Source of Information
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As a member of the “three highs” family, hyperlipidemia has the most hidden onset, and many patients only realize they have complications like vascular stenosis before they notice it, making it a major hidden health killer. Many hyperlipidemia patients believe that as long as they eat less meat, avoid fatty oils, they can escape, but things are not that simple.
In 2020, 68-year-old Jiang Min, after his wife passed away and choosing not to remarry, traveled across half of China after retirement but soon fell into emptiness. Complaining of boredom every day, not wanting to make friends at a nursing home, his son found a way to enroll him in a senior university.
For convenience, his son bought him a specialized smartphone for the elderly, easy to operate, Jiang Min quickly learned to use it. But after just one month, Jiang Min noticed the once clear screen becoming blurry, thinking there was an issue with the phone’s quality, he demanded a replacement from his son. Surprisingly, the new phone had the same issue, his son took both phones, puzzled as the screens were clear. Jiang Min then realized it was his eyes that had the problem.
Thinking it was normal at almost 70 years old, Jiang Min decided to get reading glasses later, forgetting about it. On September 4th, while in the senior university’s ballroom dance class, Jiang Min, usually adept at dancing, felt a sudden sharp pain in his calf within minutes, realizing it was a cramp, he crawled to the side, massaging it for a while before recovering.
Seeing issues arising in his body, Jiang Min, unable to stay calm, took his son to the hospital. Blood biochemistry results showed Jiang Min’s triglyceride levels were as high as 8.6mmol/L, almost ten times the normal value, his blurred vision and calf cramping were likely related. Prolonged abnormal blood lipids can lead to clots, damage retinal blood vessels, affecting vision, causing vision loss or even blindness. Cramping is due to the high triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the blood, accumulating in the calf area, leading to pain due to poor blood flow.
Jiang Min’s son was surprised by the results, but Jiang Min remained calm. After further questioning by the doctor, Jiang Min confessed his indulgent diet, often consuming oily foods like pork hock and trotters. Believing that high blood lipids are not as scary as hypertension or diabetes, the doctor harshly criticized his mindset.
Rising triglyceride levels can exacerbate arterial sclerosis, leading to lipids depositing on vessel walls, forming plaques, possibly causing cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular sclerosis. Additionally, when triglyceride levels exceed 11.3mmol/L, the risk of acute pancreatitis significantly increases.
Jiang Min had never thought high blood lipids could lead to so many diseases, especially stroke, shocking him. Upon returning home, he changed his diet, limiting meat consumption and increasing vegetables and plant-based foods, aiding overall food metabolism and digestion.
After three months of medication and healthy eating, following the doctor’s instructions, Jiang Min revisited the hospital for reevaluation. Seeing the results, Jiang Min was almost in tears – his triglyceride levels had returned to normal. Though borderline normal, lowering blood lipids in just three months proved Jiang Min’s efforts were not in vain.
Subsequently, Jiang Min continued medication and healthy eating, thinking he had embarked on a healthy lifestyle, only to stumble into the abyss of illness the next moment. On November 17, 2021, upon waking up, Jiang Min felt dizzy, perhaps from lack of sleep the previous night. After hastily getting ready, he experienced a sudden piercing pain on the right side, lost consciousness, and collapsed as he opened the door, luckily being noticed by the security guard who promptly took him to the hospital.
At the hospital, Jiang Min had already fallen into a coma, with doctors performing a cranial CT scan, revealing a left basal ganglia stroke, left cerebral mid-arterial occlusion. Despite emergency thrombolytic treatment stabilizing his vital signs, he inevitably suffered consequences – paralysis on the right side, rendering him unable to care for himself for the rest of his life.
Upon awakening in the ICU, realizing he had suffered a stroke and may be paralyzed for life, Jiang Min broke down emotionally, unable to accept the outcome, crying out, “Why, why did this happen! I eat a light diet every day, consume vegetarian dishes, exercise regularly, why couldn’t I control my blood lipids and even have a stroke?”
Hearing this, the doctor too was surprised, inquiring about Jiang Min’s eating habits, specifically if he frequently consumed tofu skin, lotus root, and Chinese lettuce, foods not particularly friendly to hyperlipidemia patients? Jiang Min denied, claiming he rarely ate those three foods. The cause seemed shrouded in mystery again, but the doctor understood without identifying the culprit causing Jiang Min’s stroke, the risk of recurrence would increase, potentially resulting in more perilous complications.
The doctor persisted, reviewing the case meticulously, finally identifying the culprit causing Jiang Min’s stroke. Upon learning the truth, the doctor sighed, saying, “Although you indeed avoid fatty meats, the two vegetarian foods you eat frequently are the main culprits for your elevated blood lipids…”
Which foods can have a negative impact on blood lipid metabolism?
1. Eggplant
Eggplant is a nutritious vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals, with fiber that helps lower cholesterol, aiding in blood lipid control. However, Jiang Min’s preparation of eggplant was not the steaming-cooking method but frying, absorbent due to its porous texture, absorbing all the oil added during cooking.
Aside from eggplant, foods like onions, okra, belong to porous vegetables that easily absorb oil during cooking. Excessive use of oil during methods like deep-frying or stir-frying can significantly increase calorie intake while possibly elevating blood lipids.
Therefore, whether eggplant leads to elevated blood lipids depends on the cooking method and consumption amount. Moderate eggplant intake with healthier cooking methods like steaming or grilling can minimize excessive oil intake, reducing adverse effects on blood lipids.
2. Chinese Yam
Chinese yam, a medicinal food, contains abundant nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and various trace elements, offering multiple health benefits such as tonifying spleen, nourishing lungs, and replenishing kidneys. However, for hyperlipidemia patients, whether eating Chinese yam can cause elevated blood lipids needs careful consideration.
On one hand, the mucoprotein and trace elements in Chinese yam enhance immunity, antioxidative capacity, protecting the cardiovascular system from damage by internal free radicals. On the other hand, excess starch in Chinese yam may accumulate in the body, converting to fat, resulting in elevated blood lipids and hindering recovery. Therefore, hyperlipidemia patients can consume Chinese yam in moderation, avoiding excessive intake, and employing healthy cooking methods.
(Note: “68-year-old avoids fatty meat, triglycerides 8.6, chief: 2 vegetarian causes high blood lipids, strange”, names are pseudonyms, some images are sourced online; no reproduction or plagiarism of this article is allowed)
