Tame Your Triglycerides!

Triglycerides: You need ‘em to stay alive, but too many can prove dangerous, even deadly.

Researchers have yet to determine if they’re an independent heart disease risk factor or just an accomplice. Either way, high triglycerides spell trouble for your ticker.

High triglycerides are associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and the usual string of obesity-related troubles.

Like cholesterol, triglycerides are unfairly considered grim reapers in most folks’ minds.

Triglycerides aren’t inherently bad, however, just an indicator to keep your hands out of the cookie jar and rediscover your treadmill. There are some supplements to consider too. Here's the scoop.

Triglycerides and Your Health

You don’t have to delve too far into organic chemistry; just know triglycerides are the most common fat found in foods and the body. In fact, triglycerides account for nearly 95% of your body’s fatty tissue!

Under normal conditions, triglycerides are a vital energy source, but sadly the American diet is anything but "normal."

Your body transforms the carbohydrates you eat into glucose to be used for energy by your cells. Once the cells have what they need, the excess glucose is sent back to your liver and converted to glycogen.

Glycogen can then be stored in your muscles. Once you've reached your capacity of glycogen, excess glycogen is sent back to your liver again, where it becomes triglycerides, which can be stored as fat. Your body has endless storage space for this fat, as many humans know all too well.

When the body needs additional energy, hormones trigger the release of these stored fats which fill the energy gap. It's a great system for continuous energy flow, but problems can develop when you consistently take in more energy than you need.

Excessive triglycerides are not stored as fat, but remain in your blood stream, which is where the high triglyceride problem lies.

Excess levels of triglycerides thicken your blood, making it sludgy, which increases the possibility of clotting and blockage which could eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke, among other problems.

The main triglyceride level instigators: too many calories, too much sugar.

Many Americans are taking in more energy than they need, which leaves triglycerides floating about in the bloodstream. Much of that energy is sugar, which spurs the liver to produce even more triglycerides.

Refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins, so to be metabolized, they must draw upon the body's micro-nutrient stores.

When these nutrient storehouses are depleted, metabolization of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Enter the heart troubles described above.

This metabolism hindrance also promotes obesity as excess fatty acids are stored around organs and skin tissue folds. 

What's a sugar-snatching human to do?

Anything you can do to drop your simple carbohydrates and excessive calories can help. Carbohydrates trigger the conversion of glucose to triglycerides

Aside from the usual exercise and dietary suggestions, here are a few supplements you may consider:

Consider fiber boosts. Soluble fibers dissolve into the blood stream and help sweep excess fats and toxins out of your system.

Try a little Green Tea Extract. Green tea has been shown to reduce triglycerides as well as LDL cholesterol, and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.

Don't forget those Omega 3s. Whether it’s flax or fish, Omega-3s have been shown to support normal triglyceride levels. In fact, as early as 1966 a publication by P.K. Reissell's group at Harvard  established that Omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin C, combined with a low carbohydrate diet, can dramatically reduce triglyceride levels.

A friend of Tess' feels the universe must be conspiring against him to take Fish Oil. The more he finds out about his health, the more he hears just how much fish oil is "supposed to help with that!"

Until last week, he avoided it like the plague, but as of Friday, he changed his tune and started swallowing the smooth, gold capsules. Stay tuned for results! ^..^

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Foods for Your Mood: Update

A couple weeks ago this kat wrote about healthy moods. Since that time, one of the humans stumbled across the following as a bit of a dietary guide to feelin' good.

Research shows that the average American’s daily mood has deteriorated over the past 20 years.

The good news? Whether you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression, or just plain grouchiness, simple changes in your diet and supplements routine can help.

Try this easy-to-procure remedies:

Cold-water fish for Depression: Cultures that consume more cold-water fish show a much lower incidence of depression, which scientists attribute to the omega-3 fatty acids in fish.

B-complex vitamins for Anxiety: Your brain needs B vitamins to make both serotonin and GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), the two principal calming neurotransmitters. Look for a high-potency B-complex supplement that provides at least 25 mg daily each of vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6.

Chromium for Irritability: The root of cranky moods often lies in low blood sugar levels, so supporting your body’s ability to balance glucose and insulin can help. One small study found that supplementation with 200 mcg of chromium daily for three months helped reduce symptoms of low blood sugar in women.

Pistachios for Stress: Just an ounce and a half of these tasty, heart-healthy nuts has been show to relax arteries and keep blood pressure down, reducing the body’s response to stress.