Diet modifications to lower cholesterol

[londoner]

My girlfriend's Nan has been told she has high cholesterol. She's in her 60s and apparently high cholesterol is something that runs in the family. She showed me the diet sheet her doctor gave her and it states that she should avoid all fat. I would have thought that she should be encouraged to have some fat especially flaxseed oil or olive oil.

Could anyone suggest why she has been told to avoid all fat or fat in very small quantites and what else she needs to consider in terms of her diet and/or exercise regime?

Thanks.

[UpNorth]

I would have her go back to her doctor for clarification. There is a big difference between types of fats and how it effects levels of LDL and HDL in the blood and what they do to the levels of "bad" cholesterol.

I'm sure the doctor knows this but might have been afraid to overwhelm her with information. As a result he kept it simple. If he can't, or is unwilling to get more specific with his recommendations go to someone else.

[londoner]

That's exactly what I thought. I gave her an article I found on different oils (flaxseed/olive/grapeseed/fish/ avocado) and which oils are better for cooking and the impact they have on your LDL and HDL cholesterol so hopefully she will take that into consideration in the future.

Does anyone have any solid info?? I'm going to try some journals in a moment.

[Johnka]

Here's a great site devoted to lowering cholesterol:
http://www.loweringcholesterol.net/

[londoner]

Thanks for the link John. I've had a look at that site already and it does have some very good info. Have printed out a few pages for her to look at.