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Better Cholesterol & Triglycerides in 90 Days? Here's How.


Are your cholesterol and/or triglycerides are above normal? Want to improve your lipid profile through food and lifestyle?


Prioritize the following nutrients in your diet, and implement these habits into your daily routine.


Commit and practice for a minimum of three months, and you’re likely to see some pleasing changes in your cardiovascular health and beyond!

 

NUTRIENTS


Fiber

Where to get it:
  • Vegetables

  • Fruits

  • Beans

  • Nuts

  • Seeds

  • Whole grains, like oats, brown rice, bulgur and farro


How to get enough:
  • Aim for one cup of vegetables with each meal

  • Enjoy two cups of fruit divided among meals or snacks throughout the day.

  • Trade in an animal-based meal for one with protein-rich, fiber-packed beans. Instead of a hamburger, try a black bean burger. Better yet, serve it on a salad!

  • Add raw rolled oats, flaxseed or chia seed to a smoothie

Note: a higher fiber intake calls for a higher water intake. Be sure to drink at least 8 cups regularly throughout the day!


Monounsaturated Fat & Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Where to get them:
  • Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna

  • Avocado

  • Olives/olive oil

  • Nuts

  • Seeds


How to get enough:
  • Incorporate 4-8 ounces of fatty fish once or twice a week.

  • Pair your morning eggs with half an avocado

  • Add ¼ cup of nuts and/or seeds to oatmeal or homemade muesli with dried fruits; or enjoy nuts and seeds with dark chocolate and dried fruits for a healthy dessert.

  • Drizzle salad with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar

  • Supplement up to 4 grams of fish oil daily


Niacin

Where to get it:

  • Tomato sauce

  • Tuna fish

  • Lamb

  • Beef

  • Sardines

  • Peanuts

  • Brown Rice

  • B-complex supplement, or daily multivitamin


How to get enough:
  • Have lentil chili for lunch or dinner

  • Try a mayo-free lemony tuna salad for lunch

  • If you eat red meat, enjoy grass-fed cuts a few times a month

  • Have sardines for a snacky lunch with hummus, fresh veggies, and grainy crackers

  • Pair a banana or an apple with a spoonful of natural peanut butter

  • Add brown rice to a meal, or use it as an ingredient in lunch/dinner recipes

  • Take a B-complex or multivitamin supplement daily

 

LIFESTYLE HABITS

Reduce sugar

Track where you may be adding or consuming sugar throughout the day. Devise a plan where and how you can reduce some of those sugars if it’s apparent your intake is too high.


Stick to a moderate alcohol consumption

Women, if your alcohol intake is over 1 drink a day… Men, if your alcohol intake is over 2 drinks a day… and your triglycerides are too high, you’re likely to see an improvement to your triglycerides with reduction or elimination of alcohol.


As with reducing sugar, can you track your intake? Can you spot any causes for the more-than-moderate consumption? Let’s devise a plan for healthy and rewarding progress.


Engage in Aerobic Exercise.

It’s time to get serious: 45-60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (high-intensity if you’re up to it), five days a week could really benefit your lipid profile. Not only can exercise bring about physical benefits to your cardiovascular system right away, it also supports a healthy metabolism and potential weight loss, which is especially good for triglycerides. If your triglycerides or cholesterol are elevated, and you need to lose weight, aiming for a 5-10% weight loss could lead to good results with your blood lipids.


Stress Management.

Chronic stress can lead to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and hormonal imbalances, all of which are risk factors for our cardiovascular health. Gain control of stress and stressful situations by implementing a caring attitude: Nourish your body daily, especially with the nutrients indicated above. Prioritize taking breaks and deep breaths. Practice optimism. And stay active. Even if you’re not quite ready or able to do the amount of exercise mentioned above, start with movement you enjoy!

 
Disclaimer:

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. Although many people can achieve good cholesterol and triglyceride levels by making healthy food choices and getting enough physical activity, some people may also need medications to help. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. If you're interested in making dietary and lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol or triglycerides, guidance from a nutrition expert is highly advised. Please review our Nutrition & Wellness Services here:

Nutrition & Wellness Services

https://www.fabulous-nutrition.com/services

This post contains an affiliate link to Fullscript,

an online supplement dispensary, where I will earn a commission should you follow that link, make a free account, and make a purchase.

 
Additional Reading:

Cometto, A. (2020, April 11). Six Simple Ways to Drink Enough Water Every Day. Fabulous Nutrition LLC. https://www.fabulous-nutrition.com/post/sixsimplewaystodrinkenoughwatereveryday


Cometto, A. (2020, May 30). Stress: control it by practicing one value. Fabulous Nutrition LLC. https://www.fabulous-nutrition.com/post/stresssucks


Cometto, A. (2020, Feb 21). Ten Facts that will Help Eliminate Your Sweet Tooth. Fabulous Nutrition LLC. https://www.fabulous-nutrition.com/post/tenfactstoeliminateyoursweettooth


Doughty, K. N., Del Pilar, N. X., Audette, A., & Katz, D. L. (2017). Lifestyle Medicine and the Management of Cardiovascular Disease. Current cardiology reports, 19(11), 116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-017-0925-z


Simha V. (2020). Management of hypertriglyceridemia. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 371, m3109. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3109

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