genetic .
One day, when the doctor checked Dan's cholesterol levels and said, "This is high, you need to change what you eat," Dan laughed. Because at the time, he was training for a bodybuilding competition and eating only chicken and broccoli. So he knew for sure that his cholesterol problem wasn't caused by food.
Even though the doctor told him to start taking cholesterol-lowering medication, Dan wasn't a big fan of taking medication. He wouldn't even take painkillers for a headache. But this diagnosis made him realize even more the importance of eating healthy and staying active.
The important thing is that sometimes the cause of our health problems is not what we think. That is why medical advice and tests are essential.
What exactly is cholesterol?
Before we move on to Dan's story, let's take a moment to understand cholesterol in simple terms. Cholesterol is a waxy, oily substance found in our bodies. It is essential for many important functions, such as building the walls of our cells, producing hormones, and making vitamin D.
But the problem is that this is too much. We often hear about two main types of cholesterol.
| Cholesterol type | Simply put... | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) | "Bad" cholesterol | When this increases, it deposits on the walls of blood vessels, blocking them and causing diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. |
| HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) | "Good" cholesterol | This is done by taking the unwanted cholesterol in the body to the liver and removing it. This means that the more of it, the better. |
Dan's total cholesterol level is 220. Doctors generally recommend keeping this below 200 mg/dL.
Trying the "Keto Diet" and the shock it brought!
Dan is a person who gets a little bored doing the same thing. So his eating pattern is the same. One day he decided to try something new. That was the "Keto Diet" that is popular among many people. In this diet, you have to reduce carbohydrates (starch) and eat foods that are high in fat.
His wife has several family doctors. They were a little worried that Dan would get used to such a high-fat diet. After a while of starting the diet, they told Dan to go get his cholesterol checked.
When the test report came in, Dan and the doctor were both shocked. Dan's cholesterol level had risen to 480 ! The doctor said it was like eating a pack of bacon every day. They had done a lot of tests to find out the cause.
Why did this happen? What is a "hyper-absorber"?
After many tests, the doctor came to a conclusion. He said that Dan was a "hyper-absorber."
Now you may be wondering what this new word is. Simply put, it's this:
- Average person: Only a very small percentage of the cholesterol we consume from food is absorbed by the body.
- Hyper-absorber: This type of person's body absorbs a very large amount of cholesterol from food.
That means, if Dan eats 40 grams of saturated fat a day, his body will absorb most of those 40 grams. This is genetically determined. This doesn't happen to everyone on the keto diet. But for someone like Dan, it's very risky.
After realizing this, Dan went back to his old healthy eating habits. Amazingly, within a few days, his cholesterol level dropped back down to around 220.
How is my daily life now?
Dan is now very careful about his diet. He eats 30 grams of carbohydrates, 30 grams of protein, and less than 10 grams of fat per day.
- Breakfast: Oats with blueberries and nuts like walnuts.
- Main foods: Sweet potatoes, quinoa, chicken, and fish are the most commonly eaten.
- Special occasions: I eat a piece of beef (steak) about once or twice a month.
To maintain the body's metabolism, he eats a small meal every 4 hours .
Exercise is also an essential part of his life.
- I get up around 5am every morning and ride my bike for 20 minutes.
- I do weight training at least 5 days a week, at the end of the day.
Dan and his wife both lead very active lives. They enjoy things like hiking and paddleboarding.
Lesson and outlook
Dan was very scared when his cholesterol level reached 480. That's a very high and dangerous number. He knows that because of his genetic condition, he won't be able to get his cholesterol level completely back to normal. But he's doing everything he can to keep it under control, never letting it go above 220.
"I'm in my 30s now. I now know how important eating well and exercising are to my health. I want to be healthy, active, and live a long life."
The most important message we can take from this story is that we should always be aware of our health. If you have a problem with cholesterol, don't just guess, but definitely see your doctor and get advice. He or she will prescribe the most suitable diet, exercise, and medication for you.
💡 Take-Home Message
- High cholesterol is not a disease that only affects people with unhealthy lifestyles. It can also occur in healthy people due to genetic factors .
- It's important to check your cholesterol levels regularly, especially if someone in your family has high cholesterol or heart disease.
- Before trying new diets you see on the internet or from friends, check with a doctor to see if they are right for your body. What works for everyone may not work for you.
- Special conditions like "hyper-absorber" like Dan's story can only be diagnosed through medical tests.
- Despite genetic influences, cholesterol levels can be well controlled through a healthy diet and regular exercise .
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