Have you just been told by your doctor that you have high triglycerides after taking a look at your blood lipid profile report? Then quit panicking for a while and keep on reading this article — below you will come across some of the foods that you need to avoid in order to keep your levels of triglycerides from soaring further.
But before we proceed, let’s first take a quick look at some of the most important matters you need to know about having high triglycerides in your blood.
Triglycerides are a form of fat that is found in your bloodstream. And just like any other form of fat, having excessive amounts of triglycerides in your blood is a very dangerous matter. According to health authorities, having high triglycerides can considerably increase your risk of having heart disease.
Individuals who are suffering from diabetes are very much likely to have trouble keeping their triglycerides within what’s regarded as the normal range as diabetes can have complex effects on the way the body reacts to insulin and metabolizes carbohydrates — excess carbohydrates are converted into triglycerides.
Just because you don’t have diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean that you are impervious to having high triglycerides — having an unhealthy eating habit can certainly leave you with lots of triglycerides in your bloodstream.
Let’s now check out some foods to dodge if you have high triglycerides:
Starchy Vegetables
Just because vegetables are some of the healthiest foods on the face of the planet doesn’t necessarily mean that you can have unlimited amounts of them per meal.
If you are suffering from high triglycerides, it’s of utmost importance for you to considerably limit your intake of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, beans, peas and corn. Just like what’s mentioned earlier, your body converts excess carbohydrates to triglycerides — starchy vegetables are packed with carbohydrates.
Fruits
We all know that fruits are high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Sadly, a lot of them are also rich in natural sugar called fructose.
It’s true that fructose is way healthier than refined sugar, but still excessive amounts of it will simply be transformed by the body into triglycerides. If you were instructed by your primary health care provider to strive to lower your levels of triglycerides, stick to eating 2 to 3 pieces of fruits per day only.
Canned Fish
About 2 times a week, health authorities recommend for you to add 2 servings of fish. Nothing is more convenient than reaching for a can of fish every single time.
Sadly, canned fish that’s packed in oil is bad for anyone who has lots of triglycerides in the bloodstream — oil is teeming with calories that end up as triglycerides if too much of them are around. Worry not because you can keep complications at bay simply by going for canned fish that’s packed in water — so remember to read labels.
Refined Grains
Whole grains are good for you because they are rich in iron, magnesium, B vitamins and most especially fiber. On the other hand, refined grains are bad for you as they contain nothing but calories.
It’s for this reason exactly why it is a good idea for you to steer clear of refined grains if you’re told by a doctor that you blood lipid profile report is a major cause for concern. Loads of calories in pizza, donuts, cakes, biscuits, white bread and noodles can wreak havoc on the levels of your triglycerides.
Alcohol
Having moderate amounts of alcohol (1 glass per day for women and a maximum of 2 glasses per day for men) is good for the heart. It’s a different story, however, if alcohol is consumed excessively.
One of the reasons why too much alcohol is bad for the health is that it can cause the levels of triglycerides in your blood to soar, courtesy of loads of sugar in it. If your triglycerides are way off the charts, your doctor may instruct you to steer clear of any amount of alcohol for the sake of your heart.
