My story...

I’m so bummed out. I recently had some blood samples drawn (a heparin and a serum) for a class. We are supposed to analyze our blood for various nutrients through out the semester and I was very shocked with what I found. I spun down the heparin and found it to be seriously lipemic. I’m not talking a little bit hazy/cloudy but full on milky and thick, like I just stopped by McD’s. First thought was that maybe I somehow lysed the cells by accident because I forgot to balance the centrifuge so it was rocky for a few seconds. Then I though maybe I had too much oil in the salad I just ate (which had some egg in it). My plasma was so out of sorts that I had to chuck it because I couldn’t work with it!

The following morning I went back to school and had a fasting sample drawn. Hazy again but not as bad. I had a panic attack. Two weeks later (today) I had a third set drawn, I spun it down and it’s still cloudy but not thick. My diet for the last two weeks has been devoid of all starch/refined sugars and heavy dairy. I’ve been munching on whole foods only. So wtf? Fortunately, I am able to work with the plasma I have and thus far I’ve done my iron and vitamin C. My iron 1.6 was the best amongst all the females in my class (who all showed slight anemia and they are meat eaters). My C was at saturation. If anything I expected my iron to be off for obvious reasons and I started smoking again this semester (quitting again this week) so I expected my C to be off as well but it wasn’t.

I’m going to go see my doctor and get a full lipid work up. I know that vegetarians are at risk for high triglycerides and all but I really didn’t expect this because I’ve been staying away from breads and pasta for quite some time.

Also, I have bad genes for the whole lipid scenario. I pretty much refuse to go on medication so I’m wondering if any of you can recommend something natural for me to get this under control.

Thanks in advance.:cry:

Gaya, I have a lot of recent info on this. I am VERY busy this week, but I will go through my notes early next week and come up with some suggestions for you.

Thanks molly, when ever you have the time I'd appreciate it.

I also wanted to add that this whole thing has an upside. i've been exercising every day since it started and i've lost five pounds!

Thanks molly, when ever you have the time I'd appreciate it.

I also wanted to add that this whole thing has an upside. i've been exercising every day since it started and i've lost five pounds!
This can have a genetic component. I seem to have inherited it from my mother. When my doc suggested that I cut back on dietary cholesterol, I explained to him why that was pretty much impossible :) He said that my triglyceride/HDL/LDL levels were consistent with a family history of diabetes -- which I have on my dad's side. Do you? If you don't know, ask your relatives before you go in to the doc -- it would be good data for him/her to have.

My grandmother is a diabetetic but didn't develop diabetes till she was in her 70-80's. She's had a few heart attacks (in her 80's). My mother has high chol, TG etc. So as I said earlier I have bad genes.

I had blood drawn a year or two ago and I don't know why this never came up unless i developed it recently. I wonder if it has anything to do with my weight gain. I was always very thin until college and put on an extra 25 lbs. Or I wonder if lack of activity (compared to the past) might be contributing.

Might be genetic, or a side effect of certain medications.

I have high triglycerides as well, and I'm a vegan on a low fat diet! :( Sometimes, diet doesn't matter.

Might be genetic, or a side effect of certain medications.

I have high triglycerides as well, and I'm a vegan on a low fat diet! :( Sometimes, diet doesn't matter.
do you stay away from breads, rice, pasta etc?

Just bumping this hoping someone will have an idea of how to lower TG naturally.

I found this on the web

There are various ways to lower triglycerides levels, such as limiting or cutting out on smoking, avoiding high fat food such as red meat, organ meat, fried foods, high fat dairy products and a high sugar diet, or by exercising regularly. However, these require a lot of discipline and unfortunately, that's something that many of us lack.

But you can start lowering triglycerides levels and cholesterol by taking supplements. There are definite scientific proofs that they work in lowering triglycerides and cholesterol. For example, you can take garlic supplements, niacin (Vitamin B3), fish oil, fiber supplement, policosanol, guggulipid etc.

I know that i need to exercise more. I have been all semester but not as much as i should. I have cut back on sugars and complex carbs a great deal. I will start the garlic supplements and force myself to take daily b vitamin.

I'll draw a blood sample at the end of November and let you all know if this actually works. ***fingers crossed***