Expert: Todd Bublitz, RCEP - 8/25/2006

Question
Hi. I have trouble keeping my cholesterol as low as it should be despite a sensible diet and exercise. I usually use skimmed milk in tea and coffee and for cooking, but have recently tried soy milk and find that I like it. Is this better for my cholesterol level than skimmed milk?

Answer
Sue,

Depending on the brand, soy milk may have more saturated fat than skim milk (which should have no saturated fat).  This means that soy milk will be worse for your cholesterol level than skim milk.

Lowering cholesterol with diet alone can seem like a futile effort sometimes.  The reason is that our cholesterol levels are mainly determined by our genes (about 85-95%) and only minimally by our diets (about 5-15%).  Some studies have shown that there are certain people who have virtually no change in their cholesterol levels with changes in their diet.  

Lowering your cholesterol by worrying about what you put in your coffee seems like you are putting your efforts in the wrong place.  Milk in tea and coffee is such a small amount it will have virtually no effect on your cholesterol level.

You can get more information on diet and cholesterol here:
http://www.lipid-clinic.com/diet.html

Best wishes.

Todd
www.Lipid-Clinic.com