cholesterol issues and CF?

[jacobus]

Cf doctors generally know very little about nutrition. Of course the high incidence of CFRD is largely a result of the standard 'cf diet'. The truth is that when they developed those guidelines, no one with cf lived past 30 so issues like diabetes were not considered. There are ways to get the necessary calories without consuming so much refined white sugar. Maintaing a high calorie, healthy diet with cf is possible. It takes more effort and does cost a little more but it's well worth it.

 

[thecatsmeow]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Mommafirst</b></i>

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>thecatsmeow</b></i>



Don't say never because I have cf and also high cholesterol (on meds for it too) which I strongly believe is from the high fat diet we're put on.</end quote></div>



Are you pancreatic sufficient? My daughter is -- technically -- and I wonder if this high fat diet is more likely to impact her cholesterol than those that don't absorb fat.</end quote></div>

I'm not familiar with that term, but I have to take enzymes with everything and have stomach trouble when I miss them. As far as gainIng weight - I was almost to the point of needing a feeding tube before I was pregnant. Now afterwards I don't have too much trouble maintaining unless I am very sick. I also have cfrd and take insulin.

 

[thecatsmeow]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Mommafirst</b></i>

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>thecatsmeow</b></i>



Don't say never because I have cf and also high cholesterol (on meds for it too) which I strongly believe is from the high fat diet we're put on.</end quote>



Are you pancreatic sufficient? My daughter is -- technically -- and I wonder if this high fat diet is more likely to impact her cholesterol than those that don't absorb fat.</end quote>

I'm not familiar with that term, but I have to take enzymes with everything and have stomach trouble when I miss them. As far as gainIng weight - I was almost to the point of needing a feeding tube before I was pregnant. Now afterwards I don't have too much trouble maintaining unless I am very sick. I also have cfrd and take insulin.

 

[thecatsmeow]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Mommafirst</b></i>
<br />
<br /><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>thecatsmeow</b></i>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Don't say never because I have cf and also high cholesterol (on meds for it too) which I strongly believe is from the high fat diet we're put on.</end quote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Are you pancreatic sufficient? My daughter is -- technically -- and I wonder if this high fat diet is more likely to impact her cholesterol than those that don't absorb fat.</end quote>
<br />
<br />I'm not familiar with that term, but I have to take enzymes with everything and have stomach trouble when I miss them. As far as gainIng weight - I was almost to the point of needing a feeding tube before I was pregnant. Now afterwards I don't have too much trouble maintaining unless I am very sick. I also have cfrd and take insulin.

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi Heather,

I had a period in my early 20's where my cholesterol was high at 120. As a child, and up until my early 20's, I basically ate whatever I wanted. I was allowed to eat any high-fat, high-calorie foods that my little heart desired, because I often had poor weight gain. But ever since my late 20's, I have had a problem with gaining too much weight. My cholesterol is fine now, but my weight is definitely too high. I just got up to my highest ever at 190 lbs and I'm almost up to what I was when I was full-term pregnant. I really think it is "catching up" to me.

I wouldn't worry about the high-sugar tube feeds though, because CFRD will happen regardless of what types of food we eat. That is because it's like having Type 1 diabetes, which is different than Type 2 (which can be prevented by diet).

But what you're concerned about with Alyssa is what I had questioned my whole life. I always thought that this high-fat, high-calorie diet is not probably the best solution for us in the long-term. I think it is important to just keep a balanced diet and feed her what you think is right. There is no research out there against our classic CF diet at this point.

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi Heather,

I had a period in my early 20's where my cholesterol was high at 120. As a child, and up until my early 20's, I basically ate whatever I wanted. I was allowed to eat any high-fat, high-calorie foods that my little heart desired, because I often had poor weight gain. But ever since my late 20's, I have had a problem with gaining too much weight. My cholesterol is fine now, but my weight is definitely too high. I just got up to my highest ever at 190 lbs and I'm almost up to what I was when I was full-term pregnant. I really think it is "catching up" to me.

I wouldn't worry about the high-sugar tube feeds though, because CFRD will happen regardless of what types of food we eat. That is because it's like having Type 1 diabetes, which is different than Type 2 (which can be prevented by diet).

But what you're concerned about with Alyssa is what I had questioned my whole life. I always thought that this high-fat, high-calorie diet is not probably the best solution for us in the long-term. I think it is important to just keep a balanced diet and feed her what you think is right. There is no research out there against our classic CF diet at this point.

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi Heather,
<br />
<br />I had a period in my early 20's where my cholesterol was high at 120. As a child, and up until my early 20's, I basically ate whatever I wanted. I was allowed to eat any high-fat, high-calorie foods that my little heart desired, because I often had poor weight gain. But ever since my late 20's, I have had a problem with gaining too much weight. My cholesterol is fine now, but my weight is definitely too high. I just got up to my highest ever at 190 lbs and I'm almost up to what I was when I was full-term pregnant. I really think it is "catching up" to me.
<br />
<br />I wouldn't worry about the high-sugar tube feeds though, because CFRD will happen regardless of what types of food we eat. That is because it's like having Type 1 diabetes, which is different than Type 2 (which can be prevented by diet).
<br />
<br />But what you're concerned about with Alyssa is what I had questioned my whole life. I always thought that this high-fat, high-calorie diet is not probably the best solution for us in the long-term. I think it is important to just keep a balanced diet and feed her what you think is right. There is no research out there against our classic CF diet at this point.

 

[Melissa75]

Pancreatic sufficient here, but noting that I can't eat some fats (bacon or pepperoni) w/o having diarrhea. I am on the thin side. And have had a cholesterol level ranging btw 220 and 250 since it was first checked in my early twenties. My good cholesterol is still adequate such that no one is telling me I need Lipitor yet. I try to make at least two dinners a week of rice and beans or rice and fish. I also eat dinner leftovers for lunch instead of junk, but I won't lie, I eats lots of cheese, put half and half in my coffee, butter on my toast, and eat red meat, dark chicken meat and eggs. What I do avoid if I can help it is margarine and other trans fats. They were developed by humans for increased shelf-life of foods and we are not equipped to safely process them.
Here is a useful guide:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm">http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm</a>

 

[Melissa75]

Pancreatic sufficient here, but noting that I can't eat some fats (bacon or pepperoni) w/o having diarrhea. I am on the thin side. And have had a cholesterol level ranging btw 220 and 250 since it was first checked in my early twenties. My good cholesterol is still adequate such that no one is telling me I need Lipitor yet. I try to make at least two dinners a week of rice and beans or rice and fish. I also eat dinner leftovers for lunch instead of junk, but I won't lie, I eats lots of cheese, put half and half in my coffee, butter on my toast, and eat red meat, dark chicken meat and eggs. What I do avoid if I can help it is margarine and other trans fats. They were developed by humans for increased shelf-life of foods and we are not equipped to safely process them.
Here is a useful guide:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm">http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm</a>

 

[Melissa75]

Pancreatic sufficient here, but noting that I can't eat some fats (bacon or pepperoni) w/o having diarrhea. I am on the thin side. And have had a cholesterol level ranging btw 220 and 250 since it was first checked in my early twenties. My good cholesterol is still adequate such that no one is telling me I need Lipitor yet. I try to make at least two dinners a week of rice and beans or rice and fish. I also eat dinner leftovers for lunch instead of junk, but I won't lie, I eats lots of cheese, put half and half in my coffee, butter on my toast, and eat red meat, dark chicken meat and eggs. What I do avoid if I can help it is margarine and other trans fats. They were developed by humans for increased shelf-life of foods and we are not equipped to safely process them.
<br />Here is a useful guide:
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm">http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm</a>

 

[chrissyd]

I have low cholesterol due to and inability to absorb and use the fat that I do eat. And when I say low I mean 72 (total) was my lowest and 98 (total) my highest. While CF can casue absorbtion problems I also have a mitochondrial disease which makes it worse for me.

<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[chrissyd]

I have low cholesterol due to and inability to absorb and use the fat that I do eat. And when I say low I mean 72 (total) was my lowest and 98 (total) my highest. While CF can casue absorbtion problems I also have a mitochondrial disease which makes it worse for me.

<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[chrissyd]

I have low cholesterol due to and inability to absorb and use the fat that I do eat. And when I say low I mean 72 (total) was my lowest and 98 (total) my highest. While CF can casue absorbtion problems I also have a mitochondrial disease which makes it worse for me.
<br />
<br /><img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[stillkicking]

My whole family on both sides struggles with high cholesterol. But I guess one of the benefits of CF for me is I can eat whatever fatty, cholesterol laden foods I want and it hasn't affected my cholesterol at all. I've been pancreatic insufficient my whole life, so I was always on a high fat diet. I wondered now that I'm over 30, if I would reap the reprecussions but every test I've had done, cholesterol is great.

 

[stillkicking]

My whole family on both sides struggles with high cholesterol. But I guess one of the benefits of CF for me is I can eat whatever fatty, cholesterol laden foods I want and it hasn't affected my cholesterol at all. I've been pancreatic insufficient my whole life, so I was always on a high fat diet. I wondered now that I'm over 30, if I would reap the reprecussions but every test I've had done, cholesterol is great.

 

[stillkicking]

My whole family on both sides struggles with high cholesterol. But I guess one of the benefits of CF for me is I can eat whatever fatty, cholesterol laden foods I want and it hasn't affected my cholesterol at all. I've been pancreatic insufficient my whole life, so I was always on a high fat diet. I wondered now that I'm over 30, if I would reap the reprecussions but every test I've had done, cholesterol is great.

 

[Printer]

In Clinic, I see a CF Dietitian/Nutritionist. It is from her, that I got the information that I posted on this subject.

It is true that I should never say never.

 

[Printer]

In Clinic, I see a CF Dietitian/Nutritionist. It is from her, that I got the information that I posted on this subject.

It is true that I should never say never.

 

[Printer]

In Clinic, I see a CF Dietitian/Nutritionist. It is from her, that I got the information that I posted on this subject.
<br />
<br />It is true that I should never say never.

 

[LouLou]

Mommafirst, Why don't you set out some goals on this post. Posting them to us may help you stick to them. Why worry about things out of your control. While I've never had high cholesterol I am PI and do not follow a cf diet. I was born in 1978 and back then enzymes didn't work very well. I am part of the last of a generation that was raised high calorie but not high fat. I think very high protein is very important too. My mom always gave me good fats and I always had an aversion to butter being added to stuff (even bread!) so lots of food was the answer. I recall as a kid eating a mid morning snack at school in my hand like an apple...a potatoe with cheese inside cold with skin on. Down the hatch the whole potatoe! I think it's important to set up good eating habits but first priority is weight so not at the expense of weight loss. One cf child I know first thing in the morning eats a big spoonful of almond butter. It's easy, calorie, a good fat and good for her. How about it. Run your ideas by us or make this a dialogue and ask for suggestions. Also, could you get insurance to cover that organic supplement that was advertised on here this past Fall?