It’s unfortunate how many people have been misled and told they need medication for their “high cholesterol”, without regard for their HDL/LDL ratios. If your overall cholesterol has been flagged as “high”, it’s critical to understand that your HDL level (the “good” cholesterol) factors into that total number. High Intensity Interval Training and Weight Training are ideal for this purpose.Īdditionally, you’ll want to up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids from either a high-quality fish oil or wild-caught fish, like salmon. We also recommend adopting an exercise regime that helps support normal blood sugar levels. If your triglyceride levels are in the “concerning” or “warning” zone, the first thing you’ll want to do is to identify and limit the carbs you’re eating-especially those from sugar and alcohol. …and super-specifically fructose from sugar, fruit juice and too much fruit.Īlcohol also negatively affects triglyceride levels due to its sugary nature and impact on the liver. What Causes High Triglycerides?Īs noted above, for years we were told “bad fats” from animal products caused “high cholesterol” which causes heart disease.īut we now know the real culprit behind high triglycerides is carbs… Why do we care about fatty liver with regards to heart health?įatty liver is commonly associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, both of which increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. 150 and up-the higher you push those triglycerides, the higher your chances of heart disease and fatty liver.100-150-if you’re in this zone, that means there’s not a problem yet, but there may be one brewing.Less than 100, and if your triglycerides levels can be lower than your HDL levels that’s optimal.Optimal/Functional Ranges of Triglycerides: The reason is, the smaller particles can get into your arteries where they have the potential to create harmful plaque. Why do we care about size over total number?īecause new research has shown that larger LDL particles are more favorable to heart health than smaller particles. When we’re looking at the results of your triglyceride test, the main thing we want to know is: what size is your LDL cholesterol? Now that we’ve covered some of the main issues hindering effective modern heart disease prevention and detection, let’s break down the 3 markers of the Fasting Lipid Panel: Marker #1: Triglycerides This new information has inspired many progressive healthcare providers and functional medicine doctors, to order a greater variety of labs and focus their attention on new markers. New research has shed light on the antiquated ideas that all dietary cholesterol is “bad”, and even that all “bad” cholesterol (AKA: LDL) is harmful (more on the research behind this coming up). #3: Medicine has been looking at cholesterol all wrong. Sadly, most doctors remain unaware of this connection and the causes of chronic inflammation and thus, often miss the telltale signs early on. #2: We’ve just recently discovered the connection between inflammation and heart disease.Ī growing body of evidence now suggests if your body is chronically inflammed, that can have a direct impact on the health of your metabolic and circulatory systems. Unhealthy fats can play a role in heart health, but it’s not the fats you think…more on this to come. Yet many people remain unaware that sugar, NOT FAT, is one of the worst foods you can consume if you’re concerned about heart disease. Per a published study in the November 2016 edition of JAMA and as reported by NPR News, 50 years ago the sugar industry paid off Harvard researchers to suppress their findings on sugar and instead, point the blame at fat. Here are the 3 big issues we see in functional medicine as being behind this seemingly unconquerable epidemic: #1: We’ve been told to fear fats, when the truth is SUGAR has been one of heart’s worst enemies all along. Why, with all the advances in modern medicine and our deeper understanding of the roles fat, cholesterol and stress play in heart health, is heart disease still afflicting the young and old?Īnd, most importantly, why aren’t these early warning signs being detected in our annual checkups?Īctually, a few things don’t add up when it comes to heart disease prediction, prevention and treatment. The Fasting Lipid Panel is one of the most valuable series of lab tests for gaining an accurate picture of your heart health and cholesterol levels.īut its value lies in understanding what those different lab markers mean (triglycerides, HDL, and LDL) within the context of the entire lipid panel and other key aspects of health.ĭespite all the advances in early detection and treatments, heart disease is still America’s number one killer.
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