1. Eat butter 2. Test cholesterol 3. ???

November 9, 2006 1:21 PM

I'm curious as to how much cholesterol numbers can change on a daily or weekly basis.

Is it possible to raise your cholesterol by a measurable number if you ate, say, a stick of butter before your fast? Let's say Bob has a "natural" level of around 190, gets exercise 3 times a week, and has a reasonable diet. How long would he need to eat fried chicken day in and day out to raise his cholesterol to 200? There seems to be a lot more information regarding how fast cholesterol drops than how fast it can rise.

posted by hindmost to health & fitness (2 comments total)

It is important to fast for at least 8-12 hours before the blood test because the triglyceride level varies significantly with food intake.
posted by mattbucher at 1:50 PM on November 9, 2006

mattbucher, I'm specifically looking for information that takes the fasting time into account.
posted by hindmost at 4:42 PM on November 9, 2006