Heart Diet Question

[D. Howard]

I have been told by my doctor to change my diet to lower my cholesterol and lipids.  To that end, I eliminated most animal products from my diet and now with the exception of the occasional poultry and fish, I eat nothing but vegetables (including soy-based meat substitutes) and grains (cereal, pasta, etc).  I also get a minimum of 20 minutes of aerobic exercise (walking, biking) every day.

At my last test, there was no discernable change in my lipid levels and although my cholesterol was down about ten points, my HDL was still very low.  Can you explain to me how the numbers on a standard cholesterol and lipid test are interpreted?  I thought that the HDL & LDL are supposed to add up to the total cholesterol level and the lipids were a separate reading.  From the report my doctor showed me, that didn't seem to be the case.

Also,  I was told that some carbs can become lipids, meaning that even my low-fat diet may not be helping reduce my lipid levels if I am eating a lot of carbs.  Is that true?

Thanks very much,
Marvin

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

The total cholesterol equals the HDL plus the LDL plus one fifth of the triglycerides. Too many carbohydrates, especially in the form of processed foods can be bad for the diet. Sometimes, even with appropriate dietary changes, medications are necessary to help the cholesterol levels.