Q: I've recently been told I have high cholesterol. My doctor told me to watch my cholesterol intake and decrease fried foods. Is there anything else I should consider because I really don't want to take any of the medications?

A: According to the recently updated National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) are the foundation of clinical primary prevention. Essential features of TLC which should be discussed and calculated for you on an individual basis include:

Find a dietitian who can help you make adjustments with your diet that you can live with.

Q: My doctor told me my triglycerides are high. What are triglycerides?

A: Triglycerides are another type of blood fat like cholesterol. Triglycerides come from the food you eat and they are produced by your liver. It has been long suspected that high triglycerides play a role in heart disease risk.

A triglyceride level under 200 mg/dL is ideal. Very high triglycerides can cause inflammation of your pancreas or pancreatitis which is extremely dangerous. If your triglycerides are high, your doctor will refer you to a dietitian to map-out several lifestyle changes you can make to lower your triglycerides.

 

Q: It never seems diet is stressed for high blood pressure. Is there anything I should change that would help lower my blood pressure?

A: Absolutely -- several nutritional components should be addressed including:

Weight loss - for every 8 - 12 pounds lost, arterial pressure decreases. Weight loss may also increase the effectiveness of blood pressure lowering drugs.

Sodium - decreasing sodium decreases the amount of fluid you retain which helps decrease pressure. One teaspoon of table salt contains approximately 2300 mg sodium. Sodium content of food will need to be addressed.

Increase fresh fruits/vegetables for potassium.

Increase low-fat calcium sources.

Decrease saturated fat and cholesterol.

Limit alcohol.

Increase aerobic exercise - 30 - 45 minutes daily.

STOP smoking.

Your dietitian should help you establish a nutrition pattern consistent with DASH-Sodium guidelines. (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).

The DASH study incorporated all of the above criteria and found a very beneficial impact on blood pressure. Lifestyle intervention and improved dietary practices are recognized as essential factors in the optimal management of hypertension.

 

Q: I've heard from friends you should be taking vitamin E regularly to help prevent heart disease, is this true?

A: Fortunately we have just finished a large medical literature review (over 60 research articles read) to look at nutritional components that may affect heart disease.

The current available evidence is insufficient to recommend the routine use of vitamin E, vitamin C, or folate supplements for the prevention of heart disease or stroke.

The evidence also argues against the use of beta-carotene for this purpose. Foods rich in these nutritional components are encouraged i.e.., fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds, whole grains, cereals and vegetable oils.

If you're looking for something you can do to help prevent heart disease which does have research support, consider weight loss. If you're more than 20% overweight a 10% weight loss can have substantial effects on decreasing heart disease risk. This is definitely worth working for!

 

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DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is to help make informed decisions about your health. It is not a substitute for the advice or treatment given by your doctor. Please consult a registered dietitian or your doctor if you have any questions about the information given on this page.