QuestionHi Reverend Abbott,
I am a 54 year old male. My last cholesterol reading was 650 & triglycerides were sky high at 2000. I'm on 80 mg. of Zocor/day & a little afraid of taking Gemfibrozil because of possibility of rare but fatal muscle disease when combining Gemfibrozil with statins.
I've read on the internet where cutting out starches, breads, carbohydrates, cereals, pasta, fats, & sugars of course, has been known to lower some people's trigycerides a great deal.
I am also not a drinker, take no caffeine in beverage or any form, & try to limit my sugar intake.
I can do without the cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice, & starches but I do LOVE bread. Is there any form of healthful, low calorie, or non-grain bread I could purchase or even make myself which would be low calorie &/or gluten free & might serve to help possibly lower my triglycerides? I'm afraid the multi-grain bread I buy at the store may fall short of what's actually on the ingredients.
I've heard "hunza" bread or "pita" bread are good. Just wanted to know if you might have any other good recommendations.
Thank you very much for any assistance.
Sincerely,
Mike E.
Answer Mike, I have to agree with you that prefering to do this as naturally as possible is a good idea; however, with Triglycerides that high, lowering them is a number one goal. If you need to use meds to get them where you can work on maintenance, that's what you need to do. Perhaps just the Zocor a while longer with the nutritional modification? You need to have an open discussion with your prescriber of course.
As for the better foods, eliminating or at least closely monitoring all animal product intake is as easy as it gets. Poultry and fish are much better choices of protein than anything mammal (including products from a mammal).
Fruits and vegetables are good sources of both soluable and insoluable fiber, but better overall cholesterol (and Tri.) control, viceous fiber found in oats and barley is even better.
So don't do without the cereal, just make sure that you see the words 'whole grain' in the first ingredient or two. Regular old oatmeal is best and don't worry if you need to add some brown sugar, honey or even maple syrup (or buy the already flavored packets).
Pita or hunza breads are not usually whole grain. You'd be better off with a bread that is nice and thick and actually enjoyable.
Copy and paste this into your address bar for more about this
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/wwheat.html
It's not as difficult as some sources make it sound. Eating healthy and well isn't so much about self denial as it is about making different choices. For example, soy "ice cream" these days is virtually indistinguishable from real ice cream. Soy 'milk' has more flavor than just about any low fat (1 or 2%) milk and can be used in all the same places.
You didn't get to where you are with these levels overnight, so let's not expect results to happen in a snap either. You don't need to add stress to the effort right?
Let me know how you do and of course if you have any other questions. It sounds like you're on the right path.
www.GetTheReal.info
