“Doctor, why is it that after eating garlic for three months, my blood lipids not only did not decrease but instead increased a bit?”
Uncle Zhao, who is 50 years old this year, is usually in good health. However, a couple of days ago during a check-up, he found that his blood lipids were slightly high, with a triglyceride level of 2.8mmol/L. Once back home, Uncle Zhao started looking for ways to lower his triglycerides. By chance, he came across some opinions online claiming that regularly consuming garlic can help lower blood lipids. So, Uncle Zhao began eating garlic every day.
Unknowingly, three months passed, and to understand his blood lipid situation, Uncle Zhao went back to the hospital for a recheck. After the outpatient doctor inquired about Uncle Zhao’s concerns, blood lipid tests were conducted. Upon receiving the results, it was found that the triglycerides were at 3.1mmol/L, not only not lowered but slightly increased. Upon learning this, Uncle Zhao was puzzled, hence he asked the initial question.
After hearing Uncle Zhao’s question, the outpatient doctor explained: to effectively control blood lipids, comprehensive measures need to be taken; simply consuming garlic to lower blood lipids is not very reliable.
Why did Uncle Zhao’s blood lipids increase instead of decrease after eating garlic for three months? In order to provide more insight and understanding on hyperlipidemia, today’s medical advice will discuss related knowledge. 1. Why did Uncle Zhao’s blood lipids increase instead of decrease after three months of consuming garlic?
Before answering this question, we need to first determine if garlic indeed has the effect of lowering blood lipids.
There are many online articles on “garlic lowering blood lipids,” and its lipid-lowering mechanism can be summarized in three points: promoting the conversion between lipoproteins, inhibiting the absorption of fats in the gastrointestinal tract, and reducing the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
At the same time, garlic contains relatively low fat, so eating garlic regularly can reduce the intake of other foods, thus benefiting the stability of blood lipids.
Although the above theories sound reasonable, there is currently no conclusive evidence proving that garlic significantly lowers blood lipids.
Moreover, even if garlic does contain components that can lower blood lipids, due to their low content, they do not have a significant impact on reducing blood lipids. Therefore, relying on long-term consumption of garlic to lower blood lipids is not very reliable.
Later, upon careful investigation, it was found that after Uncle Zhao ate garlic for three months, he often experienced bloating and acid reflux symptoms, possibly due to the damage caused by consuming raw garlic to the gastric mucosa.
Furthermore, Uncle Zhao does not engage in much physical exercise and enjoys drinking alcohol. As we all know, alcohol has a high energy content, and high-proof alcohol can even be ignited. If one frequently consumes alcohol and has low physical activity, the excess calories will be converted into stored fat in the body, making it easy to develop hyperlipidemia.
Overall, garlic does not have a significant effect in lowering blood lipids, and since Uncle Zhao has low physical activity and enjoys drinking alcohol, it is not surprising that his blood lipids increased instead of decreasing after consuming garlic for three months.
2. To effectively control blood lipids, comprehensive measures should be taken:
❶ Pay attention to dietary habits:
For patients with hyperlipidemia, the diet should primarily include low fat, low sugar, high fiber, and low-calorie foods.
The daily intake of fats should be limited to within 25-30g, try to consume fewer or no sweets or desserts, avoid or minimize consumption of high-calorie foods, and increase the intake of vegetables and fruits.
Although some people may prefer a bland diet, if they enjoy consuming high-sugar foods, their blood lipid control may not be effective. High-sugar foods cause high blood sugar levels after consumption.
In order to lower blood sugar, the body secretes a lot of insulin, and the mechanism by which insulin lowers blood sugar is by converting sugars into fats. With an increased amount of fat in the body, it is easier to develop hyperlipidemia. Therefore, for those with hyperlipidemia, it is crucial to control the intake of sugars.
Additionally, when preparing food, it is advisable to opt for steaming, boiling, stewing, or braising cooking methods, and avoid frying or deep-frying.
❷ Maintain regular exercise:
As the saying goes, life lies in motion, and this statement is indeed reasonable. Exercise not only enhances physical fitness but also increases energy consumption, which is undoubtedly beneficial for controlling blood lipids.
However, it is important to note that exercise must be long-term and consistent to have significant effects. Aerobic exercises, such as walking, brisk walking, jogging, and gymnastics, can be chosen. For middle-aged and elderly friends, walking is safer and easier to maintain, making it a preferred exercise method for them.
The duration of each exercise session should be around 30 minutes, with a minimum of 5 exercise sessions per week. The exercise intensity should not be excessive, aiming to avoid feeling fatigued the next day.
❸ Maintain weight within the normal range:
Currently, there are still a considerable number of obese individuals, and obesity itself is a high-risk factor for hyperlipidemia. Therefore, to effectively control blood lipids, it is necessary to first control body weight. #HealthyStarPlan#
The key to controlling weight lies in controlling the intake of sugars! Some friends may not agree with this statement, but let me explain slowly. The human body contains three major nutrients, such as sugars, fats, and proteins. The order of energy consumption is sugars, fats, and proteins. If we do not control sugar intake, it is difficult to expend fat. How easy is it to lose weight then?
Common sugars mainly include rice, noodles, sweet potatoes, yams, beverages, most snacks, high-sugar fruits, bananas, porridge, etc. To meet weight control standards, the consumption of these foods needs to be limited. #Health2022#
Some friends may wonder what they can eat if they do not consume staple foods? In fact, there are many alternatives, such as eggs, carrots, tofu, fish, beef, cucumbers, spinach, celery, bean sprouts, lettuce, etc., and specific choices can be made based on personal preferences.
❹ When necessary, some lipid-lowering medications can be taken orally:
When blood lipids are relatively high, relying solely on non-pharmacological treatments may not yield significant results; in such cases, under the guidance of a professional doctor, certain lipid-lowering medications can be used. #HealthScienceCompetition#
Many friends believe that “medicine is three parts poison,” but compared to the dangers of hyperlipidemia, the adverse reactions of medications are not significant. In reality, as long as medications are taken according to the dosage instructions, most adverse reactions are relatively mild and controllable. I am a medical advisor, dedicated to sharing health knowledge in simple and understandable language to be your health assistant. If you find this helpful, please like and share with people around you who may benefit from it, helping more individuals benefit!
