Diet to lower Triglyceride and Cholesterol
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 11 February 2008 |
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Four constituents of the blood are studies carefully by a doctor when a blood test of a person is conducted. These are LowDensity Lipoproteins, HighDensity Lipoproteins, triglycerides and total cholesterol.
In case any of these are above the acceptable range, the doctors recommend some actions to prevent any disaster. Diet changes are the common recommendations. A changed food pattern can immediately and dramatically impact the cholesterol levels in the body.
While the properties of HDL, LDL and their good or adverse affects are well known and documented, not much is known about the triglycerides which are known only as another type of fat.
What does high content of triglyceride in the body do? It increases the risk of heart disease by many times if a patient has too much of it in his blood.
Depending on the food eaten the triglyceride content can continue to be high even after fasting for over 14 hours before the check up. Post prandial check (after fasting) should show a normal triglyceride level of 10 to 250 mgs./dl. However many people exceed these levels.
High triglyceride level and High total cholesterol levels go hand in hand. Therefore it makes sense to manage the two problems by designing a simple, practical diet plan with the advice of a qualified dietician.
The mantra is in eating foods that are low in fat. Whole grain breads with little amount of egg whites can form the breakfast. Coffee should be replaced with unsweetened tea or tea with sugar free sweeteners. If one has to have milk, it should be non-fat milk. Fresh juice is ideal as a breakfast drink.
The breakfast content can be increased by adding chickent without skin, lean cut meats like flank, round, rump or sirloin along with vegetable cuts on the side.
It is advisable to consume bottled water as against diet soda. Diet soda as some constitutents that are not conducive to reduction of cholesterol in the blood stream.
Fruit or vegetable strips make good snacks any time of the day. You don't find these sold in stores so it makes sense to get up a little early in the day or better still cut them and keep them in a plastic box the night before. This ready made snack can then be carried to the office and consumed when hungry.
Dinner, the last food of the day, should also be light since the body is at rest and does not burn many calories when a person is sleeping. Little pasta or steamed fish is sufficient. A glass of red wine can add that punch to help the meal go down smoothly.
One must remember that these healthy habits are not restricted to home food alone. The discipline should be maintained even when dining out with family or friends, because any change of food means immediate consequences for someone who is on the determined path to make lifestyle changes that help maintaining the tryglyceride levels.
Living a healthy life free from high levels of triglyceride and cholesterol can be achieved. It just takes a little determination and discipline to make this happen.
- Control of triglyceride and cholesterol levels is possible. What is required is the little determination and self discipline to stick to the diet plan.
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