dark chocolate

[miltk]

Couple of Q's......

is dark chocolate supposed to help high blood pressure or cholesteral? i thought it was cholesteral until i read something about it helping bp,,,not myuch, but some.

if cholesteral, which is better, dark chocolate or lecithin?

thanks

[niobe]

Dark chocolate is the way to go in my opinion BUT it needs to be the real thing... like 100% raw cacao.  That means it will be very bitter.  But you can get creative and add the 'cacao nibs' to trail mix, cereal... or add powdered cacao to coffee.  The chocolate products at sunfood dot com are excellent and there are plenty of suggestions there on how to make it taste better.  I tend to add the nibs to granola.

[miltk]

100% is beyond bitter...it's inedible :)

<80% is as far as i can go. nutritionally, the higher % only means less calories because there's no sugar, yes? how much affect does the % have on the benefits of the flavinoids.

[micaela27]

don't expect a hunk of chocolate to cure your cholesterol or BP issues!

if you want to really help your body, there are more potent and helpful ways to achieve your goals than munching on chocolate.

this doesn't mean you shouldn't, of course!  it just means you should not kid yourself into thinking chocolate is a cure or even will provide measurable help for these issues.  eat chocolate because it's yummy... not because it's a health food :)  and when you do, i suggest a darker chocolate, only because i think it's yummier!

also, chocolate and lecithin are two very different food products.  i'm confused as to why you were comparing them in the first place.

[miltk]

micaela27...i'm comparing lecithin and chocolate for their use  in improving blood cholesterol. i merely want to know which is more effective.

[niobe]

I definitely trust the products at sunfood dot com ... but you're right - 100% cacao is basically inedible :)  I've really had to get creative.

This is going off on another topic, but what about red yeast rice for cholesterol?  My mother swears by it and I've just started taking it.  I'm tryin' it all, I guess.  Although I don't know much about lecithin...

micaela27 - I would love any tips on lowering cholesterol.  I guess my problem is I want to believe I can get a lot of help from a supplement, but that's probably not true.  My diet really isn't bad, but my cholesterol is still higher than I'd like (total 211).  I don't exercise enough tho but am trying to work on that.

[miltk]

"100% cacao is basically inedible :)  I've really had to get creative. "
______________________

the only creative thing i can think of is to mix in 13 pounds of white sugar.

[micaela27]

honestly, some people just need to go on cholesterol meds.  when you're up against strong hereditary predispositions, that's a good last resort option in some cases.  at 211, though, your cholesterol is definitely NOT sky high.  why don't you try the exercise route first?

also, watch the egg yolks.  in fact, cut them out entirely!!  one yolk has about 75% of your daily allowance of cholesterol in it, so that packs quite an unhealthy punch when it comes to staying low cholesterol in your diet.

watch your fat intake too.  limit your red meats.  keep your polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and your monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) high and your saturated and trans fats verrrrrry low.  how are your HDL and LDL levels?  that can give a good indication of what your body's status is like right now.

honestly, i have never heard lecithin could lower your blood cholesterol levels.  eating enough whole grains and soluble/insolube fiber can definitely help, though!  i'll have to look into the lecithin thing.  you have my curiosity piqued now!

[miltk]

it's the cholin and inositol in lecithin.

[niobe]

Thanks for your tips.  Yeah, my levels could be a lot worse but I basically want to start watching it b/c of course high cholesterol runs in the family!  But my parents have been able to do really well with diet and supplements - they are not on statins. btw, I don't eat red meat or shellfish or pork at all.

My LDL is 131 and HDL 56.  Two years ago my LDL was 112 & HDL was a fabulous 67, but I think that might have been b/c I was on the pill, and that increases HDL and triglycerides.  My triglycerides were high two years ago (205) and are now just fine (119).  Two years ago total cholesterol was 220, and now it's 211 as mentioned.

I sound obsessive here with all these numbers :)

Anyway - thanks again!

[KurtS]

Your numbers are pretty  good. Keep doing what you are doing. Don't get scammed into the meds with your numbers. The manufacturers even have to say that they have not been proven to lower the risk of heart disease, and the side effects can be significant.
Getting your triglycerides down is a huge risk that you have eliminated.
Red Yeast Rice acts like a weak statin, and for that reason taking CoQ10 is a good idea if you go that route in the future. Dr Al Sears has a good web site and has written several books on nutrition and exercise for heat health that you might like.