From: Frank Language (005-103.dialup.ny.np1.net)
Subject: Re: Why is my cholesterol level so high? :(
Date: January 6, 2002 at 12:06 pm PST

In Reply to: Re: Why is my cholesterol level so high? :( posted by Dr. Neal Pinckney on December 29, 2001 at 3:07 pm:

"Lacto-ovo" would seem to be the answer right there, although if you aren't overweight (and by today's standards, you're not) I'm surprised to see your cholesterol is so high.

Of course, the important thing you want to look at is the breakdown of the cholesterol levels; if your HDL (high density lipoprotein) is high, it takes care of and even negates the amount of LDL you have in your blood. My doctor has given me the seal of approval, so to speak, because my HDL count has been high for the past several years. (I haven't been a vegan until recently, though, so now I'm curious to see if there's a significant difference in my levels.)

One's cholesterol count is often genetically determined; I know a man who's about 6 foot 7 and weighs at least 450 pounds, but his cholesterol ranges about 125, and he's not any kind of vegetarian at all. (Go figure.)