Fish Oil supplementation?

[jdrgator]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

And I don't even 'eat right', at least according to the conventional wisdom. On a whim, I recently tracked my eating over 72 hours and learned that the foods I ate ranged from A- to D- according to the government site. I strongly suspect the truth is that it is EASY to get your RDA's on a typical Western diet.

I should say that I don't begrudge people who use supplements or vitamins. I have in the past with some religiosity. However, now that I've gotten back into training, I am of a different, more skeptical mind. Actually, I am an "outsider" in that regard.

I haven't been truly counting my calories since I've started or at least, I haven't been logging them or whether or not I am getting the recommended servings. All I do is make sure I am getting plenty of protein and vegetables, roughage, and good carbs in my diet. I figure if I am eating good foods and feeling good and losing weight, then why supplement just yet, especially if they aren't going to help.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by jdrgator

I should say that I don't begrudge people who use supplements or vitamins. I have in the past with some religiosity. However, now that I've gotten back into training, I am of a different, more skeptical mind. Actually, I am an "outsider" in that regard.

I haven't been truly counting my calories since I've started or at least, I haven't been logging them or whether or not I am getting the recommended servings. All I do is make sure I am getting plenty of protein and vegetables, roughage, and good carbs in my diet. I figure if I am eating good foods and feeling good and losing weight, then why supplement just yet, especially if they aren't going to help.

And dare I say it ? It's not difficult in the least to get the necessary protein on a standard Western diet. Of course the supplements industry would have you believe otherwise.

[Goddard]

Hi BossaGator,
I have been using fish oil regularly because of these health benefits.
Fish oil helps in reducing weight,
Fish oil improves vision,
Fish oil ease depression,
Fish oil prevents from heart and cardio disease,
Fish oil reduces cholesterol level,
Fish oil prevents from joint pains.

[malscott]

Krill oil is the best, by far

[jdrgator]

Was just informed by my doc that I should start taking fish oil. Third time in a row that my good cholesterol is low (though my bad cholesterol is also low, but that's a good thing).

Will check out some of the suggestions by people here.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by jdrgator

Was just informed by my doc that I should start taking fish oil. Third time in a row that my good cholesterol is low (though my bad cholesterol is also low, but that's a good thing).

Will check out some of the suggestions by people here.

jdr, how low is your HDL ? And does your HDL go down when your LDL goes down ? Just curious.

[jdrgator]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

jdr, how low is your HDL ? And does your HDL go down when your LDL goes down ? Just curious.

Here's mine from 08/09/11 when I first had it done at the gym and from October 19 at the DRs office.

HDL (> 40)
08/09/11: 27 mg/dl
10/19/11: 28 mg/dl

LDL (< 100)
08/09/11: 97 mg/dl
10/19/11: 91 mg/dl

Everything else was fine. Glucose was 101/92; Triglycerides 211/118; Tot. Chol 166/142.

Although, I had a protein shake with banana, milk, and PB before my first bloodwork back in August. My HDL went up only 1 pt while my LDL dropped 6 pts. Both positive gains, but I should tell you, that before August, the last time I saw a doctor in July 2008, my HDL was also low, though I can't find that paperwork to see what it was.

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by jdrgator

Here's mine from 08/09/11 when I first had it done at the gym and from October 19 at the DRs office.

HDL (> 40)
08/09/11: 27 mg/dl
10/19/11: 28 mg/dl

LDL (< 100)
08/09/11: 97 mg/dl
10/19/11: 91 mg/dl

Everything else was fine. Glucose was 101/92; Triglycerides 211/118; Tot. Chol 166/142.

Although, I had a protein shake with banana, milk, and PB before my first bloodwork back in August. My HDL went up only 1 pt while my LDL dropped 6 pts. Both positive gains, but I should tell you, that before August, the last time I saw a doctor in July 2008, my HDL was also low, though I can't find that paperwork to see what it was.

Except for the HDL, all other gains were fantastic. Fish oil may be all you need. Other things that help HDL:

alcohol
albuterol (just become an asthmatic)
higher-intensity cardio like intervals

[Dreamliner]

Roughly ten years ago I was on an Ornish-type low fat diet and performing steady-state cardio. My total cholesterol was 180 but my HDL was 32.

When I started (1) eating more meat (2) replaced steady-state cardio with interval-type cardio and (3) took up drinking ... my total cholesterol went over 200 but my HDL nearly DOUBLED and my triglycerides plummeted. My LDL, though 'high', is of the harmless 'fluffy variety.'

Honestly, I don't worry about cholesterol anymore. But I do think the above changes are interesting.