The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Fats

Bad fat is slipping onto our plates and it’s time we noticed. Our health depends on it.

The fear of cholesterol has taken on exaggerated proportions, yet recent research is telling us that margarine as well as other hydrogenated fats, the ones we thought were safe, are also unsafe to our health. In the meantime fat-free salad dressings, cholesterol-free croissants, and light cheeses multiply in a clamour of contradictory messages.

We are constantly assailed by new theories. Confusion reigns.

Should we go back to butter before we have the last word on margarine? Should we eat cholesterol-free oils or cold-pressed oils? Should we consume foods labeled "fat free"?

Good fats are fats that are essential to cellular growth, development and maintenance. They provide health benefits and do not trigger any harmful reactions in our body. They are best when they have undergone minimum transformation during processing.

Bad fats are fats that have been processed to the extent that they have lost their original composition and behavior. They disturb the body’s natural way of processing fats. In addition, they have been shown to cause trouble in the arteries and in the immune system. Some fats are neither good or bad. They are naturally present in certain foods and may cause problems when eaten in excess.

The whole issue of fats is quite complex and in constant evolution. Its approach should be healthful, advocates less processed fats and sets quality as the first priority. You do not have to have "high blood cholesterol" to be interested in good fats and bad fats. It’s a matter of health.

Dietary fats not only give flavor to foods, they also supply calories, in fact, more calories than any other nutrient. They also serve as a means of transportation for vitamins A, D, E and K. Eating a small amount of visible fat or foods that contain fat is absolutely essential to allow the body to use these vitamins efficiently.

Among all the different fats in our food supply, two "good fats" have been labeled essential because they can not be manufactured by the human body itself. They must be supplied by the foods we eat. They are linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid (fatty acids). Linoleic acid is the parent substance of the omega-6 family while alpha-linoleic acid is the parent substance of the omega-3 family. These parent substances produce two series of derivatives that become chemical messengers called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins act quickly at very precise sites in the body and allow the proper functioning of the circulatory, immune, anti-inflammatory, and epithelial systems, among others. In other words, essential fatty acids help manage our blood, antibodies, hormones and skin.

To accomplish their vital activities, the two essential fatty acids need to be present in the food we eat, but they also need to be transported and transformed properly. Yet to do so, they must compete against other fats, which also need to be transported and transformed. If you eat lots of cheeses, fried foods, crackers, and margarine and very few whole grains, green vegetables, nuts, and fish, the fats in the first group of foods will compete with and easily win over the essential fatty acids in the second. An unbalance of fatty acids in our diet can provoke such problems as abnormal sugar metabolism, atherosclerosis, hypertension, as well as other debilitating diseases.

Optimal health depends on an optimal ratio of the two essential fatty acids.

To learn more about the different fats, read my related article titled Different Fats for Different Foods.

 Author: Rachel Cheney

Rachel Cheney is a medical nurse with over 20 years experience.
She became interested in the weight loss and fitness fields after successfully shedding 70 pounds.
Rachel began publishing articles some time ago in an effort to help others better understand their bodies needs. Why eating the right foods and exercising are a must for shedding extra pounds and maintaining target weights. To help you live happy and healthy for a long time.

Find multiple Weight Loss and Fitness Solutions, Program Reviews, Tips, and FREE tools on Rachel’s website at http://www.beslimnbefit.com.

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Information on diet to lower triglycerides and look for brands of foods to lower triglycerides.

Causes of Increased Levels of Triglycerides

An excess of triglycerides in plasma is known as hypertriglyceridemia. In some patients, hypertriglyceridemia is linked to coronary artery disease.

Allergy Self Help: The Reasons for High Blood Lipid Levels

High levels may result from genetic makeup or lifestyle choices or both. Heredity may endow people with cells that do not remove LDL or VLDL cholesterol from the blood efficiently, or with a liver that produces too much cholesterol as VLDL particles or too few HDL particles.

Know The Health Risks of Being Overweight

People who are overweight are more likely to develop high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) and LDL cholesterol (a fat-like substance often called “bad cholesterol”), and low levels of HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”).

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Triglyceride Diet Essentials For Overall Health

In order to maintain appropriate triglyceride levels there are a few things that you really need to keep in mind. For example, if you are careful about what you do, you can always ensure that you are eating the best foods for your body and omitting those foods that are harmful. You must be willing to actually follow the triglyceride diet guidelines however, or you will notice no improvement in your overall health.

Your first step is to reduce your alcohol consumption by as much as possible. If you are consuming large amounts of alcohol, you are really not doing your body any good. Not only are large amounts of alcohol bad for your kidneys but it can also increase your triglyceride levels. A good triglyceride diet will limit the amount of alcohol you are consuming because it really is a waste of calories and in addition, it can and will inhibit the body’s ability to burn fat. Both of these factors can increase the triglyceride levels and make it very necessary to adopt a special diet.

Other concerns that you should have is eating fruits and vegetables that are organic. These tend to have the fewest calories as well as no preservatives and are much healthier for your body than anything else you can eat. Additionally, while you are looking for healthy foods you need to look around and eat as many whole grain foods as possible. This includes breads and even pastas; these are absorbed into the body much faster and also tend to contain large amounts of carbohydrates, which makes them the perfect choice for anyone who is looking to improve their triglyceride diet as much as possible.

If you love to eat meat, it is recommended that you switch out meats such as hamburger and other highly fatty meats for those that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This includes numerous types of fish. By switching out the types of fish you eat, as well as still incorporating some of the hamburger that you are used to eating you can create a very healthy mixture that will allow you to still eat the foods that you love, while omitting most of the unhealthy aspects of the food. As you continue on the diet a while you may discover that you prefer the fish over the hamburger and other similar meats, which will make it much easier to stick to the diet. You can find out more at http://www.whataretriglycerides.com

Your final consideration for a triglyceride diet is looking to cut as much saturated fat from your diet as possible. Additionally, you need to cut as many carbohydrates and even trans fats as possible. By reducing all three areas, you are ensuring that you are in the best possible overall health and improving your diet skills dramatically. Making small changes is the best way to achieve these goals and slowly adapting the diet until you reach your ultimate goal. Making small steps towards progress will be your best option at success in order to really control your triglyceride levels.

Author: Dean Forster

Learn more about Triglyceride Levels for maintaining overall health including special diets at => http://www.whataretriglycerides.com

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Information on diet to lower triglycerides and know any treatment for high triglycerides in children.

Omega 3 Fatty Acid As Functional Food | Healthy Lifestyle

The standard daily dose of omega 3 to be taken has still not been established.  But studies have shown that 500 to 1,000 milligrams a day will provide the desired benefits for healthy people, while people who want to lower their triglyceride levels should consume 2 to 4 grams daily.

Heart-Healthy Foods: Real or Fake?

It’s a fact: What you eat affects your risk of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. But you may need a little help with your grocery list to sort through the confusing health claims, food ads and false advice.

The Heart Scan Blog: Triglyceride Traps

You’ll find it in soft drinks, ketchup, beer, breads, breakfast cereals, and many other processed foods. You’ll find none in green peppers, cucumbers, and raw nuts.

Food And Coronary Artery Disease

Knowing your blood lipid (fat) levels—the various forms of chole fef sterol and triglycerides—is important.

Eating Well on the Planet Earth » Medium Chain Triglycerides: The Little Fatty Acid Chains That Can Do Big Things

Before you start adding palm oil to your food and thinking the fat will just melt off, you should know that to get any meaningful weight loss you would need to eat about half your calories in the form of MCTs.

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Causes and Treatment For High Triglyceride Levels

Your body’s major source of energy comes from a type of fat found in your body called triglycerides. After you eat a meal, your body takes in calories that it needs right away and then puts the other calories to be used for later into ’storage’ which is inside of your fat cells. These calories are then divvied up and released thought the day to give your body energy between meals. A person of a healthy weight does not have to worry about an excess of these fat cells, but those who carry a high level can be diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia.

Hypertriglyceridemia can be caused by many different things. Among them are obesity, hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland), and kidney disease, drinking an ongoing, excessive amount of alcohol and eating a larger calorie intake than your body needs. Certain drugs are also related to causing hypertriglyceridemia as well. Those who take Tamoxifen, steroids, beta blockers, estrogen, birth control pills and diuretics are also at risk of having a high triglyceride level. Be aware too, that heredity also has a lot to do with an elevated level. If you have a family member who is known to have hypertriglyceridemia, you will need to take extra precautions to keep you levels down to a normal state. A normal level is around 150 and can be considered high if it reaches past a 200 level. A simple blood test will be able to determine what your level is.

There is a simple treatment for having a high triglyceride level. This solution will not be found in a pill form and is not a magical remedy. The treatment is a complete lifestyle change that begins with your diet. If you are obese or overweight, you must being down your caloric intake in all areas, such as proteins, dairy carbohydrates and sugar. Try getting active and exercising at a minimum of 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. Limit your alcohol intake as well. Adding Omega 3 fatty acids from certain fish can help control your hypertriglyceridemia. These acids can be found in salmon, trout, herring, tuna and mackerel.

Author: Matt Murren

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.triglycerides911.info
Triglycerides

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Information on diet to lower triglycerides and about FDA approved triglyceride test.

Get your Cholesterol Tested At HealthCheckUSA

A complete cholesterol blood test — also called a lipid panel or lipid profile — is a group of blood tests that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.

How To Reduce High Triglycerides

Risk of high triglyceride can also be hereditary. Lack of exercise and alcoholism could increase your triglyceride level. 

Whole Health Source: The Diet-Heart Hypothesis: Lipoproteins

He called this combination of factors "lipoprotein pattern B"; its opposite is "lipoprotein pattern A": large, buoyant LDL, high HDL and low triglycerides. Incidentally, low HDL and high triglycerides are hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome, the quintessential modern metabolic disorder.

Lowering Your Cholesterol May Not Have As Much To Do With Heart Disease As Doctor Think

Triglycerides are just medical terminology for fat. A person with high triglycerides has a lot of fat in the bloodstream. Triglycerides are generally measured when a person has fasted overnight.

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Cholesterol Facts

Cholesterol is a substance contained in all of the cells of the body and also found among the fats or lipids in the bloodstream. It is necessary to perform various functions in the body such as forming cell membranes and some hormones. It is transported to and from the body by various kinds of lipoproteins. The most important of these are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein. The primary carrier is LDL or low-density. However, if too much of it is circulating in the blood, it will build up on the walls of the arteries that transport blood to the heart and the brain.

This build-up hardens into a substance called plaque that can then clog the artery. If a clot then forms near the plaque deposit the blood flow to the heart can be blocked resulting in a heart attack. When the clot blocks the blood flow to the brain, a stroke occurs. Therefore a high level of LDL cholesterol in your blood puts you at an increased risk for heart disease. Because of this fact, LDL is often referred to as the "bad" cholesterol. Lower levels of LDL indicate a reduced risk of heart disease.

HDL or high-density lipoprotein transports about twenty-five to thirty-three percent of the cholesterol. Scientists believe that HDL transports it away from the arteries and returns it to the liver where it is expelled from the body. Some also think that HDL removes cholesterol from the plaques, thereby slowing down their formation. For these reasons, HDL is referred to as the "good" cholesterol. Scientists have observed that a high HDL protects the body against heart attack whereas a low HDL poses a greater risk.

Cholesterol is produced in the liver at a rate of about 1,000 milligrams a day. But it also enters the body from foods, particularly foods from animal such as meat and dairy. It is not present in foods from plant products. All the cholesterol needed by the body is made by the liver so it isn’t necessary to consume it in foods. However, it is saturated fatty acids and trans fats that raise your LDL levels and put you at risk for heart disease. Exercise is just as important as diet in maintaining proper cholesterol levels. Doctors recommend at least thirty minutes a day which can be done all at one time or broken up into ten or fifteen minute increments.

While it is a common belief that cholesterol is an adult problem only, this is not true. Plaque build up can start in childhood, particularly if there is a family history or heart disease or if the child is overweight or obese and follows the sedentary lifestyle typical of many children today. These children need to be screened for cholesterol levels just as adults should. They also need to be encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet and exercise. Kids need to exercise more than adults – at least thirty to sixty minutes a day on most days of the week. Their diet should also include five servings of fruit and vegetables each day.

Author: Brenda Williams

Information on diet to lower triglycerides and know the natural treatment for high triglycerides.

Cholesterol Test: Find Out If You Have A Cholesterol Problem

Then you have to wait for the laboratory to send you comprehensive test results that will include results of amount of good and bad cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels present in your blood.

Triglycerides Test | e Health Screenings Blog

Several products are available to test triglycerides at home. There are two types of tests–those where you collect the sample at home and then mail it away to a laboratory for testing and those where you conduct the test yourself at home (self-monitoring).

Should I Test My Cholesterol At Home? | Gather

Two in-home testing products can tell you your total cholesterol, HDL, and triglyceride levels (Cardio Check and Lifestream Personal Cholesterol Monitor). Unfortunately, it takes three separate jabs with a sharp lancet to do this, the tests don’t measure LDL, and they cost more than $100.

Cholesterol Test Kits

The test kits that monitor all three of the cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be a little more expensive but they may provide more accurate results.

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High Triglycerides Levels – Causes and Natural Treatment

When we eat, our body converts excess calories into High Triglycerides Levels. If you regularly consume more calories than you burn, then you may end up with high triglycerides as part of the metabolic system.

High triglyceride, High blood pressure, high blood sugar and too much fat around the waist are factors that can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The normal triglycerides reading is less than 150 mg/dL, anything above 500 mg/dL is considered very high.

Causes of Increased Triglycerides Levels

The most common cause of increased triglycerides levels is obesity and poorly controlled diabetes. Other causes include hypothyroidism, kidney disease and certain inherited lipid disorders. It may contribute to hardening of the artery walls which increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pain in the chest or back, shortness of breath and pancreatitis are other complications that can come about due to high triglycerides levels.

Adopting Healthy Life Style Choices Can Help Reduce Triglycerides.

It is easy to lower triglycerides by making simple healthy changes in your daily diet

• If you are overweight, losing excess weight and reducing your calorie intake can lower triglycerides.
• Simple carbohydrates such as sugar and foods made with flour can cause increased triglycerides.
• Avoid concentrated sources of cholesterol, including meats, egg yolks and whole milk products.
• Choose healthier fats found in olive, peanut and canola oils. Eat fish such as mackerel and salmon instead of meat.
• Eliminate fried foods, cookies crackers and cakes.
• Even small amounts of alcohol can cause high triglycerides levels.
• Increase fresh vegetables and fiber intake. Favour garlic, fenugreek and green tea.

Author: Meerat Lee

Here are few natural herbs that are very effective in treating those with high triglycerides.

One things is for sure: the natural Herbal solution is no doubt a far better and safer option.

Also, I recommend you to buy a low fat cook-book.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meerat_Lee

Information on diet to lower triglycerides and know the new medication lowering triglycerides and HDL.

Use Food To Lower Triglyceride Levels

Triglycerides are harmful to the body and increase the chances of heart disease.Like high cholesterol which causes heart attacks high triglycerides have the same effect on the body.

The Heart Scan Blog: Triglyceride Buster

Daniel added 3600 mg of omega-3s per day. Within 10 days, his triglycerides dropped nearly 2000 mg to just over 1100 mg/dl–still too high, but an incredible start. 

Is Saturated Fat Healthy? | Mark’s Daily Apple

We now know that the HDL/triglyceride ratio is far more predictive of cardiovascular events than LDL, but still LDL gets all the attention. 

Cooling Inflammation: Low Carbs Lower Triglycerides

I don’t know why the medical community keeps pushing the low fat diets to modify blood lipids.

A List Of 5 Simple Ways Of Lowering Your Triglycerides

Having high levels of triglycerides can result in many health problems including pancreatitis, stoke and heart-related illnesses. You can prevent illness if you maintain your triglyceride levels at a normal range.

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Cholesterol Medications – 4 Different Alternatives to Lowering …

Cholesterol medications are important when trying to control your cholesterol levels. You will want to do a lot of research on the medications that your doctor prescribes. If you are not happy with the medications you are taking, there are other alternatives for you that you should consider. Here are several different types of medications you can take to help lower your cholesterol.

1. Statins These drugs are very popular with doctors today. They are being seen as the new wonder drugs for cholesterol. They help slow down the production of cholesterol in the body, and that leads to lower cholesterol. Statins are well documented to help you control cholesterol, but there are definitely other medications that can help you too.

2. Niacin Niacin affects the production of blood fats. They can be effective in lowering cholesterol when prescribed in large doses. Despite their health benefits, diabetics should not use Niacin as it affects blood sugar levels.

3. Fibrates. Fibrates help lower triglycerides. They can also raise high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL). Fibrates are not very effective in decreasing LDL levels, so they are really used to raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels to more acceptable ratios.

4. Bile Acid Resins. Resins bind to the bile to keep it from going into the blood stream. The majority of cholesterol is made up from bile, so this helps control cholesterol levels in the body.

These are just some of the major cholesterol medications. I actually recommend that you try natural cholesterol remedies that work with the natural chemistry of your body to help you lower your cholesterol without causing any dangerous side-effects.

Author: Lisa Pedersen

If you’re interested in learning the secrets of finding the best natural cholesterol remedies, visit my website, where I share the products that have been proven fast, safe and effective in lowering cholesterol naturally.

You can visit my website at http://www.naturalcholesterolremedies.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Pedersen

Information on diet to lower triglycerides and about triglycerides lowering eating plan.

Tidbits On Health: Niacin And Hyperlipidemia

High-dose niacin, in fact, was the first-ever lipid-modifying drug treatment. It helps increase HDL cholesterol while lowering total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.

Cholesterol Levels & Our Lifestyle | Health Signal

A Question that usually arises among people with high cholesterol is what medication should be used and what is the best choice. 

Facts About High Cholesterol Medication

While bile acid resins can lower LDL cholesterol, they don’t normally help increase HDL and some studies have shown they increase the level of triglycerides.

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Diet to Lower Triglycerides – Do You Need It?

A high level of triglyceride reading means that you have too much "bad" fats in your body. High triglyceride levels are bad for the heart and dietitians have long recommended certain foods to lower triglycerides and promote better health and stronger hearts.

Triglycerides 101

Triglyceride is body fat which when combined with cholesterol forms plasma lipids in the body. High levels of triglyceride in the body equates to high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol.

Considered normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL; borderline to high level is from 150 to 199 mg/dL; high level is from 200 to 499 mg/dL; and very high level is 500 mg/dL or higher.

Factors that may affect the amount of triglyceride in the body

Factors that affect the presence of high triglycerides in the body include age, medications, illness, heredity and excessive intake of fatty foods. You may not be able to fully control the first four factors but you can control excessive intake of fatty foods through diets that lower triglycerides.

The age factor

Triglycerides in your body increase as you age. Triglyceride levels would be different for a person when he is in his teens, middle age and old age.

The disease factor

Certain illnesses that can increase the level of triglycerides are diabetes, kidney and liver diseases. Hyperthyroidism can also affect the amount of triglycerides in the body.

Medication factor

Medicines such as steroids and birth control pills can increase the amount of triglyceride in the body. Diuretics or water pills can also induce high triglyceride level in the body.

Genes and heredity factor

If high triglyceride levels run in the family, family members will tend to inherit it.

Food that you eat

Fatty foods remain a major contributor in increasing the level of triglycerides in your body. A nutritious diet that is low in fat is a factor that you can fully control to lower your triglyceride levels.

Diet to lower triglycerides

* Maintain ideal weight by controlling calorie intake.

You should be aware of your ideal BMI (BODY MASS INDEX) which uses your height and weight to indicate if your weight falls within a healthy range. Monitor the amount and type of your food intake so that you maintain a healthy BMI and weight.

* Start eating low-fat foods and avoid high-fat foods.

Examples of low-fat foods are dried beans, peas and lentils; whole grain breads, cereals and pasta; egg whites, without the egg yolk; skim and non-fat milk; cheese such as parmesan and ricotta; low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt. There are also low-fat meats like fish, poultry meat (with skin removed), and lean meats from sirloin and flank.

* Reduce saturated fats in the foods you eat.

Avoid taking too much of saturated products present in oils like coconut oil, and palm and palm kernel oil; margarines and products made from these oils; coffee creamers; shortening, lards and butter. You should also refrain from eating fried pork skins and chitterling from pig intestines; red meats with fat; and poultry with fat and skin.

* Refrain from eating sugars and sugar in different forms.

Sugar is transformed into triglyceride when detected by the liver. The more sugar found in the blood stream, the more triglyceride is formed. Refrain from eating foods packed with sugar such as jam, jelly, soft drinks, fruit drinks, cookies, cakes and candies.

* Limit intake of alcohol which increases the level of triglycerides in the blood.

Alcohol such as beer, wines and hard liquor can increase the level of triglycerides in the blood directly. Calories from alcohol can also trigger the formation of triglycerides in the body.

Author: Flor Serquina

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The-Good-Diet.com. She provides more information on topics such as diet to lower triglycerides, diet food program and best diet product that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

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Information on diet to lower triglycerides and who is at risk of high triglyceride.

Simple Health Cures » Raw Foods Diet Is Beneficial For Your Health

The benefits advocated from eating such a diet seem endless, lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating cravings, preventing overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins, balancing hormones, maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative disease.

How To Lower Your Triglycerides & Stop Obesity, Diabetes & Heart Disease Naturally

You can lower your triglycerides level and stop obesity, type II diabetes, heart disease and even cancer naturally. This means, in many cases (not all), you don’t need medication that can harm your body in other ways. 

Millions Of Americans Have Very High Triglycerides. Do You?

The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests lowering triglyceride levels by exercising and eating a healthy diet, including increasing consumption of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids and decreasing consumption of meats high in saturated fats.

Triglyceride Testing Article

If a person is diagnosed with high cholesterol, a physician or other medical professional will help build a plan for eating that will lower the levels.

Fish Oil And Omega 3 Health Benefits » Fish Oil To Lower Triglycerides

Following an eating plan to lower triglycerides is a smart thing to do. And this is the reason why. High triglycerides can double and triple your risk of heart disease and stroke.

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The Risk of  High Triglyceride Levels – What You Can Do?

Triglyceride is a lipid or fat that comprises high energy fatty acids in the body to provide energy for the cells to perform their task. Together with cholesterol, they are needed to build cells and make several hormones needed by the body. Cholesterol is mainly taken in from eating while triglycerides are mostly endogenous or manufactured within the body. Both are absorbed through the gut. Since it can’t be digested in the stomach, it is delivered in the bloodstream to the liver where they are processed and stored. The liver must ensure that the tissues are well supplied with the cholesterol and triglycerides that they need to carry out their function. In times when lipids are not taken into the body through the food we eat, the liver itself can produce cholesterol and triglycerides.

Both lipids are then carried into the bloodstreams together with their carriers called lipoproteins. These are released in the body during the circulation process and are then delivered from one cell to the other. The cells then take the lipids they need from the lipoproteins. After which they will then use it to carry out their task. Moreover, there is the so-called good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. LDL or low density lipoprotein carries bad cholesterol while HDL or high density lipoprotein carries good cholesterol. LDL comes in greater number than HDL. LDL is termed as bad since they can stick to the lining of the blood vessels which can lead to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Bad fat can get clogged in the linings causing narrowing of arteries and poor circulation leading to heart attacks and stroke. HDL on the other hand is said to clean out the bad cholesterol and are then returned to the liver for further processing.

Triglycerides on the other hand, being part of the blood lipid profile, also has the tendency to clog up the arteries thus, posing great heart risk. Studies show that increase in these lipids decreases HDL instead. However, since Triglycerides are part of the body, and is also needed by the blood, doctors cannot just recommend medication to decrease its level. They can do that for cholesterol but not that easily for triglycerides. That is why; the best thing that you can do to lower its level in the body is to control it using natural methods. As said, medications can pose serious risks. And is it possible to control triglyceride levels naturally? Of course.

Good thing, Triglycerides levels can indeed be naturally controlled. Your diet is the first factor that you should work on. Fats, sugar and calories must be controlled, as it can elevate triglycerides in your blood. Instead focus on nutritious carbohydrates food like vegetables, whole grain, fruits and non fat dairy products. Fruits have natural sugar so it must be limited to 4-5 servings per day. Canned foods must be minimized especially those with heavy syrup. If you’re overweight, better shed off those extra pounds. IF you’re a diabetic, see to it that your blood sugar levels are under control. Stop smoking. Say no to alcohol drinking and be sure to exercise regularly.

Author: Bob D.

The author has dedicated himself in helping others to lower cholesterol naturally. He has educated hundreds of people on the subjects related to cholesterol. As a a victim to High Cholesterol, he continues to write and publish articales on various subjects relating to Cholesterol.

For more information go to my website. There you will find lots of information on cholesterol.

If you want to want to read on various subjects relating to health go to my Healthy Life Blog. There is lots of great articles there.

Homehealthplus1@gmail.com
813 505-5982

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Information on diet to lower triglycerides and why are my triglycerides low.

Know The Dangers Of Obesity | Proactol Blog

Since obesity is associated with high triglycerides and decreased HDL cholesterol, the risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or chest pain is increased in persons who are overweight or obese.

Acceptable Levels Of Triglycerides – OrganizedWisdom Health

Normal triglyceride levels are important to your health. The acceptable level for triglycerides is below 150 mg/dL. Triglyceride levels between 150 to 199 mg/dL are considered borderline high.

High Triglycerides Symptoms

Beyond keeping track of your blood pressure and cholesterol, there’s another number to you need to know – triglycerides…

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What’s Up With My Triglycerides?

Perhaps it is because I am getting older that I think cartoons are not what they used to be. I have five young children, all boys. Like any concerned parent I govern what they watch. I have found that some of the most detrimental shows on television are actually the cartoons because of the values, or lack of them, that they teach.

Fortunately some of the classics are still around. My favorite has always been that wascally wabbit Bugs Bunny and his trademark expression, ‘What’s up, Doc?’ Unfortunately, for many of us the answer to the question, ‘What’s up, Doc?’ is, ‘Your triglycerides.’ Triglycerides are becoming increasingly important in heart health matters. In fact in the ‘Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)’, triglyceride testing is recommended as part of a complete cholesterol profile. In other words, it is recommended that doctors evaluate high cholesterol treatments in respect to a patient’s triglyceride levels.

So what’s up with triglycerides? Or perhaps we should phrase the question this way, ‘Why are my triglycerides so high?’ If high triglycerides are really a serious health concern (and they are) then we are wise to be concerned if ours are high. Of course your doctor is the one to isolate the particular cause or causes of your elevated triglyceride levels. Or perhaps you do not have high triglycerides and are concerned to keep things that way. Either way let’s consider some of the things that influence triglyceride levels.

I enjoy backing into a subject so let’s begin with some causes that are not so common. The first grouping can be classified as medical conditions. These would include but are not limited to the following:

Hypothyroidism is one such condition. It occurs when the thyroid does not properly control metabolism resulting in fatigue, weakness, weight gain, cold intolerance as well as many other uncomfortable symptoms. It also tends to raise triglycerides.

Nephrotic syndrome is a serious kidney disease characterized by high levels of protein in the urine and low levels of protein in the blood. It also produces swelling around the eyes, feet and hands due to the retention of fluids. In addition to raising triglycerides it can also raise LDL cholesterol which is tied to coronary heart disease.

Several liver diseases can negatively affect triglyceride levels. One particular liver condition, known as fatty liver, involves the overproduction and accumulation of triglycerides and other fats in liver cells. Severe cases can result in liver cell death.

Familial hypertriglyceridemia refers to a group of rare genetic disorders resulting in high triglyceride levels. It occurs when the lever produces too much triglyceride and in severe cases can cause triglyceride levels in excess of 1,000 mg/dL and pancreatitis (acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas).

Pregnancy is a not so rare medical condition that causes triglycerides to rise temporarily (usually in the third trimester). The preventive cure for pregnancy, abstinence, is readily available but must people find it a difficult pill to swallow.

Closely related to medical conditions are the medications we take to cure them. Some medications can negatively affect LDL and HDL cholesterols as well as triglycerides. Usually when a patient stops taking the medication his triglyceride levels return to what they were before taking the medication. If you are taking prescribed medicines ask your doctor if they can negatively affect cholesterol and triglycerides.

So much for the less common causes of elevated triglycerides. But now it is time to consider those causes which are usually to blame for our unhealthy condition. It is a short list beginning with diabetes.

Of course diabetes is a serious disease in many respects. In relation to heart disease it is treated as a risk factor equal to that of someone who has documented coronary heart disease. Persons with diabetes who experience a myocardial infarction (heart attack) have an unusually high death rate in either the short or long term. Therefore diabetics need to be very aggressive in lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.

Obesity is next on the list for the most common causes of high triglycerides. Triglycerides are the primary fat in our bodies, the main constituent in our energy system. People who are overweight tend to have much higher levels of these fats. They also have higher LDL cholesterol levels which are perhaps even more serious.

It would not be appropriate to assume that obesity has the same cause in every case. There are many conditions (like hypothyroidism) which can attribute to uncontrollable weight gain. These conditions are beyond our present topic. But I do have to ask this question: Why is obesity on the increase? The United States is becoming fatter. I think most of us suspect that changes in lifestyle habits are the primary contributors to the increase in obesity.

At this point our subject matter takes a turn. The causes we have already discussed are in many cases beyond our control (pregnancy being an obvious exception). Diabetics do not choose to be diabetics. But interestingly enough as we approach the most common cause of rising triglycerides we find ourselves in territory where we do have control. Some causes of obesity are difficult to control. Some are not. These latter causes deserve our focus precisely because we can do something about them. We can get more exercise. It may not be easy or convenient but we can do something about our lethargy. We don’t get enough exercise because we choose not to. Lack of exercise attributes to triglyceride buildup and obesity. In short, we often have high triglycerides because we choose to.

And now we have arrived at the most common cause of elevated triglycerides. And it is also the most controllable. Drum roll please….it is diet. They say you are what you eat. I hope that is not true. I love catfish and it is a bottom feeder. But in respect to health it is often a true statement. Your diet dramatically affects your health. This is most assuredly true when it comes to triglycerides. Our bodies both take in triglycerides when we eat and manufacture triglycerides from the things we eat. That is how we make energy. But diets high in certain foods and low in others cause the body to create and store inordinate amounts of triglycerides. Top on the list is sugar. Simple sugar is easily converted into triglycerides. We were never created to consume the large amounts of processed sugar that have become commonplace in our culture. Other simple carbohydrates also function like sugar. To reduce your triglycerides stay away from simple sugar and carbohydrates and their kissing cousin, alcohol. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains are another matter. They convert to triglycerides much more slowly.

Since triglycerides are fats, a diet high in fat is also a bad idea. But when I mention fats I have in mind mostly saturated fats and of course anything that contains trans-fats. Some fats however should be consumed in large amounts in order to reduce triglycerides. These are polyunsaturated fats especially omega-3. Omega-3 (particularly from fish sources) is well documented to dramatically lower triglycerides. In fact the American Heart Association recommends 2 to 4 grams of omega-3 from DHA plus EPA every day for those trying to reduce triglycerides. That requires eating a whole lot of cold water fatty fish. You can also buy quality fish oil supplements. But buy from a trusted source to guarantee that you are getting what you are paying for and nothing more, such as mercury.

So what’s up with triglycerides? Now you know. The main thing that is up with triglycerides is poor dieting. Fortunately this is within our control. We can be healthier if we choose to be. It simply takes a little awareness and a whole lot of discipline. So the next time you say, ‘What’s up, doc?’ maybe the response will not be, ‘Your triglycerides.’ Maybe it will be, ‘Your health scores.’

Author: Greg Post

Greg has degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.

For more information on the causes of high triglycerides and the diets that help reduce them use the links below.

Triglyceride Causes

You Can Build A Successful Website. [http://www.make-your-own-website-wealth.com?referrer=optimal-heart-health.com]

Triglyceride Reducing Diets

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Post

Information on diet to lower triglycerides and diseases causing high triglyceride.

High Cholesterol – Low Triglycerides « Harpoon

My total cholesterol number has climbed significantly over the past 2 years (it was ~170 before) which is a concern. However the low triglycerides with the high cholesterol figure gives contradictory risk indications for heart disease. 

Healt Qviz: Do You Know Your Numbers?

Triglycerides are measured with total cholesterol. What does the American Heart Association recommend for triglyceride levels?

What Do You Think You Know About LDL Cholesterol? (Part One)

Mine are 47, and what you might not know about high-fat (and consequently low-carb) dieters is that they all have pretty low triglycerides (in the 50-80 area). 

Women And Triglycerides: Know The Numbers | Suite101.com

High cholesterol, too low of the good cholesterol, and high triglycerides are a combo knockout punch to good health. Always request a blood test with a yearly physical that will get these checked out in their entirety.

What’s Up With My Triglycerides?

So what’s up with triglycerides? Or perhaps we should phrase the question this way, “Why are my triglycerides so high?” If high triglycerides are really a serious health concern (and they are) then we are wise to be concerned if ours are high.

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Causes of High Triglycerides Revealed

The causes of high triglycerides are a subject of much debate. It really depends on where your viewpoints originate. The mainstream medical community has their opinions. Nutritionists and naturopaths have different opinions. But it is clear that some people are more likely to have higher triglyceride counts than others.

Those who are obese smoke cigarettes or drink too much alcohol, as well as those that don’t get enough exercise are prone to have higher levels circulating in their blood stream. Those with hormonal or chemical imbalances are at risk and genetics also plays at least a small role.

Diseases, such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease are sometimes the causes of high triglycerides. Prescription drugs such as beta-blockers and steroids can cause the problem. But the biggest cause is thought to be excessive consumption of foods that are fried or cooked in hydrogenated oils (margarine, lard, shortening), sometimes referred to as "trans-fats" or trans-fatty acids. High triglyceride levels typically accompany high total cholesterol levels and low levels of HDL, which is considered "good" cholesterol, because it carries away LDL or bad cholesterol.

The health problems that are primarily associated with high triglyceride and high cholesterol levels are heart disease, heart attack and stroke, as these fats build up on the interior walls of arteries and veins, interfering with blood flow and increasing the risk of death from a clot. However, it is obvious that dietary intake of fat or cholesterol is not the only factor.

Fats are not all the same. In Japan, males take in an average of 446 mg per day, yet only 57 per 100,000 die of stroke or coronary heart disease. In the US, the average fat intake for males is 348 mg/day, lower than in Japan, but the number of deaths from heart disease and stroke is 202 per 100,000. So what is the real cause of that dramatic difference?

The typical Japanese diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids. So it appears that one of the causes of high triglycerides and improperly balanced cholesterol levels is a lack of omega 3s in the diet.

Good health comes with balance. It has been suggested that the best possible ratio of omega6 to omega3 consumption would be 1 to 1. But, the only good dietary source of omega 3 fatty acids is fish. So supplementation is advisable.

It has been shown that omega3 fish oil supplements increase levels of HDL (good cholesterol) and that in turn lowers LDL levels. This also lowers total triglyceride levels.

Now it is almost a surety that one of the causes of high triglycerides is a diet too high in fat of all kinds. It is just that some fats are better than others. Make the necessary dietary changes and start taking a good fish oil supplement before it is too late.

It may be years before we completely understand the causes of high triglycerides, but we do know that we can do something about them today.

Author: Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is an avid health writer with particular interests in natural health and alternative healthcare. She writes informational articles about health problems for which fish oil are beneficial.

Visit http://www.healthyfishoil.info now to discover an omega 3 fish oil supplement proven to reduce high triglycerides.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Anderson

Information on diet to lower triglycerides and how do I lower my bad triglycerides.

Dangers Of High Triglycerides – OrganizedWisdom Health

Metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, stroke, heart disease, and obesity are conditions that may be caused by high triglycerides.

How To Reduce High Triglycerides – Risk Factors For High Triglycerides

Excess triglycerides deposit on the inner walls of the blood vessels. Consequently, the arteries become narrow and clogged, leading to cardiovascular ailments, heart attack and stroke.

Causes Of Increased Levels Of Triglycerides

An excess of triglycerides in plasma is known as hypertriglyceridemia. In some patients, hypertriglyceridemia is linked to coronary artery disease.

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