triglycerides, cholesterol, heart attack.

From: http://drsears.com/tabId/399/itemId/8944/High-triglycerides.aspx

High triglycerides

Last Updated Aug 2007

Q: My husband has just received the results of a blood test showing very high triglyceride levels (1400) and cholesterol (260). His physician is recommending a low-fat diet. Do you think this is the best course to take, or would he be better off using a Zone-type program?

Thanks,
Kim

A: Dear Kim,

Considering his excess triglycerides, the Zone Diet would be the ideal diet for your father. I would suggest adding extra fish oil (about 4 grams per day), and within four weeks you should see dramatic reductions in the triglycerides and total cholesterol. More importantly, the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol, which is presently exceptionally high, will drop thus decreasing the likelihood of a myocardial infarction for your father. That last statement comes from research done by Harvard Medical School indicating that the trigylceride to HDL cholesterol ratio is the most predictive blood indicator of a potential heart attack. The lower the ratio, the lower the likelihood of a heart attack.

Dr. Sears