| Looking for a diet to lower triglycerides? You had | | | | low enough with diet and exercise, you may need to |
| your blood tested, and your doctor is telling you that | | | | take triglyceride-lowering medications. Here are the |
| if you don't get your triglycerides down you could | | | | dietary guidelines for lowering triglycerides: |
| have a heart attack or stroke? Here's what you | | | | Decrease your calories and increase your activity. |
| need to know about eating the right diet to lower | | | | You have to use more energy than you take in if |
| triglycerides. | | | | you want to lower your triglycerides. There is no |
| What Are Triglycerides? | | | | magic bullet. |
| Triglycerides are a type of fatty acid in your body. | | | | Eliminate sweets, sugars and processed |
| When you eat more calories than you use, your | | | | carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are fine. |
| body converts the excess calories into fat in the | | | | Complex carbohydrates are found in whole grains, |
| form of triglycerides and stores it in fat cells. Some | | | | fruits, vegetables and legumes. Complex |
| of the triglycerides are always circulating in your | | | | carbohydrates are nutrient rich, and contain vitamins, |
| blood. Triglycerides provide an energy reserve for | | | | minerals and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. |
| your body. Whenever you need extra energy, your | | | | White sugar is poison to you. It causes your blood |
| body breaks the triglycerides down into energy | | | | sugar to spike and fall until you develop insulin |
| packets that your cells can use. | | | | resistance. It contains no nutrients, only energy. It |
| Excess triglycerides circulating in your blood, however, | | | | converts almost immediately to triglycerides. Corn |
| can clog up your arteries and cause damage to your | | | | syrup and corn sugars are just as bad, and they are |
| pancreas. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150. If | | | | in everything. Read labels, and watch out for |
| your triglycerides are above 200, they are too high. | | | | sweeteners and flavorings. Any ingredient that ends |
| Triglycerides are usually measured as part of a "lipid | | | | in -ose or -ol is probably some kind of sugar. |
| panel" that also measures your cholesterol, including | | | | Count carbs and don't eat a lot of high calorie, high |
| HDL and LDL. | | | | carbohydrate foods. Lean meat, fruits and |
| Risk Factors for High Triglycerides | | | | vegetables, and low fat dairy products should make |
| The most important risk factor for high triglycerides | | | | up the bulk of what you eat. |
| is obesity. You are also at risk for high triglycerides if | | | | Watch the amount and type of fat in your diet. |
| you have diabetes, thyroid problems or kidney | | | | Eliminate saturated and trans fats. Use small amounts |
| disease. Some forms of high triglycerides are | | | | of monosaturated fats, such as olive oil or canola oil. |
| inherited. Some medications, such as estrogen, birth | | | | Add omega-3 fats by eating fish or adding flax seed |
| control pills, water pills, beta blockers and steroids, | | | | to your food. |
| can cause high triglycerides. Eating too much sugar | | | | Don't drink. Alcohol causes triglyceride levels to rise |
| and fat, and drinking alcohol can also cause high | | | | rapidly. If you are trying to lower your triglycerides |
| triglycerides. | | | | you should eliminate alcohol from your diet. |
| Eating a Healthy Diet to Lower Triglycerides | | | | For more information on a diet to lower triglycerides, |
| Diet and exercise are the best way to lower your | | | | check out the DASH diet or the TLC (Therapeutic |
| triglycerides. If you cannot get your triglyceride levels | | | | Lifestyle Change) diet. |