[IamConservative]

I don’t know what is the common knowledge...which is why I rely on a registered dietitian and my cardiologist for advice.

I think there are a lot of things Doctors still don't know about the human condition. I've been battling the lipids. I do 5 hours per week aerobic and anaerobic exercise, I follow the Mediterranean diet to the letter (which means virtually no animal fats, sodium or refined sugars in my case) and my numbers are still too high. I just went on Lipitor a couple of weeks ago. I'm just can't be a vegetarian.

[fatnotlazy]

Unfortunately, for many no amount of exercise or healthy eating will bring the cholesterol numbers down to normal. Mine is hereditary from both sides of the family and yes, I take Lipitor too. But if I had continued all my bad habits, I'd be a lot worse. In fact, I was worse. I had a cardiac arrest in 2008. Not exactly looking forward to doing that again soon.

[slowhandluke]

I don’t know what is the common knowledge...which is why I rely on a registered dietitian and my cardiologist for advice.

Common knowledge is often based on what the Dr says, and is often wrong. Your cardiologist was probably telling folks to go to polyunsaturated fats not long ago, and today the light oils are now suspect. Some doctors give out statins like candy, others have figured out that cholesterol numbers do not correlate with heart trouble, and that merely forcing the number downs benefits pharma but not the patient. The side effects of statins are ugly, and the benefits questionable.

The Australian Broadcasting company did a report on this issue:

Heart of the Matter Part 1 - Dietary Villains

Heart of the Matter Part 2 - Cholesterol Drug War