Fries or fruit? Ribeye or tuna steak? Soda or water?
Every time you decide what to eat, you either increase or decrease your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. Let that inspire you to choose triglyceride-friendly meals.
Triglycerides and How to Lower Them
Good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, saturated fat, and unsaturated fat -- sometimes it seems like you need a program to keep track of all the fat players in the story of heart disease. In some ways, triglycerides are the easiest to understand. Simply put, triglycerides are fat in the blood and are used to provide energy to the body. If you have extra triglycerides, they are stored in different places in case they are needed later. High triglyceride levels have been linked to a greater chance for...
“Changing the diet can have dramatic effects on triglyceride levels,” says Robert Bonow, MD, former president of the American Heart Association and professor of Medicine at Northwestern University. In fact, a healthy diet -- plus exercise and weight loss if you’re overweight -- can cut your triglyceride levels by 20% to 50%.
The meals below can help lower your triglycerides. You may need to adjust portion sizes to meet your calorie level.
Breakfasts That Protect Your Heart
Start the day off with healthy decisions. Choose one of these delicious breakfasts.
Cereal & Berry Bowl
1 cup 1% or skim milk
1/2 cup oatmeal with 1-2 Tbsp of chopped walnuts
Or 1 serving of cold cereal, with 5 or more grams of fiber and 8 or less grams of sugar
1 cup raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries on top
Egg Sandwich
1 whole egg, 2 egg whites, or 1/4 cup egg substitutes
1 cup or more of diced tomatoes, spinach leaves, minced onion, and mushrooms
1 tsp trans-fat-free margarine or a small amount of olive oil
2 slices whole wheat toast
1 orange in sections or 1/4 cantaloupe on the side
Yogurt Parfait
1 cup low-fat or nonfat yogurt
1 cup high-fiber cereal
1 sliced banana, 1 cup mango, or 1 peach
A small handful of almonds on top
Salmon Bagel
1 whole-grain bagel
1 oz sliced smoked salmon
1 Tbsp low-fat or nonfat cream cheese
Capers or fresh dill
1 cup melon cubes with any type of berry on the side
Lunches to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack
Here are some flavorful lunches you can pack, and a few you may even be able to buy.
Soup & Salad
1 cup vegetable, black bean, or lentil soup (or any low-fat or vegetarian soup)
5 whole-wheat crackers
2 cups salad made with dark greens, like spinach, mixed greens, or radicchio
1 cup of any combo of colorful, chopped veggies: broccoli, carrots, red bell peppers, sugar snap peas, snow peas, tomatoes
1 cup fruits: apples, grapes, kumquats, pears
1 Tbsp salad dressing made with olive oil or canola oil (or nonfat dressings)
Sandwich With Double Crunch
2 slices whole-wheat bread or 1 hamburger bun
2 oz tuna
1 Tbsp low-fat mayonnaise
Minced onion
Dill pickle relish or sugar-free sweet pickle relish
Top with thin slices of apple or pear for crunch (1 medium piece of fruit)
Add this crunchy side:
Finger Salad
1 cup veggies like baby carrots, grape tomatoes, and red pepper strips mixed with fruit such as apple, grapes, or pear (with peel)
Chinese Delight
1 cup veggie stir-fry with 2 oz shrimp, chicken, or tofu (request olive or vegetable oil)
1/2 cup whole-wheat pasta or rice (brown or wild)
1 cup pineapple chunks
A Friendlier “Burger”
2 oz grilled chicken breast on whole-grain sandwich (with 1 Tbsp low-fat or nonfat mayo)
1 cup side salad
1 piece of fresh fruit
source : Triglyceride-Friendly Meals
