Anonymous
01/16/2023 21:02
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hear about this. Can you give more info on heart attack? Any warnings, history wtc.etc.? Lifestyle, diabetes, smoker or even smokeless tobacco type products? Interested bc my dh at age 51 found out he had large amount of hard plaque. Cac score of 500. His father died at 45 of HA. My dh has heterozygous familial Hypercholesterolemia. My dh is on injectable statins in addition to statin pills. My dh gets angina with intense exercise and occasionally lying down. He has bradycardia in the 40s. His cardiologist is doing a carotid scan next week. DH also gets dizzy spells. Frustrating thing is DH won't mention dizzy spells or angina to doctor. Dh goes for all tests they order, like stress echo. Exercises consistently (always has) and eats a heart healthy pescetarian diet with minimal processed foods. DH thinks if something really bad is there, that it will show up on test. Nvm that the doc may order different tests if he knew about angina etc.
I am happy to share but not sure it will be much help because for us it really came out of the blue. His maternal grandparents both did pass from cardiac events, his grandfather in his early 50's, but the cardiologist told us they don't typically consider grandparents to be a significant history. He had not had his cholesterol checked recently, if ever, and post MI it was in the 150s. And he thinks now he may have had a very small TIA that he did not recognize at the time about 4 months prior to the MI (although his carotids were thankfully clear on US after the fact). But honestly it was incredibly shocking, particularly because it was a "widowmaker" attack (100% blockage of the LAD). His dr straight up said that if this was 30 years prior and they did not have the technology they do now, he would have unquestionably died. Thankfully he just has a stent, no bypass surgery, and we got him to the hospital quickly enough that the damage to his heart is minimal, although still somewhat significant. I don't know if a story from a stranger on the internet will convince your DH to get ALL THE TESTS, but literally all of his buddies have gotten themselves to the dr or made some significant lifestyle changes because it scared the pants off all of us.
Anonymous
01/16/2023 20:11
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
Anonymous wrote:DH had a very unexpected heart attack this year in his late 40s (!) despite being in good shape. Since then:
1. Steel cut oats with cinnamon and walnuts for breakfast every day (walnuts are really good for your heart)
2. Only whole wheat pasta and bread, and even then only in small amounts
3. No meat; fish and plant based protein only, but ...
4. Really watch which fish you eat. They can be surprisingly high in cholesterol. We eat a ton of salmon and branzino. Even tuna isn't actually that great for you.
5. Most shellfish are also very high in cholesterol. Shrimp especially! Scallops are the only ones we eat now, which is a shame because they are suddenly wildly expensive.
6. ZERO added sugar, no dairy
It's restrictive but combined with his meds and a LOT of cardio, it's been life changing. He was not big before by any stretch of the imagination and he lost 20 lbs.
What he/we eat a lot of:
1. Vegetarian chili and bean-based soups -- there are a lot of easy crock pot recipes out there
2. Fish, grilled or en papillote
3. Sashimi with brown rice
4. Baked potatoes with salsa
5. Bolognese sauce featuring lentils, mushrooms or tempeh instead of meat
6. Spicy rice and beans
A lot of the time I will make a "regular" entree for the kids and me and a huge portion of quinoa or farro on the side with lots of veggies and he'll add some beans to that and call it dinner. It's not easy, but it's not awful either.
Sorry to hear about this. Can you give more info on heart attack? Any warnings, history wtc.etc.? Lifestyle, diabetes, smoker or even smokeless tobacco type products? Interested bc my dh at age 51 found out he had large amount of hard plaque. Cac score of 500. His father died at 45 of HA. My dh has heterozygous familial Hypercholesterolemia. My dh is on injectable statins in addition to statin pills. My dh gets angina with intense exercise and occasionally lying down. He has bradycardia in the 40s. His cardiologist is doing a carotid scan next week. DH also gets dizzy spells. Frustrating thing is DH won't mention dizzy spells or angina to doctor. Dh goes for all tests they order, like stress echo. Exercises consistently (always has) and eats a heart healthy pescetarian diet with minimal processed foods. DH thinks if something really bad is there, that it will show up on test. Nvm that the doc may order different tests if he knew about angina etc.
Anonymous
01/15/2023 22:44
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
DH had a very unexpected heart attack this year in his late 40s (!) despite being in good shape. Since then:
1. Steel cut oats with cinnamon and walnuts for breakfast every day (walnuts are really good for your heart)
2. Only whole wheat pasta and bread, and even then only in small amounts
3. No meat; fish and plant based protein only, but ...
4. Really watch which fish you eat. They can be surprisingly high in cholesterol. We eat a ton of salmon and branzino. Even tuna isn't actually that great for you.
5. Most shellfish are also very high in cholesterol. Shrimp especially! Scallops are the only ones we eat now, which is a shame because they are suddenly wildly expensive.
6. ZERO added sugar, no dairy
It's restrictive but combined with his meds and a LOT of cardio, it's been life changing. He was not big before by any stretch of the imagination and he lost 20 lbs.
What he/we eat a lot of:
1. Vegetarian chili and bean-based soups -- there are a lot of easy crock pot recipes out there
2. Fish, grilled or en papillote
3. Sashimi with brown rice
4. Baked potatoes with salsa
5. Bolognese sauce featuring lentils, mushrooms or tempeh instead of meat
6. Spicy rice and beans
A lot of the time I will make a "regular" entree for the kids and me and a huge portion of quinoa or farro on the side with lots of veggies and he'll add some beans to that and call it dinner. It's not easy, but it's not awful either.
1. Steel cut oats with cinnamon and walnuts for breakfast every day (walnuts are really good for your heart)
2. Only whole wheat pasta and bread, and even then only in small amounts
3. No meat; fish and plant based protein only, but ...
4. Really watch which fish you eat. They can be surprisingly high in cholesterol. We eat a ton of salmon and branzino. Even tuna isn't actually that great for you.
5. Most shellfish are also very high in cholesterol. Shrimp especially! Scallops are the only ones we eat now, which is a shame because they are suddenly wildly expensive.
6. ZERO added sugar, no dairy
It's restrictive but combined with his meds and a LOT of cardio, it's been life changing. He was not big before by any stretch of the imagination and he lost 20 lbs.
What he/we eat a lot of:
1. Vegetarian chili and bean-based soups -- there are a lot of easy crock pot recipes out there
2. Fish, grilled or en papillote
3. Sashimi with brown rice
4. Baked potatoes with salsa
5. Bolognese sauce featuring lentils, mushrooms or tempeh instead of meat
6. Spicy rice and beans
A lot of the time I will make a "regular" entree for the kids and me and a huge portion of quinoa or farro on the side with lots of veggies and he'll add some beans to that and call it dinner. It's not easy, but it's not awful either.
Anonymous
01/15/2023 20:09
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
My LDL dropped from 110 to 97 in less than 2 weeks after increasing my whole grains intake.
Anonymous
01/15/2023 20:06
Subject: Ideas for heart healthy earing
No red meat, alcohol, high fat dairy (cream, half and half, butter) less cheese, sugar, alcohol, refined flour
More whole grains, oats, beans, fruits and veggies
More whole grains, oats, beans, fruits and veggies
Anonymous
01/15/2023 15:26
Subject: Ideas for heart healthy earing
OP here. This is very helpful. Thank you! I forgot about fish. And I will use it to top a salad in the bag greens.
Anonymous
01/15/2023 14:48
Subject: Ideas for heart healthy earing
. skip the booze, it makes a big difference with cholesterol
. at least 5 different colored fruits/veg per day (add berries and bananas etc to your oatmeal)
. I buy those 'salad in a bag' at the supermarket, and add protein (chicken or salmon) avocado and nuts. Just use olive oil and lemon for dressing
. In the winter, if it's cold, I might swap out an arugula-type salad for a warm salad (shredded brussel sprouts or one of those cruciferous mixes that can be sauted) same toppings / dressing
. at least 5 different colored fruits/veg per day (add berries and bananas etc to your oatmeal)
. I buy those 'salad in a bag' at the supermarket, and add protein (chicken or salmon) avocado and nuts. Just use olive oil and lemon for dressing
. In the winter, if it's cold, I might swap out an arugula-type salad for a warm salad (shredded brussel sprouts or one of those cruciferous mixes that can be sauted) same toppings / dressing
Anonymous
01/15/2023 14:43
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
Anonymous wrote:^^ EATING of course. I have plenty of heart health earrings.
What I’ve noticed that’s moved the needle on my VLDL, LDL, HDL and triglycerides:
More fish (tuna for lunch a few days a week), fewer processed carbs (crackers, sweets). I can eat tons of veggies (and typically do), but it’s the fish that I’ve noticed the biggest benefit from.
Note I just need to buy some heart-healthy earrings….
Anonymous
01/15/2023 14:20
Subject: Re:Ideas for heart healthy earing
^^ EATING of course. I have plenty of heart health earrings.
Anonymous
01/15/2023 14:18
Subject: Ideas for heart healthy earing
My latest labs came back and everything is trending up…. I’m looking to stop the LDL/glucose creep. What foods have helped you along the way? I am fine with eating the same meals daily to form a habit. Starting with oatmeal for breakfast and then…