Oh! I had a cholesterol test last week, and my total cholesterol came down almost 10%, and it's about 4 points above normal now. Which is cool. My LDL also came way down, and it's about 15 points above normal.
My triglycerides, however, almost doubled. Oooookay. So I looked on the internets (after using the Google), and you know the way to reduce triglycerides? Hint: it's NOT by reducing dietary fat intake (which can, apparently, and ironically, *increase* triglycerides).
Cutting out (or way way WAY back on) carbs, and specifically sugar.
Boo hoo. I LOVE sugar. (Which anyone can tell, given that my triglycerides are high.)
The way it works is, sugars (and simple carbs that break down to sugar easily) that your body doesn't use for energy get converted to triglycerides in the liver.
So, I either start running (ahahahahahahahaha!!!!), or I cut out the sugar and carbs. Given that I'm already exercising (walking quite fucking briskly 3-4 days a week), I guess it's back to a more South Beach-esque food plan. Good thing I like nuts and cheese.
But the truth is, I feel MUCH better when I don't eat so much sugar, so this is really for the best. Still. Boo hoo.
t /total first world problem
I cut down my triglycerides a whole lot by taking fish oil capsules, Steph.
I cut down my triglycerides a whole lot by taking fish oil capsules, Steph.
I already take them.
(That's the "shame" font, for those who don't recognize it.)
I had ridiculously high triglyderides. (It's a weird thing that seems to run in my family -- normal or slightly high cholesterol with triglycerides in the "Danger! Danger!" zone.) I'm on medication, but also cut down on sugar and almost completely eliminated white flour from my diet, which has helped a whole lot. Plus, lots of vegetables -- for a while, I was in a pretty good rhythm of vegetables + protein for each meal, with some whole grain carbs at dinner. Kind of off that now, though -- I just had Cheerios for breakfast, and I'm probably going to get Ethiopian food for lunch.
My doctor told me triglycerides came from meat!
Triglycerides are people!
A triglyceride bit my sister.
Apropos of fooding & attempting to cut down on simple carbs, I bought a microwave omelette pan, organic egg whites, bagged grated cheese, and a shitload of veggies. I brought it all in to work and have been making omelettes that are chock-full of healthy veggies and relatively cheap. The cheese is my downfall in my attempt to make it low-fat, but I console myself with the thought that I'm getting a lot of dairy. It's pretty tasty, all things considered.
Apparantly, it's rather risky to be a Buffista's sister....
