Cholesterol

I had my Annual Employee Welness screening done last week at work. This is where my employer, for free, will check my cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat %, blood pressure, etc. I did it two years ago, and discovered that my cholesterol was high (228...it's supposed to be below 200). I wasn't too worried about it. Then about 10 months later in November 2007 my doctor did labs because I asked her to (they were checking my thyroid anyway, so I asked for a metabolic test too just to see if my cholesterol was still high or if it had been a fluke). It was higher: 253, and my triglycerides were 154 (supposed to be less than 100). What the heck?? I wasn't overweight, and didn't eat that terribly...why was it high? I have no idea. But my doctor put me on a "diet" and told me to exercise 5x/week, which I stuck to for about 2 weeks...oops. BUT I did FINALLY start doing something about it last November. Yes, us healthcare professionals are the BEST at ignoring our own health. I guess you could say I was in denial because I didn't fit the typical stereotype for "high cholesterol". Anyway, I started taking a supplement from Melaleuca called Phytomega: it claimed to naturally lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and triglycerides with plant sterols and Omega 3 fatty acids. I also started taking a garlic supplement, just one tablet a day (from Sprouts, but I don't think that really mattered...garlic is garlic). So last week when my labs were drawn, I had been taking these two supplements pretty regularly (but not religiously...there were a couple weeks in December where I fell off the bandwagon...) for about 2 1/2 months. I am THRILLED with the results:

Total Cholesterol: 192 (supposed to be <200, mine was 253 in 2007)
LDL (bad) cholesterol: 116 (supposed to be <130, mine was 169 in 2007)
HDL (good) cholesterol: 63 (supposed to be OVER 55 for women, mine was 64 in 2007)
Triglycerides: 66 (supposed to be <100, mine was 153 in 2007)
Fasting blood glucose: 92 (supposed to be <100, mine was 101 in 2007--yikes)

Now all my labs are in the normal range!! And with only 2 1/2 months of being on those supplements. I am amazed. And the honest truth is that I did not change my diet or lifestyle at all(still do not exercise...). After nursing school I will have more time to exercise...that is my plan. Lol. 3 1/2 more months of school. Then? FREEDOM!! Sorta. There will be that whole "work" thing...but at least it will be the job I've always wanted. :-)

So while I don't recommend "treating yourself" for any health conditions, this is what worked for me. And had my cholesterol come back still high or even higher this past week after my attempt to lower it I would have gone back to my doctor so he could put me on a medication to lower it (that's what he wanted to do if the "diet" and exercise didn't work, only I never went back so he could check it again). But seems how those meds have not-so-pleasant side effects, I decided to try something myself first...and it worked. Needless to say, I will continue to take Phytomega and garlic daily. :-)

~Abigail~