Blood work, some concerning results.

[Hulkotron]

Whole grains are good for you!  Is another huge one nowadays.  Italians have been eating pasta for centuries using refined flour.  If you made a traditional Italian eat whole wheat pasta they'd slap you in your face!  And traditional Italians suffered some of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world at one time.  Whole wheat/grains have a lot of anti-nutrients.  

Yes it's even worse nowadays with all this "Organic" nonsense.

Basically "you are what you eat" is only true in the sense that if you lead a disgusting lifestyle your appearance will reflect it.  You can eat at McDonalds three times a day and exercise intensely and be healthier and fitter than most people.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Yes it's even worse nowadays with all this "Organic" nonsense.

Well Organic I'd have to disagree with you.  Organic definitely makes a huge difference.  By law organic beef is much better than non organic beef.  Organic cattle are not allowed any antibiotics or hormones.  And organic produce is in fact better for the environment.  There is very much substance behind organic labeling.  What people fail to understand about organic is that most organic products have been infected with GMO ingredients and many organic products only have to have 70% of their ingredients "organic" for them to be labeled organic.  Bottomline is you have to know where your food comes from, trust your source.  I buy all my beef from one farm and it's all 100% grass fed and finished.  All my pork and chickens come from one farmer.  All my produce is bought locally at farmer's markets.  Grocery stores will kill you nowadays!

[Hulkotron]

Well Organic I'd have to disagree with you.  Organic definitely makes a huge difference.  By law organic beef is much better than non organic beef.  Organic cattle are not allowed any antibiotics or hormones.  And organic produce is in fact better for the environment.  There is very much substance behind organic labeling.  What people fail to understand about organic is that most organic products have been infected with GMO ingredients and many organic products only have to have 70% of their ingredients "organic" for them to be labeled organic.  Bottomline is you have to know where your food comes from, trust your source.  I buy all my beef from one farm and it's all 100% grass fed and finished.  All my pork and chickens come from one farmer.  All my produce is bought locally at farmer's markets.  Grocery stores will kill you nowadays!

That's exactly what I'm saying though.  Sure there are some products that are healthier if they are "organic" (there's not really an industry standard definition for this) but in many other cases it's just a marketing gimmick and has nothing to do with the food quality.

Like with fruits and vegetables you can go the organic route and have insects chew and shit all over them, or non-organic and have them covered in pesticides.  Pick your poison.

[Big Chiro Flex]

That's exactly what I'm saying though.  Sure there are some products that are healthier if they are "organic" (there's not really an industry standard definition for this) but in many other cases it's just a marketing gimmick and has nothing to do with the food quality.

Like with fruits and vegetables you can go the organic route and have insects chew and shit all over them, or non-organic and have them covered in pesticides.  Pick your poison.

Good post. Theres a lot out there exposing a lot of the BS behind the organic craze. Like anything there some good, some bad.

[MuscleMcMannus]

That's exactly what I'm saying though.  Sure there are some products that are healthier if they are "organic" (there's not really an industry standard definition for this) but in many other cases it's just a marketing gimmick and has nothing to do with the food quality.

Like with fruits and vegetables you can go the organic route and have insects chew and shit all over them, or non-organic and have them covered in pesticides.  Pick your poison.

Well I think we all should be ashamed that in America we ever even had to have an "organic" movement in the first place.  I'll give you that.  I mean our regular food supply is such shit that we had to move towards organic?  WTF?  There are actually very strict industry standards for organic.  Trust me I've done the research.  Take organic beef producers for example.  They cannot have ANY pressure treated lumber on their farm if they want to receive organic certification.  That's a tiny example but again research has shown that the toxins involved in pressure treated lumber over the years leach into the ground.  One of these toxins is arsenate.  

I'll agree with you sometimes organic doesn't mean shit sometimes it does.  There is this huge kick now with "uncured" and nitrate/trite free pork products.  These companies are charging an arm and a leg for these products but they use CELERY SALT AND Juice/powder to cure the pork.  It is the same thing and the body treats it the same way by converting the celery powder into nitrates/trites in the body.  In fact nitrates and nitrites LOWER blood pressure and this is one of the theories behidn why the mediterranean diet is so healthy, because of all the naturally and man made niitrates/nitrates those people consume.  

[MuscleMcMannus]

Good post. Theres a lot out there exposing a lot of the BS behind the organic craze. Like anything there some good, some bad.

There's a differene between buying organic Oreos and say organic beef/chicken/produce.  The latter actually does make a difference healthwise, animal welfarewise, and environmentally.  But if you go to your local farmer's market or shop from local farms that's the best. 

[Big Chiro Flex]

There's a differene between buying organic Oreos and say organic beef/chicken/produce.  The latter actually does make a difference healthwise, animal welfarewise, and environmentally.  But if you go to your local farmer's market or shop from local farms that's the best. 

There's still a lot of bullshit regarding the "organic" industry. Speaking of bullshit, watch on YouTube the episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit: Organic Food

Not my primary source of info, but they present some great points in a very funny way 

[YngiweRhoads]

Organic food no more nutritious than non-organic: study

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/diet-fitness/Organic+food+more+nutritious+than+organic+study/7186138/story.html


Egg yolks almost as dangerous as smoking, researcher says

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/08/14/wdr-egg-yolk.html

 

[MuscleMcMannus]

There's still a lot of bullshit regarding the "organic" industry. Speaking of bullshit, watch on YouTube the episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit: Organic Food

Not my primary source of info, but they present some great points in a very funny way 

Yeah most Americans are braindead idiots when it comes to their food supply.  Instead of actually digging in and doing the research they'll watch some stupid bullshit from Penn and Teller because it's "funny". 

You're not gonna convince me of all people the organic movement is bullshit.  It's not.  It's like anything else, it's been hijacked by corporations in the name of greed and profit.  And it's also unfortunately at the behest of government to actually enforce organic standards.  That is the other problem.  To say there is still a lot of "bullshit" in the organic industry ok..........wtf does that mean?  Details?  Proof?  Examples?  Research? 

[YngiweRhoads]

Well Organic I'd have to disagree with you.  Organic definitely makes a huge difference.  By law organic beef is much better than non organic beef.  Organic cattle are not allowed any antibiotics or hormones.  And organic produce is in fact better for the environment.  There is very much substance behind organic labeling.  What people fail to understand about organic is that most organic products have been infected with GMO ingredients and many organic products only have to have 70% of their ingredients "organic" for them to be labeled organic.  Bottomline is you have to know where your food comes from, trust your source.  I buy all my beef from one farm and it's all 100% grass fed and finished.  All my pork and chickens come from one farmer.  All my produce is bought locally at farmer's markets.  Grocery stores will kill you nowadays!

Same.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Organic food no more nutritious than non-organic: study

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/diet-fitness/Organic+food+more+nutritious+than+organic+study/7186138/story.html


Egg yolks almost as dangerous as smoking, researcher says

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/08/14/wdr-egg-yolk.html

 

That first study is complete and utter bullshit.  First off 100% grass fed and finished beef which is beyond organic is a COMPLETELY different product than say grain fed corn fed feedlot beef.  100% grass fed and finished beef not only has the same Omega 3 to 6 ratio as fish sometimes more, it is higher in CLA, beta carotene, b12, certain minerals, etc.  It's just a much healhtier product and it's much better for the environment.  So articles like that prove shit!  The problem with organic nowadays is the corporate takeover of the entire organic movement.  Organic is healthier, better for the environemtn and the animals.  Plus you can't compare produce to beef, chicken, eggs etc.  it's an entirely different type of agricultural production and system.  

[Big Chiro Flex]

Yeah most Americans are braindead idiots when it comes to their food supply.  Instead of actually digging in and doing the research they'll watch some stupid bullshit from Penn and Teller because it's "funny". 

You're not gonna convince me of all people the organic movement is bullshit.  It's not.  It's like anything else, it's been hijacked by corporations in the name of greed and profit.  And it's also unfortunately at the behest of government to actually enforce organic standards.  That is the other problem.  To say there is still a lot of "bullshit" in the organic industry ok..........wtf does that mean?  Details?  Proof?  Examples?  Research? 

Lol watch the episode it's funny. There's also some studies on pubmed, as well as some other nutrition journals which I can't name off the top of my head but a quick google search would render the appropriate results which suggest in my original post that there is good and bad to it. But worshipping the organic movement is foolish, theres many flaws in their rhetoric from a scientific point of view.

You seem like a strong man who is ready to fight....If this post about food offends you we can settle it in the nearest Dojo 

[PJim]

It sounds stupid, but if you haven't already, eat less/lose weight.

[nicorulez]

Alright bros, I went and had a whole bloodwork panel done, with some less than stellar results.  Most things came back fine, but I will list the messed up values.  I am 32yo....

Thyroid levels are all normal range, except for T3 Uptake: 40%

IGF-1: 247 normal range: 71-241
Estradiol: 75 normal range: 3-70

Testosterone total: 411 normal range: 348-1197 - this is "normal" but obviously on the low end which concerns me.  I haven't touched anything gear related in probably like a year, but used on and off over the years.

AST(SGOT) : 55 normal range: 0-40 - I have read this can be due to strenuous excercise, and I am in the gym 5-6 days a week.  specific liver ALT SGPT was normal at 38

Triglicerides: 173 normal range: 0-149
HDL: 46 (normal range, but low)
LDL: 110 normal range 0-99

I have a history in my family of heart disease, and the lipid results concern me, especially since I do regular cardio and take at least 5g of fish oil a day.

Nothing is crazy out of range, but obviously things could be better for me.  I obviously need to make some changes to my diet and lifestyle, since what I am doing at the moment apparently is not quite good enough.  Any suggestions from those of you with experience/expertise in these matters?  I would appreciate some input here.

Hey man, as a physician I may be able to help out. Traditional risk factors for choslesterol are five. Age for men > 45 and women > 55, family history of early CAD (you have it), tobacco abuse (hope you don't smoke), low HDL (yours is normal), and high blood pressure. The strongest risk factors whereby the America Heart Association wants your LDL less than 100 is diabetes, chronic kidney disease, known CAD or PAD. To be honest, your numbers are good, although I would have expected your HDL to be higher and triglycerides lower.

I would recommend a high protein, low saturated fat diet with avoidance of any or all simple sugars. If you need carbs stick to yams, not potatoes or bread. Cut out the garbage, cokes, desserts, etc. Up your aerobics. I don't think your testeosterone level is much to be concerned about as if you had shut down your gonadal axis the total and free testosterone would have been low. Low testosterone is less than 200 and borderline is 200 - 350. I would get a full panel of bloodwork including your BUN and Creatinine along with your CBC. If you are a drinker, cut back or cut it out for a month. Resume at one to max two glasses of wine or beer daily (one preferable). Lean up and you should see your HDL increase, triglycerides lower, and LDL come down to optimal level of 100 or less. I also would anticipate your liver enzymes will improve.

[BayGBM]

Not his best pic... but still fun to watch him at work.

[Marty Champions]

try vegetarian and lots of kale

the heme-iron is killing you

[Hulkotron]

You seem like a strong man who is ready to fight.

x2

[Big Chiro Flex]

x2

Lol was hoping you'd catch that

[Jizzacked]

Hey man, as a physician I may be able to help out. Traditional risk factors for choslesterol are five. Age for men > 45 and women > 55, family history of early CAD (you have it), tobacco abuse (hope you don't smoke), low HDL (yours is normal), and high blood pressure. The strongest risk factors whereby the America Heart Association wants your LDL less than 100 is diabetes, chronic kidney disease, known CAD or PAD. To be honest, your numbers are good, although I would have expected your HDL to be higher and triglycerides lower.

I would recommend a high protein, low saturated fat diet with avoidance of any or all simple sugars. If you need carbs stick to yams, not potatoes or bread. Cut out the garbage, cokes, desserts, etc. Up your aerobics. I don't think your testeosterone level is much to be concerned about as if you had shut down your gonadal axis the total and free testosterone would have been low. Low testosterone is less than 200 and borderline is 200 - 350. I would get a full panel of bloodwork including your BUN and Creatinine along with your CBC. If you are a drinker, cut back or cut it out for a month. Resume at one to max two glasses of wine or beer daily (one preferable). Lean up and you should see your HDL increase, triglycerides lower, and LDL come down to optimal level of 100 or less. I also would anticipate your liver enzymes will improve.

Thanks for your input.... I did leave out most of the other details as they are in the normal range

BUN: 9
Creatinine, Serum: .93
CBC:  all values within normal
free test: 2.8% / 11.51ng/dl

Have already started planning and went grocery shopping this evening.  Instead of cheeses, steak, eggs, canned goods etc, it was oatmeal, kashi, chicken, peppers, rice, etc.  I don't really eat sweets, and mostly drink water and occasionally diet soda.  I appreciate everyone's help, I hope to post a positive followup to this thread in a couple months... we will see how it goes!

[Devon97]

Thank you for all the suggestions and recommendations.... I do appreciate everyone's input.
 
As far as my conditioning at this point, I am pretty lean and cardio is on point.  I typically run 1.5-2.5 miles 4-5x a week, as well as lifting 4-5x.  I try to be in the gym 6 days a week, as it makes a huge difference to my general physical and psychological well being.  There was a time when I was only concerned about getting as big as possible in my foolish youth, but these days conditioning and longevity are big concerns for me.

The testosterone being as low as it was is really going to mind fuck me now that I know about it, despite it being in the clinical "normal" range.  It is strange, cause I feel fine, and my libido is extremely strong... typically get off multiple times daily.  I am going to up my game here and get things checked out again maybe in another 2-3 months and see where I am at.

You're over training & not eating enough healthy fats. a couple fish oil caps/day is woefully lacking.

I had a blood test last week and the results were all perfect ( BUN was a bit high)

PM me if you neeed any advice on the HDL/LDL Tryg balance

[PJim]

You're over training & not eating enough healthy fats. a couple fish oil caps/day is woefully lacking.

I had a blood test last week and the results were all perfect ( BUN was a bit high)

PM me if you neeed any advice on the HDL/LDL Tryg balance

This

[FKNFKER]

Jizzacked don't believe that guy, in fact disregards anything he says, hasn't a clue and is pretty much a lier and a crook.

Tata

da fuck are you talking about moron ? he is right, that's what test levels look like for most 30 + year old guys , ovbiously without the use and abuse of gear it would have been maybe 500, but that's nothing special either

[#1 Klaus fan]

I do have hypertension, but it is controlled to normal levels with a beta blocker, which I started taking years ago when it was first discovered.

What was your blood pressure before medication?

[Jizzacked]

bp was sky high at the time, was always normal but then one visit it was like 180/110.  obviously they shit themselves over this, and it quickly returned to baseline on medication.  I was under a lot of stress at the time, and was pretty bloated from gear.  Everything since has been fine with the blood pressure.

As far as overtraining goes, I suppose it is a possibility.  I pretty much feel fine, and when I lift it's 45mins in the gym usually, no more than an hour.  cardio is never over 30 mins.  While my frequency of physical activity is high, the duration of the exercise is in a limited format.  I am going to be scaling the cardio back soon with Fall coming... just getting as lean as possible before the cold weather.  I have definitely felt "burned out" in the past, and having trained for almost 15 years now, I tend to just go with how my body feels.