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For years, I struggled with high triglycerides, and tried a popular drug to control it.  And other things too.  After two years of taking niacin, a prescription drug (tricor), increasing my activity level somewhat, and lowering the triglycerides to 344 mg/l from 462, I finally took the plunge to a low carb lifestyle on March 11, 2009.  My doctor had said that reducing carbs was often very successful in lowering triglycerides.  So I went to bookstore and purchased “Protein Power” by Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades:

Protein Power: The High-Protein/Low-Carbohydrate Way to Lose Weight, Feel Fit, and Boost Your Health–in Just Weeks!

I’m a skeptical person, but I decided to try the plan.  By April 29th, the test results came back.  Triglycerides fell from 344 mg/dL to an acceptable 106 mg/dL, under the target of “150 or less”. After that initial test, they rose back to the mid-140s, in the acceptable range. HDL cholesterol had a slight improvement from 20 mg/dL to 29 (the healthy range starts at 40, so I have a way to go here with the level as of 6/12/2010 at 34.) My test results are in the table below. As I have transitioned from ultra-low carb to 30 – 45 grams per day, my triglycerides have risen a bit. But I’m in maintenance mode now, and I’m happy with the numbers.

My concern about total cholesterol rising with all the fat-rich foods such as eggs and meat was validated at least in part, with a rise from 136 mg/dL to 194 … but that’s still well within the 125 – 200 mg/dL range considered healthy.

Test Results

I didn’t start the diet to lose weight … but I am losing.  I fit the profile of someone with “metabolic syndrome”, middle-aged, overweight, with high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, and weighed in at 248 pounds when I started the diet.  At just 5′ 10″ tall, that’s quite a bit of weight.  As of this writing, I’m at 220 pounds 203 pounds, closer to my goal of 190 than I am to my former weight. 

There have been some other unexpected benefits. I have had acid reflux (GURD) for the past 10 years, and have been taking Prilosec since before it was over the counter. I have also had persistent bleeding from hemorrhoids, even with a high fiber (and high carb) diet. The bleeding stopped first, and now I’ve been off the Prilosec for three weeks. I’m sleeping much better now, and don’t have the mid-afternoon lethargy that had me nibbling carb-loaded snacks to stay awake on my commute home.

A couple of caveats are in order, I think. I’m doing this under a doctor’s care, and I’m being careful to follow the recommendations in Protein Power as closely as possible. The people I have talked to who have had bad experiences on low carb diets with symptoms including leg cramps, constipation, fatigue, etc. didn’t follow all the recommendations. Omit the potassium in the early stages and you could get leg cramps. Without enough fiber, you get constipated, so pay attention to getting enough through broccoli (I like it raw in salads), and other high-fiber, low carb foods. And get enough protein so you lose only fat, not muscle (the book has an easy way to calculate your body fat percentage, your corresponding lean body mass, and the amount of protein you need).