I think it is better in the long run to spend more on food now vs. spending money on medicine and health care later in life. I always thought that healthy eating was going to be more expensive, but I've found that it is actually much less (partially because DH and I are eating less~but still.) I try to view it as an investment in my health.

Pat, mine did that too. Any ideas why?

Were you also eating a lot of processed or high refined carb foods? I have read there is a connection there.

On the subject of high cholestrol, my DH spent years keeping his sat fats low with little to no effect on his cholestrol, even after he had trained for and run a marathon. Finally, last year he began seeing a naturopath who told hime to get rid of refined carbs and HFCS. The amount of fat in his diet actually went up - tho' he was eating monos and omega 3s as opposed to the bad fats. His serum cholestrol has dropped 100 points since he started this.. Now it was combined with added exercise and supplements, but I do think the diet changes contributed.

I do think it is worth pursuing the connection...

Yes, RosieKate, I have read the same information the Naturopath shared with you and known others who have had similar results

Thanks, SoulBliss and RosieKate. No, I haven't eaten refined stuff for years and years, and I've never eaten junk food. My 'good fats' have always been pretty good, too. (What an angel I am! but )

My GP has just quietly dropped the idea of testing cholesterol now (I live in the UK where testing is not so routine).

Silverbirch, the other thing to consider is that sometimes people's cholesterol raises as they burn fat and lose weight, as more is circulating through the system as fat metabolizes during that time. Who knows? Maybe it's heredity that is causing this in you. Either way, great job on the weight loss and an understanding GP

Silverbirch - Hi! I'm sure my cholesterol problems are hereditary. Even at my highest level, I still had the lowest readings in my family! My sister had cholesterol levels that are out of sight (but now corrected with meds). My mom also had high levels, but she was in a nursing home with Alzheimer's so I'm not sure whether she got meds for it or not. And like you, I pretty much cut out refined stuff a few years back. So who knows?

Thanks again, everyone. Just one of those mysteries, I suppose. You can't pin down everything about the human body.

OK ... I've been for my physical and everything was terrific!
What a high! I am ecstatic!
The nurse practitioner does not think my BP is perilously high. She wants me to track it as I have been. She had lots of suggestions, the usuals and keeping an even tighter rein on salt ... AND... minding my ibuprofen intake, getting enough sleep. She did not dismiss my notion about artificial stuff. Hmmm.

She told me I had a heart rate like an athlete.

Hey that's fantastic! Congrats for the clean bill of health!

I found that after I lost my weight I am very sodium sensitive now and will swell up like a ball park frank if I eat too much sodium.
I try to keep my sodium in between 2000 and 3000.
99% of the time I am succesful.
It really is hard though. Everything is sooooo much easier if it comes from a box or a can.
I have 7 kids and a hubby who want to eat "good" food as opposed to my food so I have to cook 2 meals at dinner really.
But mine taste way better than theirs in my opinion.
I make my own poultry gravy and chicken broth and base most of my meals with that when I want soup or chicken with gravy.

Lest you think I eat only natural foods, let me assure you that with limited time sometimes I have to rely on lazy-girl short cut foods. I just have to be careful the rest of the day.
One of my fav is Lean Cuisine Pockets I have a couple of times a week for lunch. I have students over 2x a week and am too rushed to have lunch ready beforehand.
Also Hebrew National 97 fat free (1 billion sodium!) franks.
I had them last night cause it was so hot here and the kids wanted hot dogs.
I boiled then chopped my 2 franks, added 2 plum tomatos, and 1/4 white onion, dumped it all over a plain backed potato.....YUM & Easy!

Here is my stat report for the last month.