- Avoid red meats, processed meats and fatty meats such as beef, pork, bacon and lamb. Instead, eat lean white meat such as poultry and fish, but limit the portions to 6 oz. per day.
- Fatty fish that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are an essential part of a diet for high triglycerides. This includes albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, trout, salmon and sardines. The omega-3 acids will help bring down your triglyceride levels.
- Avoid dairy foods that contain whole milk or cream. Instead, choose low-fat or fat-free versions.
- Reduce dietary cholesterol by eating foods that are low in cholesterol such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid cholesterol rich foods such as organ meats. Limit your egg yolk intake to 3 per week.
- Stop snacking. If you must, then choose low-fat snacks such as popcorn, dried fruits and fresh fruits rather than candy and potato chips. Avoid sugary foods and drinks.
- Check your food labels to ensure that they are low in sodium, saturated fats and have zero trans-fats.
- Avoid frying your food. Instead, you can boil, bake, roast, steam or stew your food.
- Use canola, olive, safflower, corn and soybean oils instead of oils like palm and coconut that are rich in saturated fats.
- Increase your intake of dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates by increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and legumes.
- Eat more water soluble fiber from foods such as oat bran and fruits. This type of fiber when eaten along with a low-fat diet is very effective in lowering cholesterol levels.
- Nuts are said to be beneficial to cardiac health and are also a good source of protein. The downside is that they have high calorie content and should therefore be eaten in limit.
- Salt intake should be curtailed as it can lead to hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Alcohol intake should be limited or avoided altogether.
If you are a smoker then you should quit at once.
If after three months of incorporating these changes into your diet and lifestyle your cholesterol and triglyceride levels do not come down, then you should consult your doctor about additional measures that you can take including medication.
Reference:
answered by A S