Vegan Cooking & Cookbooks discussion

Hey all...long time no chat I know. I have been so overwhelmed lately. I am guilty of taking on too much. Happy New Year!

I need some advice. As you know, hubs and I started the vegan diet for health. He had high cholesterol and high blood sugar.

So he had his 6 month blood test and although is cholesterol is GREAT! His triglycerides are very elevated. Last time they were 193 which is ok although webmd said optimal is below 149. But NOW is triglycerides at 296! Since we became vegan they went up 100 points. We are waiting to hear from his doctor, as the lab tech called in the results. I researched a little and found that this an increase is usually do to execessive carbs, sugars, alcohol and lack of exercise.

We are guilty on the lack of exercise but I am worried because although the holidays were a little heavy-handed witht he sweets, we have given up white flour, sugar, bread, etc in the new year. Our alcohol level is minimal to a couple of glasses of red wine a week.

But the lab tech told my husband to lay off the carbs which I laughed and said, well the majority of what we eat is carbs. Granted they are complex carbs but they are carbs. We don't eat a lot of simple carbs.

So I am so nervous and worried because I read that triglyceride fat is the fat that builds up in artery walls and causes blockages and heart attacks and strokes. My husband is 53 years old and this scares the hell out of me.

Starting tomorrow we are back to our workout routines. We used to be very physically fit but got lazy in the past years.

Does anyone know about or have high triglycerides? Have you decreased them without meds?

Any advice is so greatly appreciated. And would help calm my nerves.
(I am much younger than my husband and I want to keep him around, happy and healthy for a very long time)

Thank you so much

Farrah

I know sugary foods recently elevate triglycerides. Even fruits can do that. I'll ask Ginny if she has any advice. So much is genetic with these levels, but since his have actually gone up significantly...something is going on.

Thanks. Yeah I have been doing more research and his doctor said that although they are elevated, it is probably because of the switch in diet and lack of exercise. Just like when people go to the Atkins diet their cholesterol numbers go haywire, the vegan diet causes triglycerides to spike as does a low fat diet because there is usually an increase in carbs and sugar.

Hi all,

I agree with the other comments here about refined carbs affecting triglycerides. But there is also some research showing that low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, even when the carbs come from whole plant foods, can elevate triglycerides. So I caution against avoiding all sources of fat in a vegan diet.

But overall, exercise should help a lot, and maybe cutting back on fruit, too.

Thanks, Ginny!

Thank you. We have started exercising and watching fruits and more of the "sugary" veggies. I will keep you posted.

Farrah wrote: "Thank you. We have started exercising and watching fruits and more of the "sugary" veggies. I will keep you posted."

Farrah, I hope his levels improve. Yes, thanks for keeping us posted.

I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, but I do know that my dad had very high triglycerides and was on meds for them. He adopted a (mostly) vegan diet in August and within a few months was able to drastically reduce his meds and I think they are hoping he will go off them eventually. The doctors are very impressed. He doesn't specifically do "work outs", but he does walk and is very active in his volunteer work with building. Best of luck with your situation, Farrah!

Kathryn, this is good news about your dad and the improvements in his triglycerides after switching to a mostly vegan diet.

Farrah, has your husband had his triglycerides checked recently, are the numbers improving?

Once in awhile I go on a sugar binge and eat way too much cupcakes or cookies, all in one sitting. It's good to hear about the effect this may have on triglycerides. Perhaps it will help prevent me from going on another sugar binge in the future ! (Although I may be helpless when the urge strikes !!) (I have a serious sugar addiction ... :( I do usually keep it under control, but am not always successful.)