Triglycerides
Right on , Alice. My 'trigs' were a bit high last blood test, I suspect it was my new habit of making pancakes with maple syrup most mornings. I have since cut back on that type of breakfast to around once a week . My breads I have cut in half (a little respect for Dr Atkins diet?) . Any simple carbs can contribute to high triglycerides. Peas, beans, lentils, rice are probably better choices in the carbohydrates. I'll let you know how my trigs are doing next blood test (which I should arrange soon). I have also lost 4 or 5 lbs this winter. That should help the numbers a bit. Regards, Harold
Triglycerides are "blood fats". As I understand it, when you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks down the sugars and sends them straight to your blood. Your body reacts to the high sugar level by making insulin, which converts the sugars to triglycerides. Some research indicates high triglycerides may be one cause of coronary artery disease. A diet which I had good results on is "Sugar Busters" which is based on keeping your triglycerides low. Foods are rated on their "hypoclycemic index", which shows how much they affect your triglycerides. Basically, you should stay away simple carbohydrates (sugars, white bread, white rice, white potatoes, most pasta and some fruits). "Complex" carbohydrates are much better (whole wheat bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole wheat pasta, etc.). If you start reading food labels for the amount of sugar foods contain, you will be amazed at how much you are eating. It's not that hard to cut a whole lot of it out. While my cardiac rehab nutritionist didn't endorse Sugar Busters completely, she said it was mostly a good plan. Regards, Hugh