Do doctors prescribe a diet for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides?
Triglycerides are one of the modern diseases that no home is free of, and some people may not know that there are some foods that are prohibited for people with triglycerides and cholesterol.
It is even possible that the patient is unaware that triglycerides and cholesterol can cause other diseases for him.
In this article, we will know what triglycerides and cholesterol are? What diseases may it cause? Any diet for people with cholesterol and triglycerides should avoid it.
What are triglycerides?
They are fats carried in the blood and their primary source is food. They provide the cells with energy, and when they have completed their mission of supplying the body with energy, the excess is stored in the fat cells located in all parts of the body.
High levels of triglycerides in the blood also lead to high levels of cholesterol. The liver is the one that builds cholesterol and combines it with these triglycerides and other types of fats.
This increase in the percentage of various fats in the body poses a threat to human health, and causes various types of diseases, some of which threaten human life!
What is cholesterol?
It is a type of fat made by the liver, and it plays an important role in the body.
But an increase in its percentage above normal causes serious damage and diseases.
Diseases caused by triglycerides and cholesterol
Patients with triglycerides are not limited to high levels only, but the situation can worsen and lead to the patient suffering from some other diseases, such as:
- Hardening and thickening of the arteries; This is known as atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart disease and strokes.
- Hypothyroidism, which causes a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones.
- Some liver and kidney diseases.
Therefore, it is necessary to follow a diet for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides, to avoid deterioration of the patient’s condition.
How can the level of triglycerides in the blood be controlled?
Despite the danger of triglycerides to human health, their level in the blood can be controlled by following a healthy lifestyle and staying away from foods that are prohibited for triglyceride patients.
One of the most important measures that we must follow is to reduce weight if the patient gains it, through:
- Follow the appropriate diet for the body
- Eat an appropriate portion of food and pay attention to the calories in meals, as the body stores excess calories in the form of triglycerides.
- Follow a diet that burns high levels of fat in the blood, and stay away from unhealthy food and eat healthy food.
- Exercise and increase daily physical activity; Exercise burns excess levels of triglycerides in the blood.
Forbidden foods for cholesterol and triglyceride patients
Avoiding some foods that are harmful to the patient’s health is the first step in treating increased triglyceride levels. These foods are determined by the doctor during a diet for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides.
Therefore, it was imperative for us to provide you, dear reader, with a list containing some foods that are prohibited for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides, such as:
1.Saturated and trans fats
It is the most dangerous type and leads to high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood.
Saturated fats are found in red meat and other animal products and trans fats are found in processed foods
It can be reduced through the following tips:
- Reduce foods that contain these fats or hydrogenated oils.
- Use low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
- Reduce or avoid fried foods and fast food as much as possible.
- Reduce the use of cut fats found in meat and poultry skins
- It is possible to replace red meat with poultry or fish, which is a healthier option for patients.
- Use olive oil or vegetable oils instead of butter or fat in cooking.
2.Simple sugars
High blood sugar levels lead to high levels of fat in the blood. Therefore, the intake of simple sugars should be reduced or avoided as much as possible.
The use of simple sugars can be reduced through the following tips:
- Avoid sweetened beverages with high levels of sugar, such as: soda, iced tea, and various fruit juices that are high in sugar, and it is possible to replace them with water, zero-calorie flavored water, or drinks labeled as sugar-free or containing diet sugar.
- Avoid adding sugar to tea, coffee, and other drinks and use healthy, zero-calorie alternatives to sugar.
- Avoid candy, jam, jelly, and other sugar-sweetened drinks, and you can use products marked as sugar-free or as containing diet sugar.
- Eat fruits between main meals instead of eating unhealthy foods or high-sugar drinks.
3. Natural sugars
Some people may believe that natural sugars are harmless and do not cause any harm to the body, but they must be treated with caution and consumed in moderate quantities through the following tips:
- Eat small amounts of honey and molasses
- Use plain, natural yogurt, preferably low-fat.
- Eat moderate amounts of dried fruits; Excessive consumption of it causes high blood sugar levels.
- Use fruits instead of fruit juices with added sugar.
4.. Do not excessively eat vegetables that have a high percentage of starches, such as: potatoes, corn, and peas.
5. Replace different types of rice, pasta, and pastries made from simple starches with others made from complex starches, such as: oats or whole grains.
Some useful alternatives in a diet for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides
It may be possible for a patient to imagine, after learning the foods prohibited for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides, that he will not be able to eat normally.
But this is a mistaken belief, as one can still eat healthy alternatives, such as:
- Fatty fish, such as: salmon, sardines, and mackerel, which contain omega-3, which lowers the level of triglycerides in the blood.
- Avocado: Avocado is a rich source of monounsaturated fats, which also helps in reducing their levels.
- Quinoa: Quinoa seeds are rich in protein and minerals that contribute to keeping the fat content low.
- Garlic, which also helps protect against heart disease.
- Whole grains, such as: oats and barley, which contribute to keeping fat levels in the blood moderate.
At the end of our article, doctors prescribe a diet for patients with cholesterol and triglycerides, which must be adhered to to prevent deterioration of the patient’s condition.
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