jawnbc | Health update: it's all good

Several weeks ago I posted about my soaring cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And my liver enzymes being off the chart. Subsequently I took on a several changes including:

-a low dose (10mg) of Lipitor daily
-near total elimination of sugar from my diet, largely by dropping ~~my best friend~~ Coke™ Classic
-infusing my diet with 125g of soy product intake, largely through drinking soy milk
-eating other cholesterol healthy foods like statin-laden spreads and real oats (thanks honey for making my oats every day!)

Now when it comes to the soy stuff, be advised that nearly all "soy milk" sold isn't the real deal. It's made from "soy protein isolate" which has proven to have none of the benefits of real soy products. Look for at least 70% soy content (or 50% if nothing better is available; then double your intake), made from soy beans. Period.

The results are in. Survey says:

Cholesterol: from 7.0 to 4.2 (up to 5 is normal)!
Triglycerides: from 2.0 to 1.3 (up to 1.3 is normal)!
Liver enzymes: normal

I've not yet integrated exercise into my life: with the move and stuff, it'll have to wait until we get to Vancouver. But I'm committed to skating at least once a week for an hour (blading or ice skating), giving yoga a go (through a proper class), and walking more (we'll be in the West End, so lots of daily walks to cafés, the grocery, visting pals).

I'll do the Lipitor for a total of 3 months, then stop for a month (things should be cleared out by then). Then test again in Vancouver. If it's still OK I'll stay off it; otherwise I'll go back to the 10mg dosage.

I'm so pleased. And relieved.