fishertimm
01-30-2007, 01:53 PM
Ok, my triglycerides were 166 3 months ago. Dr. told me watch diet and exercise. Had new test few days ago and this time its 633!! However, after fasting the night before I forgot and had coffee with sugar in am right before test. Could this have made numbers that much higher? Dr. wants me to start medication to lower these and said will start low but make sure and exercise and watch diet. Im 35yr old male, 170 pounds about 5'8. Ok shape, but dont exercise enough. Cholesterol levels are good (both). I do eat a lot of sweets and fruit so wondering if thats my biggest problem or hereditary. My mom does have high, but she is very overweight and has coronary artery disease. I want to get this under control since heart problems do run in my family. Any ideas on foods I can eat to help with this? Are sugars biggest problem for tryglycerides or fats?
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Connie122516
01-30-2007, 07:02 PM
Yes, sugars (and things made with white flour like bread, pasta, etc.) are big culprits in high triglycerides, along with being overweight (which it doesn't sound like you are) and lack of exercise. (A diet high in saturated fat won't help them much either). Moderate consumption of fresh fruit with no added sugar shouldn't matter much.
I'm not sure what med the doctor was looking at, but be aware that the statins don't do much for triglyceride level, though there are some meds that help. Personally, since your previous reading was only a little high, and given your age, I'd cut out the sugar, flour, and start exercising regularly (at least 30 mins walking everyday), then test again in a couple of months.
I'm not sure what med the doctor was looking at, but be aware that the statins don't do much for triglyceride level, though there are some meds that help. Personally, since your previous reading was only a little high, and given your age, I'd cut out the sugar, flour, and start exercising regularly (at least 30 mins walking everyday), then test again in a couple of months.
fishertimm
01-30-2007, 07:49 PM
thanks for the reply, I got a copy of my labs:
triglycerides 631
total cholesterol 197
HDL 35
LDL invalid due to triglycerides so high
ratio 5.6
last time triglycerides were 266 (I had to look them up) so was too high then. I had cut down on fats, but did not realize about sugars and flour and probably even increased my consumption in that which is why gotten higher. I am taking tricor 145/day. getting ready to look that up. also, he wants me to be checked again in 4 weeks. Looks like time to get on an exercise schedule which I should have done before anyway.
triglycerides 631
total cholesterol 197
HDL 35
LDL invalid due to triglycerides so high
ratio 5.6
last time triglycerides were 266 (I had to look them up) so was too high then. I had cut down on fats, but did not realize about sugars and flour and probably even increased my consumption in that which is why gotten higher. I am taking tricor 145/day. getting ready to look that up. also, he wants me to be checked again in 4 weeks. Looks like time to get on an exercise schedule which I should have done before anyway.
JJ
01-30-2007, 08:16 PM
Connie gave you some very good advice, but don't forget to also avoid processed foods. There is alot of junk in them so their store shelf live lasts long. We have switched to wheat pasta when we do eat pasta, and definitely Whole Wheat bread. Watch those carbs, get some exercise, and I think U will do fine, as my husband use to always have very high Trigs too, but lately after altering his diet, they are ranging in the mid 200, far cry from over 400.
Take care, and best wishes....:wave:
Take care, and best wishes....:wave:
fishertimm
01-31-2007, 09:26 PM
Ok, I'm frustrated now. I went to the grocery store to start my new diet and cannot figure out what to eat. I don't like fish so I got some fish oil vitamins. Sooo hard to figure out what to buy to eat when most things at the store are processed, or high in sugars/carbs etc... I managed to get few things, mostly veggies and some chicken (will broil not fry). Im gonna have to find some new recipies. I do most of the cooking so I need to come up with something and hope the kids will eat it too.
JJ
01-31-2007, 11:48 PM
It takes awhile to get use to what you can and can not eat, and to come up with plans you will enjoy. Go for foods with fiber, low carb stuff, and definitely stay away from frying a much as possible. Give it some time, plus I'm sure folks on here will do their best togive you some ideas. I still eat meat, just in smaller portions, and always grill or broil stuff. Cut back on the white stuff, potaotes, rice, although they have brown rice, that is ok, and try some wheat pasta. Don't try to do it all at once, it is way too overwhelming, but you will do fine once you get a routine down. Go easy on corn and carrots, they have alot of sugar in them. I usually buy the frozen veggies, mixed stuff as well as stuff like spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green peppers etc. Anything green and leafy is good, so do a few salads. For munchies at nite, we usually have yogurt, lite popcorn, or cottage cheese. Not everyone likes the same stuff, so it is all experimenting. I also switched to Promise Heart health spread, and Land O Lakes butter, no margarines.
My husband is type 2 diabetic, and we were told to also buy canned fruits in lite syrup, and to even get less sugar, you can rinse them off with water, as being in the north east, we don't always have fresh fruits and veggies, plus the prices are outrages during the winter.
Hang in there, it gets easier as time goes on.....:wave:
Footnote: Adding some nuts, like Almonds and Walnuts is good as well, just go easy. Don't get paranoid if you cheat some, we all do, afterall, we are human. Having eggs about 3 times a week is no big deal either, they are suppose to be good for raising HDL. I happen to like mine hard boiled. Good luck!!!
My husband is type 2 diabetic, and we were told to also buy canned fruits in lite syrup, and to even get less sugar, you can rinse them off with water, as being in the north east, we don't always have fresh fruits and veggies, plus the prices are outrages during the winter.
Hang in there, it gets easier as time goes on.....:wave:
Footnote: Adding some nuts, like Almonds and Walnuts is good as well, just go easy. Don't get paranoid if you cheat some, we all do, afterall, we are human. Having eggs about 3 times a week is no big deal either, they are suppose to be good for raising HDL. I happen to like mine hard boiled. Good luck!!!
NHone
02-01-2007, 02:46 AM
I would get off of the tricor. Stay on your diet, and make sure you fast for that test. You should disregard the test you had, because you didn't follow directions. You know what happened to us in school when we didn't follow directions..lol.... Also all the cholesterol lowering medications say..along with diet and exercise... How many people that take cholesterol lowering medications only pick one out of three. I don't think this was a multiple choice.... People should pick D. All of the above. I bet if you follow the advice you got here on diet...you numbers will be just fine.
Lenin
02-01-2007, 12:36 PM
fishertimm,
its 633!! However, after fasting the night before I forgot and had coffee with sugar in am right before test.
No, I don't think a spoonful of sugar would make such a drastic differnce in triglycerides.
Here's why...that's 633 mg/dL and the body contains about 60 dL of blood. So that's almost 40,000 mg. of triglycerides (blood-fat) or 40 grams, an ounce and a half.
Something else is at work here.
Both sugars and fats can be a problem for triglyceride leves, but the worst offender that I found, from personal experience, is ALCOHOL. I run normal triglycerides around 100 but regualr drinking will raise it considerably.
ONCE I hit a bar before the doctor's office and had 2 large Manhattans and scored over 900 for my triglycerides. Dumping 6 ounces of booze into an empty stomach must have triggered some WILD chemical reactions. Needless to say, my retest a couple weeks later (without booze) was fine. Left DOCTOR scratching his head though...only I knew the truth! :D
ps. I sneak a cup of coffee before my doctor's visits too...but I use Nutrasweet.
timm,
Read up on Metabolic Syndrome...a condition that results in very high triglycerides and low HDL. Tricor is aimed pretty squarely at your numbers; it lowers triglycerides and raises HDL.
its 633!! However, after fasting the night before I forgot and had coffee with sugar in am right before test.
No, I don't think a spoonful of sugar would make such a drastic differnce in triglycerides.
Here's why...that's 633 mg/dL and the body contains about 60 dL of blood. So that's almost 40,000 mg. of triglycerides (blood-fat) or 40 grams, an ounce and a half.
Something else is at work here.
Both sugars and fats can be a problem for triglyceride leves, but the worst offender that I found, from personal experience, is ALCOHOL. I run normal triglycerides around 100 but regualr drinking will raise it considerably.
ONCE I hit a bar before the doctor's office and had 2 large Manhattans and scored over 900 for my triglycerides. Dumping 6 ounces of booze into an empty stomach must have triggered some WILD chemical reactions. Needless to say, my retest a couple weeks later (without booze) was fine. Left DOCTOR scratching his head though...only I knew the truth! :D
ps. I sneak a cup of coffee before my doctor's visits too...but I use Nutrasweet.
timm,
Read up on Metabolic Syndrome...a condition that results in very high triglycerides and low HDL. Tricor is aimed pretty squarely at your numbers; it lowers triglycerides and raises HDL.
fishertimm
02-02-2007, 10:48 AM
well.... it was actually more like 2 tablespoons full of sugar in my coffee :D I am... er... was a sugar fiend. going with black coffee in the morning now. I checked up on syndrome X, not sure that is me but will talk to my Dr. about it. I'm not overweight and my waist is only 32, but I do have the high trig and low HDL. At least I quit smoking 9 years ago and haven't touched em since. Best thing I ever did. Thanks everyone for the replies. I was kinda freakin out when first got my numbers, but feeling better now. Is fruit ok if eaten in moderation? I know fruit has sugars, but I love apples.
Lenin
02-02-2007, 10:55 AM
Yep,
Probably NOBODY with a 32 inch waist has Metabolic Syndrome unless he's under age 6.:D
Hmmm, 2 Tbsp of sugar in a cup of coffee. Does that require a BLENDER?:jester:
Probably NOBODY with a 32 inch waist has Metabolic Syndrome unless he's under age 6.:D
Hmmm, 2 Tbsp of sugar in a cup of coffee. Does that require a BLENDER?:jester:
Connie122516
02-04-2007, 03:32 PM
Yes, apples are great (the benefit of the fiber in them far outweigh any natural sugar they contain). Don't worry about the sugar in fresh fruit.
When buying products at the market, avoid high fructose corn syrup (some say this is worse than sugar) and added sugar in the ingredients list. It is the Ingredients list you want to read for sugar; not the Nutritional Label (which contains a line for sugar, but that includes naturally occuring sugar which isn't a bad thing).
When buying products at the market, avoid high fructose corn syrup (some say this is worse than sugar) and added sugar in the ingredients list. It is the Ingredients list you want to read for sugar; not the Nutritional Label (which contains a line for sugar, but that includes naturally occuring sugar which isn't a bad thing).
fishertimm
02-06-2007, 08:33 AM
Another question. Are there any type of potatoes that are ok? Like red potatoes? or should they all kinda be avoided?
fishertimm
02-09-2007, 05:02 PM
on sugars, what about products that use sugar alcholos (such adkins, south beach, etc...) do those also change into tryis or are they ok as a substitute?
Lenin
02-10-2007, 10:27 AM
Timm,
Potatoes are potatoes...use what you like best.
Sugar alcohols aren't real food...best avoided unless you need a laxative.
Potatoes are potatoes...use what you like best.
Sugar alcohols aren't real food...best avoided unless you need a laxative.
jkhh
02-10-2007, 11:20 AM
my best numbers with lowering tri's are with red wine and fish oil. there is an excellent article in men's journal (march 2007) involving resveratrol (the supposed beneficial component of red wine). I'm not sure I'm ready to use a supplement of it, YET, but I do know that drinking red wine a few times a week over a 6 month period brought mine down >100 points. the problem for me is just drinking it. i'm yet to develop a taste for it:eek: .
jkhh
02-11-2007, 05:07 PM
Tony,
How does Merlot rank? It's about the only one that I can tolerate. Thanks very much for the tip on pressed grape juice!
How does Merlot rank? It's about the only one that I can tolerate. Thanks very much for the tip on pressed grape juice!