There are a few times in life when you bathe in the exquisite idea that you are somehow "off the charts" or that you're "very high" or "extremely high." Maybe your S.A.T. scores? You're national ranking as a flutist? Your attractiveness based on your brother's best friends group of friends? But when it comes to being super high and off the charts with your triglycerides, well, it doesn't feel too great. Bathing in fear and anxiety is a more likely response.
The first thing that happens is you either get a physical or you get your blood analyzed for some other reason (insurance?). The results come back looking pretty good - except for this triglyceride thing. It's beyond high. It's ultra high. It's "out of range" for normal people.
So, what are they anyhow, these triglycerides? They are a specific type of fat stored in the blood. They get there not only from the food you eat, but also if the food you eat is not being digested properly. People who are at risk for high triglycerides are those who are overweight, who consume a lot of alcohol or who have other health conditions which makes processing these types of sugars and fats less efficient than they normally would be.
The second thing that happens is you struggle to understand the implications of this. Does it mean my cholesterol is high (not necessarily) does this pose a real risk to my health (absolutely, risk of heart disease and stroke are increased, as is the risk for diabetes and other complications).
Finally, you pass through these stages and want answers. You want to try holistic approaches first. Who needs the side effects of medicine? So you begin to research. Here are some tips to help you lower your triglycerides naturally:
1 - realize that refined sugar in the form of carbohydrates and white sugar impact your triglyceride levels more than fats. While a low fat diet is recommended for naturally reducing triglycerides, cutting out or dramatically reducing the ingestion of refined sugar is even more crucial.
2 - alcohol is a no-no. More than anything, the sugar content in alcohol is so high that it negatively impacts someone with high triglycerides. Since it takes the liver almost an hour to process 4 ounces of sugar, think of how much you're piling onto your liver with four or five drinks in the space of a single evening. That sugar turns into fat, which in turn becomes - yes - triglycerides.
3 - adding thirty minutes of exercise per day to your routine can help to lower triglycerides and can have wonderful psychological effects, including helping you to stay on track with healthy eating.
4 - increasing your intake of dark leafy greens, all other veggies and three servings of fruit will help you to lower these numbers. Also, baking and broiling lean cuts of meat and going strong on fish and light on red meat.
5 - adding salmon, sardines, and other fish high in Omega-Three polyunsaturated fats is beneficial to your health on many levels including getting your triglycerides back down within a healthy range.
Lifestyle changes take time, patience and energy. But if your commitment to yourself and your loved ones is stronger than your commitment to that luscious latte, you'll do just fine. For more details on lowering your triglycerides naturally, follow this link:http://healthyomega3.com/how-to-lower-your-triglycerides-naturally/
and this, as well: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48761.asp
Aimee Boyle is going refined sugar free as of yesterday. She is a regular contributor to EmpowHER.