Lao Zhang's eyes widened early in the morning by a few red words on the physical examination report: "High cholesterol and excessive triglycerides."
He muttered in his heart: "These two words sound like two brothers, how can one deal with it if one needs to take medicine, and the other says that it is okay to adjust the diet?" With a stomach full of doubts, Lao Zhang embarked on a journey to find the answer.
Along the way, he discovered a lot of secrets about blood lipids, and it turned out that although the two brothers had similar names, their tempers were very different.
1. Is cholesterol a "silent killer" in blood vessels?
Cholesterol also has its AB side: not all cholesterol plays the role of villain, it is divided into two factions: good and evil.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as the "vascular scavenger", actively cleans the blood vessels of waste products.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), on the other hand, is the "arterial occlusion expert" who likes to make small movements on the walls of blood vessels to contribute to plaque formation.
Why do you need to take medicine if you have high cholesterol: If bad cholesterol is too high, it can easily lead to arteriosclerosis and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Pharmacological intervention can directly reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and prevent cardiovascular disease.
Medications are not a panacea: doctors will also recommend a healthy diet and regular exercise at the same time as they are prescribed, as lifestyle changes are just as important to help them work better.
2. How are triglycerides caused?
The "sweet burden" on the table
The temptation of big fish and meat: Oily braised pork and juicy steak, don't they sound mouth-watering? But the high fat behind these delicacies is one of the "masterminds" behind pushing up triglycerides.
After fat is digested and absorbed in the body, excess calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells.
Sweet traps for the sweet tooth: cakes, ice cream, chocolate, sweet tooth lovers, but also good triglycerides.
When sugar is consumed too much, the liver is busy converting these sugars into energy or fat for storage, and as a result, triglyceride levels go up.
The Invisible Contribution of Alcohol: Drinking is not good. Alcohol enters the body, and the liver prioritizes it.
At this time, the metabolism of other fats takes a back seat, so triglycerides accumulate in the blood, piling up more and more.
Keep your mouth shut and open your legs
Diet makeover: Eat less greasy and sweet and more light and green. Fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, help the body better metabolize fat and reduce triglyceride production.
Get moving, get rid of fat: Don't underestimate the power of exercise, it accelerates fat burning, improves blood circulation, and helps the body use and burn off those excess triglycerides more efficiently.
Take a walk, swim, and jump every day, and after a few months, not only the triglycerides have dropped, but the whole person has become more energetic.
After listening to the doctor's explanation, Lao Zhang suddenly realized and decided to practice it. He began his "Lipid Reversal" program: walking 10,000 steps a day, saying goodbye to his favorite fried snacks and embracing steamed fish and fresh salads.
Over the course of a few months, he lost weight and felt much better. During the re-examination, the triglycerides were successfully reduced to the normal range, and even the doctor gave a thumbs up.
As for cholesterol, although it still needs to be controlled with the help of drugs, Lao Zhang's mentality has changed, and he believes that a healthy lifestyle is the best long-term investment.
"Keep your mouth shut, open your legs, and health will naturally follow. This sentence is very suitable for regulating blood lipids. Cholesterol and triglycerides, seemingly complex medical terms, are simple philosophies of life behind them.
Lao Zhang's story tells us that in the face of the body's warnings, actively seeking knowledge and having the courage to change is the only way to health. Don't forget, sometimes, the best "remedy" is in our daily lives.
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