tota lipids, not cholesterol test and gen nutrition

Question
This is a copy/paste of a question I sent.  I saw your profile and thought maybe you would like to field this one.  Thanks for mentioning any nutrition sites you like, Jerry

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Just to give you a head start -- let me say that I have been reading exentsively on nutrition and dietetics for over 10 years. I have investigated a number of degree programs in the field, but have not had the opportunity to enroll due to various circumstances.

My question comes as a result of searching on the internet. I was trying to find a test for lipids in the urine, but ALL of the search results I saw address CHOLESTEROL issues. All I want to find out is the amount of lipids in the urine -- I don't want a profile or panel which shows specific fat components.

One reason for my searching is that I am 52 years old and in the past 6 months have noticed a change in the way my regular (3 or more half hour + sessions per week at a complete fitness center) work outs affect my body. I seem to swell with exercise and have trouble reducing the size of my waist. The more I exercise, the more I look disfigured in the mirror.

My diet is pretty steady. I've really noticed positive effects in ten years -- for example, I steam ALL my food in a pressure cooker. I use only flax oil, am basically a vegan, etc. I do use L-carnatine and amino isolates. I am fairly knowledged in supplementation, so that issue does not need to be addressed. (pantothenic, B-12, folic, etc.)

I feel that male menopause is setting in and affecting my metabolic process. Basically I would like to know when fats are being expelled from my body. This might give me clues on dietary factors and help me coordinate my diet and exercise in an optimal way.

Thanks very much for making yourself available.

I would also like you to suggest any internet sites you feel are good ones -- these would not have to involve the main subject of the lipid/metabolism question I am submitting.

I am also interested in any sites that help avoid hypertension. I saw a physician as a result of another doctor consultation, but no meds were recommended -- the GP did not feel hypertension was an issue at this point.

Thanks again for any response you might have.

Jerry Snyder
92 Medinah Drive
Reading, PA 19607

Answer
Hi Jerry,

I'm not really clear on why you would like to measure lipids in your urine. In a healthy person, there would only be negligible amounts of lipids present in the urine. Only in disease states such as kidney disease would there be greater amounts present. The only way a healthy person loses significant amounts of fat is by using it for metabolic fuel (i.e. "burning it off" through exercise). People who have a fat malabsorption disorder will lose significant amounts of fat in their stools, but this would have very significant symptoms, including loose, oily stools. If you feel that you may have some type of medical condition then I would urge you to get checked out by your doctor.

I'm not sure what is causing the swelling you are describing. You might want to make sure you are drinking adequate fluids and watch your salt intake to see if this helps at all.

You mentioned that you only use flax oil. You need to make sure that you are including other good sources of healthy fats, such as nuts, seeds, avocado, and olive or canola oils. Flax oil alone cannot provide you with all the different types of fatty acids you need. Also, it sounds like you are taking lots of supplements, which I don't recommend. Firstly, they are unnecessary if you are following a healthy vegan diet (with the possible exception of B12 if you don't consume B12 fortified foods daily). Secondly, supplement quality is not well controlled and a lot of supplements contain contaminants that are potentially harmful. Thirdly, you are much better off to spend the money on high quality whole, natural foods. Food is the best source of all the nutrients and other beneficial substances (such as fibre and phytochemicals) that your body needs.

Some websites you might find helpful are:

The Vegetarian Resource Group www.vrg.org

DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf

The Diet Channel www.thedietchannel.com

The American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org

Dietitians of Canada www.dietitians.ca

I would also highly recommend reading _Becoming Vegan_ by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis for an in depth look at all aspects of vegan nutrition.

Hope that helps!

Karen  

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