How do I lower high triglycerides?
Yes, high triglyceride levels are dangerous, and you do need to lower them. But doctors often don't do a good job of explaining why or how. Triglycerides (TG) are fats, or lipids. They're sometimes called the "forgotten fat," because everyone talks about cholesterol but neglects the importance of triglycerides. While it's important to control your LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol), increased TG levels are also a risk factor for developing heart disease. The problem is that not all triglycerides are stored as fats; some remain in the blood, where they thicken it, increasing the likelihood of clotting and artery clogging.
You want your triglyceride reading to be less than 150 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter); the optimum is less than 100 mg/dl. For TG levels over 200, the risk of developing heart disease doubles. High TG levels are usually found in people who are overweight, have diabetes, or have low HDL levels.
To lower your TG levels, you'll need to make diet and lifestyle changes, but it's not as simple as cutting out fat. Triglycerides actually come from foods fried in oil (such as fast food) and from simple carbohydrates (such as candy, drinks sweetened with glucose and sucrose, and cookies, cakes, and baked goods). When the calories from carbohydrates aren't immediately used by tissues in the body, they're converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells for future use.
The best way to lower triglycerides is to cut carbohydrates rather than fat. We also tell people to boost their exercise and activity level; studies have shown that moderate activity can significantly cut TG levels. In one study, people who followed a program of moderate walking lowered their TG levels by 25 percent. Research has also shown that boosting your intake of omega-3 fatty acids lowers TG levels.
Here are more specific steps to follow:
Get 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Lose weight.
Avoid sugar.
Avoid carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and rice.
Eat more fiber and whole grains.
Avoid alcohol, which turns to sugar in the bloodstream.
Don't eat foods with partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats.
Eat fish and take fish oil supplements.
Stop smoking.
In my 40's I was diagnosed with Triglycerides so high that the doctors would almost always have it tested twice. I was on pills for a decade and on these meds my Tri's went way way down. Then I changed radically my exercise program (increased it), started eating more veg and fruits AND INCREASED MY FIBER INTAKE TO AROUND 40 TO 50 GRAMS A DAY. I did this by making sure that I got down ONE CUP OF WHEAT BRAN A DAY. I mixed the bran (which has the taste and consistence of sawdust) with a cup of skim milk, an apple and a banana. WOW!! Two to three bowel movements a day (ie. totally cleaned out inside) Tri's no longer need meds to treat it and I felt great. I have been doing this daily for the last ten years. Does anyone know if that is TOO MUCH BRAN? Dennis
From what everyone has said so far is right on the money my Try's were over 400 have had 9 heart attacks now, my physican put me on a med called Fenofibric Acid 135mg, guess it is working as my try's have come down to 150, i have a hard time with excercising, even walking since i have emphysema (ms), As all have said watch your diet, drinks lots of water and get excercise. Best wishes to you.
