Health
Nutrition
Diabetes
Medicine
Carbohydrates
Heart health
Cholesterol
Metabolic health
Triglycerides
The strongest predictor of heart health is not your LDL or total cholesterol
The ratio of your triglycerides to your HDL is much better
It’s an excellent predictor of overall metabolic health too!
Both can typically be found in routine lab work
Here's where you want to be...
The ratio of your triglycerides to your HDL is much better
It’s an excellent predictor of overall metabolic health too!
Both can typically be found in routine lab work
Here's where you want to be...
As you have probably heard, LDL is considered the "bad cholesterol".
And HDL is considered the "good cholesterol".
Your triglycerides are elevated when you consume more refined sugars and processed carbs.
Triglycerides are 3 fatty acids held together by a carbohydrate.
And HDL is considered the "good cholesterol".
Your triglycerides are elevated when you consume more refined sugars and processed carbs.
Triglycerides are 3 fatty acids held together by a carbohydrate.
Triglyceride levels (mg/dL):
•under 150- normal
•150-199- borderline high
•200-499- high
•500+ is extremely high
If they are routinely elevated, chances are you're prediabetic or diabetic.
•under 150- normal
•150-199- borderline high
•200-499- high
•500+ is extremely high
If they are routinely elevated, chances are you're prediabetic or diabetic.
HDL is a transport molecule that takes cholesterol to your liver, to be processed for energy.
The more readily your body can do this, the better the metabolic health.
This is why a higher HDL level is associated with lower heart disease risk.
The more readily your body can do this, the better the metabolic health.
This is why a higher HDL level is associated with lower heart disease risk.
HDL levels (mg/dL):
Men-
•Less than 40 (1.0 mmol/L) at risk
•60 or above (1.5 mmol/L) is desirable
•80 or above (2.0 mmol/L) is optimal
Women-
•Less than 50 (1.3 mmol/L) at risk
•60 or above (1.5 mmol/L) is desirable
•80 or above (2.0 mmol/L) is optimal
Men-
•Less than 40 (1.0 mmol/L) at risk
•60 or above (1.5 mmol/L) is desirable
•80 or above (2.0 mmol/L) is optimal
Women-
•Less than 50 (1.3 mmol/L) at risk
•60 or above (1.5 mmol/L) is desirable
•80 or above (2.0 mmol/L) is optimal
Here's how to calculate your ratio:
Whatever your triglyceride number is on your lab work, take that number.
Then divide it by your HDL number.
That final number is your triglyceride to HDL ratio.
Here are the ranges of where you should fall...
Whatever your triglyceride number is on your lab work, take that number.
Then divide it by your HDL number.
That final number is your triglyceride to HDL ratio.
Here are the ranges of where you should fall...
In US (mg/dL):
•0.8 to 1.2 is optimal
•less than 2 is ideal
•above 4 is too high
If above 4, there is a high probability of a cardiovascular event (heart attack) in the future
In Europe (mmol/L):
•0.35 to .52 is optimal
•less than .87 is ideal
•above 1.74 is too high
•0.8 to 1.2 is optimal
•less than 2 is ideal
•above 4 is too high
If above 4, there is a high probability of a cardiovascular event (heart attack) in the future
In Europe (mmol/L):
•0.35 to .52 is optimal
•less than .87 is ideal
•above 1.74 is too high
If your ratio is not where you want it to be, what should you do?
•Lose weight
•Eat a low-carb diet
•Consume more healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, avocados, animal fats)
•Exercise
•Consider taking a good quality Omega 3 supplement
•Consider taking niacin
•Lose weight
•Eat a low-carb diet
•Consume more healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, avocados, animal fats)
•Exercise
•Consider taking a good quality Omega 3 supplement
•Consider taking niacin
The below Omega 3 is what I personally take daily & is one that I also regularly use with my patients
I use it for 3 main reasons:
•Very high quality
•Therapeutic dosage in 2 capsules
•GREAT value for dosage
I use it for 3 main reasons:
•Very high quality
•Therapeutic dosage in 2 capsules
•GREAT value for dosage
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, here’s what I utilize with patients as it has sufficient levels of both DHA and EPA (most vegan capsules don’t have any EPA, or very little EPA).
us.fullscript.com
us.fullscript.com
If you would like to learn more, this video by Dr. Paul Mason does a great job of breaking down the details of VLDL, IDL, LDL & HDL in a simplistic and understandable way.
He then ties in triglycerides at the end
youtube.com
He then ties in triglycerides at the end
youtube.com
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