Treatment of triglycerides with herbs and alternative medicine
When you think of the fats circulating in the bloodstream, you may immediately think of cholesterol, but there is another type of fat that should not be ignored, which is known as triglycerides, whose high may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. . So learn about ways to treat triglycerides with herbs and natural methods.
What are the dangerous triglycerides?
The American Heart Association has identified four main categories of triglycerides:
- A healthy percentage of triglycerides in the blood: Less than 100 mg/dl of blood
- slight rise: 150 to 200 mg/dL
- High fat content: 201 to 499 mg/dL
- very high percentage: 500 mg/dl
High and very high triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke.
In the event that the level of triglycerides rises by more than 500, and may reach 1000 mg / dL, the person can develop pancreatitis in addition to heart disease.
Research indicates that triglycerides are higher in men than women, and may increase with age in both men and women.
Note that there may be cases in which the chances of infection increase, as research indicates that there is a link between high triglycerides in the blood and the following conditions:
- Genetic predisposition
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- pancreatitis
- Insulin resistance
- Some types of medications such as thiazide diuretics, beta-blockers, and glucocorticosteroids
Treatment of high triglycerides
Certain health conditions, genetics, certain medications and dietary habits are risk factors for a high level of triglycerides in the blood. A person’s diet is high in refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and saturated fats. May lead to elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
But it is worth noting that if you suffer from a slight increase in the percentage of triglycerides, then making some lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the percentage of triglycerides. Among those changes:
- Diet change such as following the Mediterranean diet.
- Reducing the intake of saturated fats such as red meat and full-fat dairy products, as well as reducing trans fats, which are found in fried foods and commercial baked goods.
- Eat good, easily digestible carbohydrates.
- Eat high-fiber whole grains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa, and buckwheat.
- Eat low-fructose fruits like kiwi, berries, and citrus fruits.
- Eat fish that contain omega-3 such as salmon, sardines, tuna, and mackerel, which can be eaten twice a week in order to help lower triglycerides.
- Getting rid of excess weight, as losing about 5% to 10% of the weight can help reduce the level of triglycerides.
- Practicing physical activity such as walking, which helps to boost the level of good cholesterol and reduce the level of triglycerides.
- Stop smoking, it’s not good for your triglyceride levels, and it’s not good for anything else.
Treating triglycerides with garlic
Using garlic supplements may help treat high cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Where the results of a number of laboratory studies conducted on mice showed that giving garlic extract in low doses to mice on a daily basis orally for a month helped to significantly reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels by up to 38% without causing changes in blood glucose levels. .
Whereas, giving raw garlic in high doses to rats significantly affected glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
On the other hand, the results of one of the studies conducted on humans concluded that garlic treatment helped reduce total cholesterol by 12% in those participating in the study. This is after one month of treatment, which has lasted for at least six months.
Dried garlic powder preparations also significantly lowered triglycerides compared to placebo. So garlic may play a protective role against the risk of atherosclerosis. However, it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking any nutritional supplements or natural herbs for treatment.
Treating triglycerides with vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is an acidic substance made from fermented apples. Apple cider vinegar may be used in food flavorings and preservatives. Some studies indicate that it has many health benefits including managing sugar levels, improving good cholesterol, and lowering triglycerides in the blood.
Some small studies have indicated that people who took vinegar before eating a meal had lower levels of insulin and triglycerides after the meal compared to the group that took a placebo.
This is in addition to the indication of some other studies, that apple cider vinegar can be used for weight loss. Where the results indicated that people who took apple cider vinegar with a low-calorie diet were able to lose more weight than those who relied on the diet only, and they also had less total cholesterol and triglycerides.
The best natural remedy for cholesterol and triglycerides
Some of the best ways to treat triglycerides and high cholesterol include:
1. Niacin
Niacin is Vitamin B3. Which doctors may suggest to some patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides. Niacin increases good cholesterol and lowers triglycerides and bad cholesterol. Thus, niacin works to reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Vitamin B3 is available as a food supplement, but if it is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides, it must be under the supervision of a doctor. This is because getting high doses of niacin may lead to some side effects, such as:
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- skin redness
- Lever Inflammation
- Increased peptic ulcer
- High blood sugar
The recommended amount of niacin supplementation is 14 mg for women, while men can get 16 mg. Niacin can also be obtained by eating certain foods such as liver and chicken.
Notice: It is recommended that you consult a doctor before taking supplements, in order to determine the appropriate amount for each case, and to avoid its potential side effects, especially in the case of taking some types of medical drugs.
2. Gingerbread
Some studies have found that ginger can be used to lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While another 2008 study found that ginger can help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels, and boost good HDL cholesterol levels.
3. Curcumin
The results of some studies, which included 649 patients, concluded that one of the benefits of consuming turmeric and curcumin is to help protect patients from the risk of cardiovascular disease, by reducing triglyceride levels in the blood.
Therefore, curcumin can be used as a dietary supplement after consulting a doctor in order to determine the doses and find out the optimal treatment for each case, and also to avoid any possible side effects.
4. The ring
The results of some preliminary experiments have shown that the fenugreek has succeeded in reducing the levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the participants.
Where harmful cholesterol levels were reduced by a range of 10% to 16%, and triglycerides were also reduced, but had a slight effect on lipid levels.
Therefore, it is not necessary to rely only on fenugreek in order to reduce triglycerides and cholesterol, and a doctor should be consulted before adding fenugreek as part of a system to reduce triglycerides and cholesterol.
5. Nuts
The sugar is characterized by its fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fats, which may help lower the level of triglycerides in the blood. Among the types of useful nuts:
But you must bear in mind that nuts are a rich source of calories, so they should be moderated and not over-consumed.
The best drink to treat triglycerides
Reducing added sugar in the diet, such as juices, soft drinks, and sweets, helps lower triglyceride levels in the blood.
Drinking water also helps reduce triglycerides by about 29 mg/dL (0.33 mmol/L).
Some argue that artificially sweetened drinks labeled sugar-free or diet may be better than those containing sugar or fructose, which limit the increase in triglycerides. But in fact, water is the most appropriate drink to support the treatment of triglycerides.
In the end, after learning about the ways to treat triglycerides at home using natural herbs. We emphasize the need to consult a doctor first in order to determine the appropriate treatment methods for each case, and to determine the most appropriate natural remedies that can be followed, while avoiding any potential harm to them.