Protein Shakes and Cholesterol

[Wyndru]

I have somewhat high cholesterol...I don't remember the exact numbers, but it's high enough the doc put me on simvastatin (zocor). My whole family has high cholesterol (LDL) and I'm the youngest one on meds at 34. The doctor says it's hereditary and there isn't much I can do other than the regular (exercise and diet), but it doesn't really help much so I need the meds.

I want to start supplementing with protein shakes (I've increased my lifting schedule a lot in the past few months), but I was reading some and they have VERY high cholesterol levels in them. I've seen some with 60-100mg per serving.

Does anyone know any decent protein supplements that have low cholesterol in them? Or do you think these high levels in food even matter since I already have naturally high cholesterol? I have an DR. appt. soon, so I will check with him also, I was just wondering if anyone here buys any specific protein shakes with the same concerns in mind.

Thanks!

 

[shortylickens]

I started using shakes a while ago and they did nothing one way or the other to my cholesterol.

Pizza and junk food on the other hand.......

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I have somewhat high cholesterol...I don't remember the exact numbers, but it's high enough the doc put me on simvastatin (zocor). My whole family has high cholesterol (LDL) and I'm the youngest one on meds at 34. The doctor says it's hereditary and there isn't much I can do other than the regular (exercise and diet), but it doesn't really help much so I need the meds.

I want to start supplementing with protein shakes (I've increased my lifting schedule a lot in the past few months), but I was reading some and they have VERY high cholesterol levels in them. I've seen some with 60-100mg per serving.

Does anyone know any decent protein supplements that have low cholesterol in them? Or do you think these high levels in food even matter since I already have naturally high cholesterol? I have an DR. appt. soon, so I will check with him also, I was just wondering if anyone here buys any specific protein shakes with the same concerns in mind.

Thanks!

Dietary cholesterol intake only affects the serum/blood cholesterol of around 30% of the population. That's because most normal body systems can accommodate by decreasing intrinsic cholesterol production when it comes in the diet. However, saturated fat and trans fat intake affects everyone - it increases LDL and frequently decreases HDL as well (depending on the source). How does your overall diet look? Do you eat a lot of animal fats? Fried foods? Cheese? If you can, list out a typical day of food. If your diet looks relatively good and you still have high cholesterol, you definitely need to monitor your cholesterol intake. The statin will help, but it doesn't modify your lifestyle which can be a major contributor. Sometimes though, you just get a dose of some unfortunate genes and no matter what you do, your cholesterol will be somewhat elevated. I know this doesn't answer your particular question about low-cholesterol protein powders/shakes, but I was just stating that you may or may not have to find these, based on your diet and exercise habits.

 

[Wyndru]

Dietary cholesterol intake only affects the serum/blood cholesterol of around 30% of the population. That's because most normal body systems can accommodate by decreasing intrinsic cholesterol production when it comes in the diet. However, saturated fat and trans fat intake affects everyone - it increases LDL and frequently decreases HDL as well (depending on the source). How does your overall diet look? Do you eat a lot of animal fats? Fried foods? Cheese? If you can, list out a typical day of food. If your diet looks relatively good and you still have high cholesterol, you definitely need to monitor your cholesterol intake. The statin will help, but it doesn't modify your lifestyle which can be a major contributor. Sometimes though, you just get a dose of some unfortunate genes and no matter what you do, your cholesterol will be somewhat elevated. I know this doesn't answer your particular question about low-cholesterol protein powders/shakes, but I was just stating that you may or may not have to find these, based on your diet and exercise habits.

Since I was 18 I was warned of high cholesterol by my family and doctors, so I have basically taught myself to stay away from high cholesterol foods and avoid trans and sat fat as much as possible. For meat, I eat a lot of chicken, pork chops and fish, and avoid butters and oils when I cook them. A typical day is fat free yogurt, salad, some kind of fruit and peanuts for snack and some sort of white meat. Occasionally I'll have red meat, but only about 1 or 2 times a month. I avoid cheese.

I've had times in my life where time has been an issue (college) and I ate worse, but I also wasn't monitoring my levels then either, so I don't know whether it made a big difference or not. For the most part I have been cholesterol conscience since my late teens.

My whole family has these issues, both my mother and father's side. My Mom's side is much worse though. She had a stroke at 50, and has been on a ton of cholesterol meds for a long time. Her brother was VERY fit and healthy, and died at 42 of a heart attack. Her nephew eats hardly anything but fish, and he had a quad bypass at 50. My sister has very high cholesterol also, but she is overweight and her diet isn't that great.

I gave all of this info to my doctor and that is why he decided to put me on the statins. Without ANY change to my diet or exercise, my cholesterol dropped from about 220 to 190 in a few months. He advised me to stay on the statin due to my family history.

I'm just worried that taking in this large amount of cholesterol in foods and shakes just to get protein to gain muscle is going to cause my levels to increase again. I'd like to avoid that if possible.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Hm, is there any way you can specifically ask your doctor about this? The cholesterol intake could definitely increase your serum levels. It'd be in your best interest to find the lowest cholesterol protein source (whether its a protein powder or not) and use that.

 

[Wyndru]

Hm, is there any way you can specifically ask your doctor about this? The cholesterol intake could definitely increase your serum levels. It'd be in your best interest to find the lowest cholesterol protein source (whether its a protein powder or not) and use that.

I do plan on asking him also, I was just wondering if there are any other people using low cholesterol protein shakes, and some examples. Bodybuilding.com's forums have a few large threads on this that I checked out. I guess you can buy a bunch of shakes with less than 10mg of cholesterol, and American Whey actually has 0 mg.

A few people in those threads are stating that dietary cholesterol doesn't have any affect on your serum (or plasma) cholesterol, but I'm not sure how accurate that is so I'll leave it up to the doc to decide. I'm just happy to find that there are 0 cholesterol alternatives.

 

[ZOOYUKA]

I find that the Optimum Nutrition Whey protein is lower in cholesterol than most proteins. Stay away from EAS it is has a ton of cholesterol.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I do plan on asking him also, I was just wondering if there are any other people using low cholesterol protein shakes, and some examples. Bodybuilding.com's forums have a few large threads on this that I checked out. I guess you can buy a bunch of shakes with less than 10mg of cholesterol, and American Whey actually has 0 mg.

A few people in those threads are stating that dietary cholesterol doesn't have any affect on your serum (or plasma) cholesterol, but I'm not sure how accurate that is so I'll leave it up to the doc to decide. I'm just happy to find that there are 0 cholesterol alternatives.

Well, they're right a majority of the time. The big sway in thought was from "Cholesterol is the devil, don't eat it" to "Cholesterol doesn't affect anyone! Yay! Don't worry." In actuality, as I said, roughly 30% of the population is cholesterol sensitive (I've done research papers on it). So the first mindset applies to 30% of people, while the second mindset applies to 70% of people. If you're in a group with already raised cholesterol, then honestly its best to avoid both.

 

[Wyndru]

then honestly its best to avoid both.

Ok, that's probably the best idea, I have a feeling that's what my doctor will say too. Thanks for the info.

Another noob question about protein shakes...my wife picked me up some yesterday and a container of about 20oz. was $38. Is this a normal price? It says it is only 14 servings, and suggests 2 servings a day, which means this would be a weekly cost (unless I went bulk, I'm not sure how much cheaper that would be). It only provides 15g protein per serving, but it's only 10mg of cholesterol which is why she bought it. If it's really this expensive, I might just stick with food for my protein intake, it would be about half the price and more protein per serving (yogurt, cottage cheese, protein bars, meat, eggs, etc...).

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Ok, that's probably the best idea, I have a feeling that's what my doctor will say too. Thanks for the info.

Another noob question about protein shakes...my wife picked me up some yesterday and a container of about 20oz. was $38. Is this a normal price? It says it is only 14 servings, and suggests 2 servings a day, which means this would be a weekly cost (unless I went bulk, I'm not sure how much cheaper that would be). It only provides 15g protein per serving, but it's only 10mg of cholesterol which is why she bought it. If it's really this expensive, I might just stick with food for my protein intake, it would be about half the price and more protein per serving (yogurt, cottage cheese, protein bars, meat, eggs, etc...).

Yeah, that's not normal. I think I used to pay around $35-40 for 5lbs of Optimum Nutrition whey. That's something like 75 servings, with each scoop having 23ish grams of protein, 30mg of cholesterol. I used one scoop every other day after heavy lifting sessions (along with milk, banana, egg, whatever). I honestly prefer sticking with whole food though, rather than buying whey. It has research backing it though, especially as a post-workout supplement, so it's useful but not essential.

 

[Wyndru]

Yeah, that's not normal. I think I used to pay around $35-40 for 5lbs of Optimum Nutrition whey. That's something like 75 servings, with each scoop having 23ish grams of protein, 30mg of cholesterol. I used one scoop every other day after heavy lifting sessions (along with milk, banana, egg, whatever). I honestly prefer sticking with whole food though, rather than buying whey. It has research backing it though, especially as a post-workout supplement, so it's useful but not essential.

Cool, I'm glad to hear this isn't the norm. I thought it was a little outrageous, she got it at some wellness/pharmacy place, so I think she just got ripped off. I'll bring it back and see if I can find some more reasonably priced stuff.