Triglycerides Simplified – Naturally

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High triglycerides and high cholesterol levels can be dangerous. Left unchecked, they may lead to heart attacks and strokes. While we do need healthy levels of both to survive, excess levels pose serious health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, liver failure, and Alzheimer’s.

It might seem like a good idea to take prescription drugs to lower triglycerides as much as possible—but not so fast. Our body actually needs triglycerides. While often vilified, triglycerides perform critical functions that support overall health.

What Are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are fats stored in the liver for future energy use. When we consume more calories than needed, those extra calories are stored as fat in the form of triglycerides, ready to be used when energy is low.

Functions of Triglycerides

  • Insulation and Protection: Fatty tissue under the skin helps regulate body temperature and cushions organs from trauma.
  • Vitamin Absorption: Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K rely on triglycerides to enter the bloodstream.
  • Cellular Support: Triglycerides help form cell membranes, maintaining cellular integrity and function.

What Causes High Triglycerides?

Normal triglyceride levels are under 150 mg/dL. Levels over 200 mg/dL are considered high. Several conditions can contribute to elevated triglycerides:

  • Underactive Thyroid: Slow metabolism leads to fat storage.
  • Poorly Managed Type 2 Diabetes: Insulin resistance prevents fat breakdown.
  • Kidney Disease: Impaired clearance of triglycerides from the bloodstream.
  • Excess Alcohol: Overburdens the liver and increases fat in the blood.
  • Metabolic Syndrome: A cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.
  • Medications: Including contraceptives, diuretics, antipsychotics, and corticosteroids.

Health Risks from High Triglycerides

  • Acute Pancreatitis: Especially in heavy alcohol consumers.
  • Heart Attack and Stroke: Caused by arterial blockages from excess blood fat.
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Fat accumulation replaces healthy liver tissue.
  • Peripheral Artery Disease: Reduced blood flow causes limb pain and numbness.
  • Eye Disorders: Such as lipemia retinalis—fat buildup in ocular blood vessels.
  • Alzheimer’s Risk: High triglyceride levels at midlife are associated with increased Aβ and tau proteins.

How to Lower Triglycerides Naturally

Doctors often prescribe statins for high triglycerides, but these drugs come with risks including muscle pain, memory loss, and links to Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer. Fortunately, there are natural ways to balance triglycerides without harmful side effects.

  • Lose 5% of Body Weight: Even small weight loss can reduce triglyceride levels.
  • Cut Sugar: Excess sugar is a direct contributor to high triglycerides—even in children.
  • Reduce Carbs: Lower carbohydrate intake significantly lowers triglyceride levels—more effectively than low-fat diets.
  • Increase Fiber: Fiber helps reduce fat and sugar absorption. Maz-Mix offers fiber and omega-3 benefits.
  • Eat Fatty Fish: Salmon and sardines are rich in omega-3s that lower triglycerides. Aim for two servings weekly.
  • Limit Alcohol: Alcohol, even in moderation, can raise triglyceride levels.
  • Exercise Regularly: Physical activity raises HDL (“good” cholesterol), which helps reduce triglycerides. Walking, biking, or swimming are excellent options.

In conclusion, triglycerides are essential for your health, but only in balanced amounts. With natural lifestyle changes—focusing on weight management, a clean diet, and regular movement—you can manage your triglyceride levels effectively, avoid medication side effects, and protect your heart, brain, and liver for years to come.

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Lower LDL Cholesterol – Naturally

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LDL (low-density lipoproteins) is often called “the bad” cholesterol because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. But what should your LDL level be?

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level LDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100–129 mg/dL Near optimal
130–159 mg/dL Borderline high
160–189 mg/dL High

LDL is the storage system of cholesterol. This is the cholesterol preferred for deposition when insulin levels rise. As you accumulate risk factors, 100 mg/dL or below is best—especially if you have documented heart history, vascular disease, or diabetes.

How can you lower your LDL cholesterol besides just using drugs?

A healthy lifestyle positively impacts your cholesterol profile regardless of the particle type. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight control all contribute to lowering LDL.

The only thing that helps raise HDL but not lower LDL is alcohol consumption. Alcohol may even increase LDL due to the sugars it contains, which stimulate insulin release.

Myth: Many people believe that to lower LDL, they should reduce cholesterol or fat in their diet. Reducing saturated and trans fats helps, but it’s more important to cut back on simple and processed carbohydrates and starchy foods such as bagels, white rice, cakes, cookies, chips, candy, and potatoes.

The worst cholesterol profiles are linked to highly processed carb diets. These carbs are digested quickly, spike blood sugar, and trigger insulin—a storage hormone that increases LDL levels.

Fiber and plant sterols are important for controlling LDL levels. Every time you eat, your liver and gallbladder release cholesterol-rich bile. If not used during digestion, bile is usually reabsorbed.

Plant sterols from vegetables, fruits, wheat germ, beans, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds can block this reabsorption. Fermented foods like Maz-Mix are high in fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, vegetable protein, and omega-3.

Plant sterols mimic bile enough to block absorption but are different enough not to be absorbed themselves. This wastes bile and leads to lower LDL. That’s why plant-based diets high in fiber and sterols tend to result in better LDL levels.

Even if your numbers don’t immediately improve, the lifestyle changes you make are still beneficial and should be continued. Most people may still need medication to reach LDL goals, but drugs are no substitute for a healthy lifestyle.

Cutting down on saturated fat is another way to lower cholesterol and protect your heart. Replace some saturated fats with:

  • Vegetable oils such as olive, sunflower, nut, and seed oils
  • Avocados, nuts, and seeds
  • Fat spreads made from vegetable oils
  • Oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, herring, and mackerel (aim for two servings a week)

We don’t lower LDL just to improve lab results—we do it to reduce heart disease risk. Avoiding cholesterol-lowering drugs may be possible if you maintain a healthy weight, eat right, stay active, and don’t smoke. These habits lower LDL and protect your heart, regardless of your lab numbers.