mmsmom
03-03-2017, 09:19 AM
According to my ped the AAP issued new guidelines last summer recommending cholesterol checks starting at age 10. So DS had a test at his 10 year well visit which was high. It was a finger prick screening so he then had a fasting blood test. The numbers that came back were: 223 overall (ideal range 100-169); LDL 115 (good range 0-109); HDL 95 (good range less than 39). The nurse that called with the results said not to be overly concerned- to do the best we could with diet and they would recheck in a year. I do suspect there is a genetic aspect to these numbers as my Dad had high cholesterol despite eating a very strict diet for years.
So we already eat fairly healthy and minimal processed food. The nurse said switching to skim milk could make a big impact but DS does not drink milk. I use 2% in recipes but not enough I feel to make a difference (I buy 1/2 gallon every 2 weeks). I am not willing to switch to fake butter- would rather use less of the real stuff. We do eat a lot of eggs but the effect of eggs on cholesterol seems to not be settled.
I know we can cut back on some fatty meats (he likes salami, pepperoni, etc). We can cut back on cheese. But I'm just not sure what else I should do. The goal is 300mg of cholesterol/day and from my calculations I think he is already under that. He is also very active, plays sports, etc.
So we already eat fairly healthy and minimal processed food. The nurse said switching to skim milk could make a big impact but DS does not drink milk. I use 2% in recipes but not enough I feel to make a difference (I buy 1/2 gallon every 2 weeks). I am not willing to switch to fake butter- would rather use less of the real stuff. We do eat a lot of eggs but the effect of eggs on cholesterol seems to not be settled.
I know we can cut back on some fatty meats (he likes salami, pepperoni, etc). We can cut back on cheese. But I'm just not sure what else I should do. The goal is 300mg of cholesterol/day and from my calculations I think he is already under that. He is also very active, plays sports, etc.