Monday, May 25, 2009

Elevated Triglycerides Cause Heart Attacks and May Damage Nerves!

New research, due to be released shortly, points to elevated blood triglycerides leading to nerve damage. Although the exact mechanism by which the damage is effected is not known, there was found a link between heightened neuropathy and elevated blood triglycerides.

Elevated triglycerides are yet another indication the patient suffers from Metabolic Syndrome X, that catch all descriptor meaning that you are on the doorstep of many of the chronic diseases of aging.

The question to be discussed in this post is what are the most effective ways to reduce blood triglycerides a low fat diet or a low carbohydrate diet supplemented with exercise and natural blood sugar regulators?

The causes of elevated blood triglycerides are many.

The use of "pure vegetable oils" in frying represents an enormous and almost unknown source of triglycerides. Millions of pounds of all types of food fried in vegetable oils, which contain Omega 6 oils, are consumed daily by unsuspecting consumers, many of whom believe they are "eating healthy" because they are using vegetable oil, instead of lard or animal fat.

Another source of triglycerides is hyperinsulinism, where there is an excess of insulin circulating in the body along with the excess glucose which triggers the excess insulin. Since this glucose cannot be utilized for energy because of the resistance to insulin, much of it is stored in the liver as fat, including triglycerides.

Also, the body reacts to insulin resistance by producing more insulin. High blood insulin levels lead to high levels of free fatty acids in the blood.

In addition, the abdominal fat around the middle, so characteristic of those with diabetes, a new term was coined to describe it, diabesity; also produces its own production of fatty acids.

These elevated levels of fatty acids from various sources can overwhelm the liver's ability to handle them and they are converted to triglycerides, no doubt damaging nerves as the research suggests.

My point is that a low carbohydrate, Meditteranean style diet; though rich in olive oil, a monosaturated fat, supplemented by cinnamon, Banaba leaves and other natural reducers of blood sugar, combined with a sensible exercise regimen would probably produce better results in lowering triglycerides than a low fat diet, even if augmented by exercise.

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