Finding meals to lower triglycerides can save your life, particularly if you are at risk of high cholesterol or have a history or heart health issues in your family. Triglycerides are unused calories which are stored as fat in your blood cells, and can be released throughout the day to be used as energy. Unfortunately, in this day and age, many people eat for pleasure rather than for nourishment, and much of this fuel goes unused, resulting in obesity, high cholesterol, and heart problems.
By focusing on foods that can help reduce your triglycerides, you can feel full without feeling nervous that you are ruining your body with a poor diet. It also helps to exercise regularly to burn off that stored energy and fat, but if you can't get to the gym every day, try these lunch ideas to keep your work day a little healthier.
The Keep It Simple Salad:
Sure, protein is an important building block of the body, but you have to be careful that you aren't loading up on foods that are full of LDL cholesterol. To make meals to lower triglycerides, lunch should include some leafy greens, crisp flavorful veg, and if you want to add protein, keep it lean. Try this simple salad recipe for something that adds zest, crunch, and a little bit of sweetness without a load of sugar.
Wash and cut one head of romaine lettuce; you may need to peel away a few outer leaves to guarantee a fresh salad. Cut off one third of a large English Cucumber, and slice it down the middle before dicing so that each piece is half of a full circle of cucumber. Toss the lettuce and cucumber into a large salad bowl and begin peeling a red onion. The onion will need to be sliced into very thin rounds, so that each layer can be popped into the bowl in a single thin circle. Grate one fresh peeled carrot and gently mix in. This salad goes wonderfully with an Asian sesame seed style dressing, and can be garnished with slices of red and green pepper for a burst or added flavor.
Reinventing The Sandwich:
Bread, cheese, meat, and tomato or lettuce have long been the epitome of the sandwich in most lunch boxes across North America. This is not going to work on a list of meals to lower triglycerides. One thing that you can do to keep this convenient lunch in your weekday lineup, however, is to replace some of the ingredients with healthier choices.
To make a heart healthy sandwich, start with whole wheat pita. This round pocket may not look like much in the beginning, but it can be packed with some pretty fresh ingredients. If you are longing for protein, an organic thin sliced turkey with no additives or fillers can be quite tasty, while water packed light tuna can also offer some substance.
The key to making this pita more than a pita is to think outside of the box. So whether you choose to add protein or not, you can still start your creation with some thin sliced red and yellow peppers, a handful of washed and paper towel dried bean sprouts, two tablespoons of finely diced walnuts or almonds for crunch, and a hand full of baby spinach. You will not be disappointed.