I recently found out that my cholesterol was in the middle range of high. It was a bit surprising as I’d been working on trying to lower it.
Concerning coffee, I use a Bialettti 4 stovetop coffee maker daily. Depending on how strong I’d like it, I usually fill the basket anywhere from half full to around 2/3’s full. Usually 2 brews a day, sometimes 3.
Since utilising a paper filter per cup about 3 days ago, yes, it’s changed the mouthfeel and body of the coffee, but my stomach and digestive system is already much happier without the ultra-fines and oils apparently.
Adding one, also creates a better seal to create a heat closer to optimal, before/during the extraction process, as well as creating slightly more pressure during the extraction.
After tweaking the grind to compensate for the paper filter, all that’s left to do now is get used to this new flavour/way of drinking coffee. It’s also nice to feel a much cleaner caffeine kick without the ultra-fines/oils having an effect on the feeling.
Coupled with the additional changes, I’ll be interested to see how much lower I can get my ldl cholesterol in the next 6 weeks. I’ll add an update when I get the blood results. I don’t want to take any statins unless I absolutely have to.
On the topic of cholesterol, my parents (>60yo) greatly improved their situation by increasing physical exercise: walking, cycling, daily squats. This is on top of the treatment prescribed by their doctor. Still, the doctor was impressed by the improvement in their tests at their last follow-up.
Cheers for the tips; I’m living with chronic fatigue which sucks, because whenever I start walking, even at little more than a stroll, after 4 days of this, I get severe “post exertion malaise” for days.
I’ve resorted to a calorie deficit diet and have lost a lot of weight just doing that. As a 5"11 male at about 88kgs now, I’ve made a lot of progress, but exercise continues to be a persistent source of frustration, so I’m just doing it when I can.
All great tips, though, cheers. Hopefully I can keep up somewhat consistent walking at a minimum.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000217363
This one proposes a mechanism for how it works
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8313851/
Low-Dose Naltrexone is cheap and there is evidence it helps some people a lot with CFS, maybe ask about that? It is naltrexone, but taken at very small dose it has what the researchers call a ‘novel effect’ that is sort of the opposite. I don’t know that anything cures it but don’t lose hope or think nothing can help. People are studying it.
Congratulations on your weight loss! Enjoy great coffee and take care of yourself.