In the beginning -- July 2017
From the beginning of our relationship, eating together at home as been a bit of a challenge. Going out to eat, we can always find something on a menu, among a plethora of offerings, but at home ... he grew up a carnivore with food texture issues. Me, I was taught by my father to try everything, and appreciate many foods.
So, I'll confess, when he was diagnosed with the same hereditary SHTG that plagues his mother and brother, and was willing to change his lifestyle from the get go, I was happy, because a) this meant a lot more variety in the kitchen.
Luckily, my husband is also an intellectual, has a major sense of self-discipline, and was willing to choke down the foods that he had avoided (veggies especially). In the first 48 hours, after he was told his triglycerides were close to 3000 (500 is severe), the cupboards were emptied, he signed up for a health and wellness program at work (more on that later), and started asking "what can I eat, and where can we eat if we go out?"
Seven years of cooking for a man with Type 2 Diabetes who was also taking Advandia, I have experience in this realm, but I confess, I was only looking at carbs and sugars, dietary fibers ... not fats. So, dealing with SHTG, I've gone from macro to micro -- not TOO much of a shift, but enough of one.
Unfortunately, no one really tells you guidelines when it comes to carbs and fats, because each person is different, has different dietary needs. Alas, you have to start somewhere. I'm logistical, Type A, I can't do vague and general, especially not when someone's health is at stake. We know that lowering carbs and fats lowers calories ... credible sources state that unless you're told by a physician otherwise and are closely monitored, that you should not go lower than 130 carbs daily (300 is normal for those lucky enough), and no lower than 1500 calories. To do so, you risk neurological and physical issues, and face it, if you're starving, you're going to quit this, and end up in the start/stop/start/stop revolving door.
So, on my end, as my husband's at home guru, I had my work cut out for me.
a) we didn't/don't want prescription meds ... the doc tried to prescribe him a fenofibrate and niacin, but my research indicated there was a combo pill with both in it, that was yanked by the FDA a couple of years ago. It had caused issues in lab rats, and got the FDA squirrelly enough to pull it off the shelves. My question: If I hand you peanut butter and jelly, or hand you a spoon full of each separately, what's the difference?
b) I have to keep the food interesting, varied, and within our guidelines. This means making the foods he's not fond of taste palatable enough to be worth choking down.
c) I dug into my herbalist repertoire of knowledge, and found Niacin, Fenugreek, Flax Seed, Chia Seed, Fish Oil ... these are natural, found at your local grocer, drug store, or natural foods store. They lower SHTGs. Research discovered that high SHTGs can cause ED or what I call "low pressure in the pipes" in men. Thus, these natural supplements may help in the bedroom. My husband has no issue in that area, however, after taking these supplements .... especially the early morning ... you get the drift.
We realize we're not the norm, we're an anomaly, but what else do you expect from two highly motivated, self-disciplined intellectuals?
So, I'll confess, when he was diagnosed with the same hereditary SHTG that plagues his mother and brother, and was willing to change his lifestyle from the get go, I was happy, because a) this meant a lot more variety in the kitchen.
Luckily, my husband is also an intellectual, has a major sense of self-discipline, and was willing to choke down the foods that he had avoided (veggies especially). In the first 48 hours, after he was told his triglycerides were close to 3000 (500 is severe), the cupboards were emptied, he signed up for a health and wellness program at work (more on that later), and started asking "what can I eat, and where can we eat if we go out?"
Seven years of cooking for a man with Type 2 Diabetes who was also taking Advandia, I have experience in this realm, but I confess, I was only looking at carbs and sugars, dietary fibers ... not fats. So, dealing with SHTG, I've gone from macro to micro -- not TOO much of a shift, but enough of one.
Unfortunately, no one really tells you guidelines when it comes to carbs and fats, because each person is different, has different dietary needs. Alas, you have to start somewhere. I'm logistical, Type A, I can't do vague and general, especially not when someone's health is at stake. We know that lowering carbs and fats lowers calories ... credible sources state that unless you're told by a physician otherwise and are closely monitored, that you should not go lower than 130 carbs daily (300 is normal for those lucky enough), and no lower than 1500 calories. To do so, you risk neurological and physical issues, and face it, if you're starving, you're going to quit this, and end up in the start/stop/start/stop revolving door.
So, on my end, as my husband's at home guru, I had my work cut out for me.
a) we didn't/don't want prescription meds ... the doc tried to prescribe him a fenofibrate and niacin, but my research indicated there was a combo pill with both in it, that was yanked by the FDA a couple of years ago. It had caused issues in lab rats, and got the FDA squirrelly enough to pull it off the shelves. My question: If I hand you peanut butter and jelly, or hand you a spoon full of each separately, what's the difference?
b) I have to keep the food interesting, varied, and within our guidelines. This means making the foods he's not fond of taste palatable enough to be worth choking down.
c) I dug into my herbalist repertoire of knowledge, and found Niacin, Fenugreek, Flax Seed, Chia Seed, Fish Oil ... these are natural, found at your local grocer, drug store, or natural foods store. They lower SHTGs. Research discovered that high SHTGs can cause ED or what I call "low pressure in the pipes" in men. Thus, these natural supplements may help in the bedroom. My husband has no issue in that area, however, after taking these supplements .... especially the early morning ... you get the drift.
We realize we're not the norm, we're an anomaly, but what else do you expect from two highly motivated, self-disciplined intellectuals?
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