YOUR HEALTH
A change of diet lowers cholesterol
DR. DONOHUE

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I went to my doctor a couple of months ago and was told that my cholesterol was high. I had been eating a lot of fried foods at fast-food restaurants without thinking about what I was doing. I thought I could exercise my way to health. Now I eat a lot of fiber and drink coffee with soy milk. Please write the ways one can lower cholesterol. I had a big shock when my mother passed away. Maybe my immune system shut down. -- A.R.

ANSWER: I'm sorry to hear your mother died, but her death didn't shut down your immune system. The immune system has little to do with cholesterol.

You can lower your cholesterol by changing to a diet based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. There is no cholesterol in any plant product, and this kind of diet emphasizes plant food and de-emphasizes meat and fats. Most of the cholesterol in our blood comes from our liver's production of it. Fats stimulate the liver to produce cholesterol. Saturated fats are especially bad. Saturated fats are the fats in meats, in whole milk and in products made from whole milk. Low-fat milk is fine. Soy milk is even better. Trans fats are even worse than saturated fats. They're the fats found in many commercial baked goods. You must become a food-label reader. Trans fat content is now listed on all food labels. You can use monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, found in things like olive oil and canola oil.

Oats and oat bran lower cholesterol, as do soy products.

Forgo fast foods, or be quite discriminating when you eat at fast-food restaurants. Stay away from deep-fried foods. Trans fats are often used in frying those foods.

In four to six weeks have your cholesterol checked again. You should see a marked drop if you make the above changes. If you don't see a drop, you might need medicines to lower your cholesterol.

The booklet on cholesterol control gives you other tips on how to bring it down. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 201, Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853- 6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 24 and have suffered with anxiety since I was 15. Now I am afraid to leave my home. My doctor won't prescribe any pills over the phone. What should I do? -- A.F.

ANSWER: Start by having someone take you to the doctor. Ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional. Your anxiety has grown into agoraphobia, a fear of leaving your home. You're not likely to get over this on your own. Anxiety and agoraphobia are treatable with medicine and talk therapy. You're a young person, and you're losing too much of your life to a sickness that can be controlled with expert help.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com. 2006 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved