I didn\u2019t like that answer so I did a separate test almost immediately. This time it was going direct to a blood testing centre, which also had the added benefits of being cheaper and faster (process and results) than going to at least this\u00a0doctor. My total cholesterol was down to low risk, LDL to moderate risk, but everything was still high risk. But the change was huge, and I knew it was totally impacted by diet and lifestyle. I had been skipping\u00a0breakfast,\u00a0been\u00a0under major stress in all factors of life, and I wasn\u2019t committing to exercise. I also paid no consideration to my diet. So I took it on me to prove that I could change this without a drug.<\/p>\n
I did another test 8 months later with a plan to review it with a nutritionist. The results showed that things were consistent with February, slightly worse even. This was despite taking fish oil tablets (albeit, incredibly\u00a0inconsistently). However, despite\u00a0the results being\u00a0disappointing, I was now “aware” since my initial shock earlier that year. I had done research and was now checking the labels of what I ate so I was a lot more educated. I knew that\u00a0stress mattered, breakfast mattered, and dietary supplements helped \u2014 but these tests proved to me\u00a0that was not enough if I wanted real improvements.<\/p>\n
So I finally got around to speaking to the nutritionist 4 months later (February 2015) to review my previous results. She suggested to drink more water every day, get fish oil tablets, increase vegetable and legume intake (the latter especially as they absorb\u00a0cholesterol), reduce processed foods (the common factor\u00a0to all health problems in society), eat vitamin E-rich foods (like spinach), eat protein with every meal (for triglycerides), not skip breakfast and exercise more (and specifically not do things that stressed my body, like rugby and weights that I have done most of my life).<\/p>\n
This year, I\u2019ve had to travel for two months of the year already. Not ideal for health improvements, but I made some big changes specifically around my diet. Things like cutting my meat intake (your body needs\u00a01-2 portions\u00a0per week to get the benefit it needs before costing you), eating more vegetables (up until dinner I eat fruit and vegetables only), eating more fish, and drinking a lot more water. Only now am I getting back into exercise (though it’s still the weights and rugby kind so shh don’t tell the nutritionist).
\nAnd the results? Not perfect, but in all the areas I was worried \u2014 total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and Triglycerides \u2014 I was now low risk in all but LDL where I am now\u00a0\u2018moderate\u2019 risk. I am sharing my results so you can see what a dramatic difference there is.<\/p>\n
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