It can be alarming to learn you have high triglycerides. As your triglyceride number climbs, so does your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your doctor may suggest losing weight, exercising more, changing your diet, or starting new medications. Of all the changes you may have to make, optimizing nutrition should be your first priority. 

Recently, a client was referred to me with an extremely high triglyceride level. This client was diagnosed with familial hypertriglyceridemia or high triglycerides in part due to genetics. Several months of taking multiple lipid-lowering medications proved ineffective, so his cardiologist asked me to help him adjust his diet to lower triglycerides. 

I created a personalized eating plan with the goal of decreasing inflammation, improving insulin resistance, reducing the amount of saturated fat in his diet, and increasing his intake of soluble fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. After three months of following my plan, this client’s triglycerides went from a whopping 1311 mg/dL to 229 mg/dL with no other changes to lifestyle or medication. 

The moral of the story is that medications have their place, but nutrition is essential to lower triglycerides. Eating the right foods in the right doses, while reducing your intake of foods that drive triglycerides up is foundational to blood and heart health.

Wondering how to successfully improve your triglycerides? These are the key areas to address:

• How diet influences triglyceride levels
• Which foods and nutrients raise triglycerides and which lower them
• A list of the best foods to lower triglycerides 

Triglycerides and Your Health 

Triglycerides are a type of fat, or lipid, found in your blood. Lab work can assess your triglyceride levels and tell you where they fall on the following scale:

• Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL
• Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL 
• Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL
• High: 200 to 499 mg/dL
• Very high: Above 500 mg/dL

There are three main factors that contribute to elevated triglycerides:

1. Eating too many calories

Your body naturally produces triglycerides to store extra energy from food (i.e. calories) that it can’t use right away. Triglycerides are stored in fat cells and released when you need energy. Eating more calories than your body can use day after day can raise triglycerides to unhealthy levels.

2. High intake of unhealthy fats

Dietary fats, including butter, oils, and foods high in saturated or trans fats, are another source of triglycerides. Eating too many of these foods can also contribute to high triglycerides.

3. Genetics

Some people have genetic disorders that change how their body manufactures and breaks down fats, resulting in higher than normal triglycerides.

There’s ample evidence that elevated triglycerides are a strong independent risk factor for heart disease. High triglycerides contribute to:

• Arteriosclerosis, or hardened and thickened arteries
• Thickened blood, which increases the risk of blood clots and interferes with proper blood flow
• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to the above factors. Ischemic strokes, in particular, have been linked to high triglycerides. They’re caused when a blood clot restricts blood flow in the brain. The arterial plaque buildup that occurs with arteriosclerosis contributes to the development of blood clots.
• Pancreatitis, or an inflamed pancreas, is a painful condition that causes abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Researchers suspect high triglycerides interrupt normal blood flow to the pancreas, which injures the organ and disrupts functioning.

The good news is triglycerides are a modifiable risk factor. If your triglycerides are elevated, you can follow a heart healthy diet to lower triglycerides.

Using Diet to Lower Triglycerides 

Excess inflammation in your body and poor blood sugar control can change how your body metabolizes fats. Foods that trigger inflammation and spike blood sugar levels can also raise triglycerides. 

Foods and ingredients that raise triglycerides include:

• Alcohol
• Refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pretzels
• Saturated fats found in butter, red meat, packaged snacks, and baked goods 
• Refined Sugar 
• Trans fats found in processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils

Decreasing your intake of these foods while increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber effectively lower triglycerides. 

Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation and inhibit the production of triglycerides in the liver. Researchers have also observed decreased fat absorption in the intestine following omega-3 supplementation.

Soluble fiber helps slow the digestion of food in your intestines, which can decrease the amount of fat and sugar you absorb from food resulting in lower triglycerides and more stable blood sugar levels.

The 10 Best Foods to Lower Triglycerides 

Here are the best triglyceride lowering foods.

1. Salmon 

Salmon is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found eating fatty fish like salmon several times a week successfully reduces triglycerides, as well as lowers LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol. Other omega-3 rich fatty fish to try include sardines, rainbow trout, herring, mackerel, and sardines.

2. Avocado

Avocados are a good source of both soluble fiber and monounsaturated fats, both of which can improve triglyceride numbers. Swapping a serving of avocado for carbohydrates and/or saturated fat has been found to lower triglycerides.

Try mashed avocado with veggies, spread on whole grain toast with heart healthy lean protein, or add sliced avocado to salads.

3. Lentils 

Lentils are a fiber-rich food. Just half a cup of cooked lentils contains 8 grams of fiber, which can help slow digestion and absorption of sugar and fat from your meals. Without adequate fiber, absorption of sugar and fat occurs more rapidly and high intakes of these nutrients contribute to high triglycerides. Swap lentils for pasta in soup, add to salads, or cook with veggies and herbs for a savory side dish.

4. Blueberries 

Blueberries, as well as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, are low-sugar fruits. They’re good sources of fiber and antioxidants, which also play an important role in regulating inflammation. Researchers also credit phytochemicals in berries and other plant foods with supporting normal lipid metabolism to promote healthy triglyceride levels.

5. Broccoli 

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage, kale, and cauliflower, contain fiber and compounds called glucosinolates, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Systemic inflammation is linked to increased triglycerides, so eating more antioxidant-rich foods can help regulate inflammation and support triglyceride levels.

6. Oats 

Consumption of whole grains, like oats, in place of refined carbohydrates is associated with reductions in triglycerides. Oats and other whole grains are good sources of soluble fiber, which slows digestive transit time and can lower the amount of sugar and fat you absorb from food.

7. Olive oil 

Olive oil is a healthy oil full of monounsaturated fat. Studies have found replacing carbohydrates and/or saturated fat with monounsaturated fat can lower triglycerides. Use it to replace butter, coconut oil, and other saturated fats, ideally off the heat.

8. Spinach

Like berries and cruciferous vegetables, spinach contains antioxidants and phytochemicals that regulate inflammation and support heart health. One such compound is alpha lipoic acid, which has been found to benefit triglyceride levels. 

9. Tofu

Tofu and other soy products, like edamame and tempeh, are considered a triglyceride lowering food thanks to their isoflavone content. Isoflavones are a type of phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that support normal lipid metabolism.

10. Walnuts

Walnuts contain fiber and antioxidants and are a good source of unsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found regular walnut consumption is associated with lower levels of triglycerides.

Takeaway 

Knowing your triglyceride number is an essential part of caring for your heart. If your triglycerides are high, taking steps to help bring them down can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Alcohol, refined carbohydrates, sweets, and foods that contain excess saturated or trans fat can increase triglycerides. Fiber-rich foods and sources of healthy, unsaturated fats or omega-3 fats are proven to improve triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

However, it may not be enough to just add triglyceride lowering foods into your diet. Optimizing your food intake for your individualized needs is the key to success. 

A cardiovascular dietitian can help you pinpoint which diet and lifestyle factors may be driving your triglycerides up and work with you to create a plan that includes more triglyceride lowering foods in therapeutic doses tailored to your unique needs.

If you’re ready to improve your nutrition with personalized science, lower triglyceride numbers, and reduce your risk of heart disease, I’m here to help. Use this link to schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to discuss further.

References

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