alt Hacker NewsSure, at the end of the day you have to do your own research and consider whether any medical professional is under- or overreacting. It's why a second opinion makes sense.
I have naturally higher blood pressure such that I'm usually 135/75 in the doctor's office. But I also run every day, I'm fit, and I have a dialed in diet. No doctor has given me flak for it.
But I also see this thinking turn into empty contrarianism that is also dangerous.
I know some keto/carnivore grifters say high blood pressure is fine and high blood cholesterol is fine and that you should actually double down on table salt and that as long as your a1c is good then nothing matters. Now people trying to navigate their numbers are even more confused.
I don't know much about keto/carnivore, but I think it might be worth picking apart the last thing you said.
There are far more people spreading misinformation about reducing dietary cholesterol and sodium because authoritative sounding organizations promoted it for so long.
The American Heart Association is paid by big pharma to talk out of both sides of their mouth. For decades they have strongly suggested that people consume less than 1500mg of sodium and minimize dietary cholesterol. In recent years they've been forced to admit that all that does is lead people to avoid better foods. Regardless, they still double down that the math makes sense on their old advice. They refuse to explain how.
The fact of the matter is dietary cholesterol has no impact on blood cholesterol, and most people need more than 1500mg of sodium to prevent low blood pressure and stay hydrated.
I have personally naively attempted to eat healthy by turning to salads, skipping dairy, and focusing on protein and carbs that contain lots of soluble fiber. I just ended up with severe constipation (too much fiber overall), vitamin deficiencies (animal products contain cholesterol), low blood pressure, and was getting dizzy and peeing all the time because I didn't think to get more sodium beyond seasoning.
What fixed it? Add the dairy back in (greek yogurt and cheeses), don't skip old school fortified breads/cereals (the OG ultraprocessed multivitamin), offal/organ meats, eggs, seafood, nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc.
It's one thing to say people have different bodies, but quite another to unwittingly support blatant lies.