How to Avoid Coffee for Cholesterol Test
If your physician feels your cholesterol levels may be too high, she will order a cholesterol test. This lab test may reveal the amounts of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in your bloodstream. To achieve accurate results, you must take certain precautions before your test, including abstention from coffee.
Instructions
Do not eat or drink anything, including coffee, for about 9 to 12 hours prior to your blood test. You may drink water, but anything else will make your results less conclusive.
Schedule your cholesterol test carefully. If you normally have a cup of coffee early in the morning (say, 7:00 a.m.), schedule your test for 7 p.m. or later. That way, you can maintain your coffee regimen while still avoiding coffee for 12 hours before the test.
If you feel intense cravings for coffee, as many people do, do something to take your mind off of the temporary withdrawal. Exercise, do a crossword puzzle or go for a drive. Before you know it, it will be time for your cholesterol test. After your test, go get your favorite brew---you've earned it.