Triglycerides and other big words

(Heather) #1

LOL. But seriously.
Can someone explain Triglycerides to me? I’m spreading the Keto word and someone asked me about eating bacon and was it high in Triglycerides and hood for your heart. I obviously looked it up and of course you know how that goes, bad fat! I’m not sure where to look for sound info. I also want to know what I’m talking about, I’ve followed the diet for months but now I’m getting into spreading the word…I don’t want to sound like an idiot- I have several people who are cutting carbs through my FB posts.

(Tom Seest) #2

I would start here: http://cholesterolcode.com/a-simple-guide-to-cholesterol-on-low-carb-part-i/

@DaveKeto maintains this site, in case you have questions.

#3

I will tell you how I think of them and this will not be the proper science version!

I look at this test as key for keto because it tells you how fatty your blood is and that also informs you how fatty your liver is. It can also give you more info on your cholesterol readings. If you have high LDL, for example, but your trigs are low, then the chances are that the majority of those LDL particles are nice and big and fluffy and are doing you no harm. It is the small dense ones you want to reduce.

As an “in your face doubters” test, it is a fantastic one to throw at people when they tell you you will block your arteries with all that fat you are eating. “Au contraire”, I cry, “I have wonderful trig levels”.

Pretty sure someone will come along and give you a more scientific explanation soon!

#4

@Daisy I wish my doctor would realize that. Last year at my physical my LDL was way too high (I do have a fatty liver, Alcohol, medications, inconsistent eating habits and obesity) but my HDL was up from the previous year and my trigs were down. He freaked out and told me I had to go on statins. I said no, they were too dangerous. (I said no the year before when he told me to go on a low fat diet too) He was yelling and swearing at the Internet and I just sat there and stared at him. LOL Yes, he is still my doctor. September - when I go for my physical again -should be interesting.

(Cathy Schroder) #5

You may want to check and see if you still have a fatty liver. I was diagnosed with the same thing during an ultrasound some time ago, but then my most recent scan showed no sign of the disease. That would be something interesting for your doctor to ponder! Great decision about the statins!!

#6

@madaboutchooks good point. I will talk to him in September if my liver enzymes are still out of whack. Last year he said he wouldn’t send me for another ultrasound b/c I wouldn’t go on statins. I have had a rough year, my mother died four months ago, three weeks after they found stage 4 stomach cancer, so I haven’t been too vigilant about eating the right foods and exercising.

My doctor doesn’t like natural healing either. I have MS and arthritis in my neck, back, knees and fingers. I use aromatherapy and acupressure to help with the pain and sleeping problems. I am avoiding as many medications as possible. I rarely ever take pain killers anymore.

#7

Jeez. You were totally in the right IMO. You were heading in the right direction then and my guess it is going to be even better next time. WTF? You should have told him to eat more fat to calm his nerves!

(Cathy Schroder) #8

I’ve made exactly the same choices with medication and I have managed my issues through diet alone, (T2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, arthritis, high triglycerides, poor cholesterol etc). Is there any way you can find s doctor that is either more sympathetic to this way of eating, or more open minded?

I’m sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult time of it lately. All power to you that you are still working on your eating habits!

#9

@Daisy I have been a heavy drinker off and on for years so I am not going to say that alcohol hasn’t played a part in my fatty liver but so has my obesity (I was on prednisone and never lost the weight from that) I know he cares but he is stuck in the past.

@madaboutchooks doctors are hard to get here. Many people end up going to a walk in clinic. He’s a good doctor in a lot of ways and I have put 17 years in training him but sometimes he drives me nuts. As for working on my eating habits - I have to. It is my health that is important. Not only that, I am working towards a career as a motivational speaker and I want to lose the weight so I look good on stage!