What should patients with high triglycerides avoid eating?

Generally, people with high triglycerides should avoid eating foods such as fried chicken, pork brains, cream cakes, pork belly, and cola. They should also avoid taking medications such as hydrochlorothiazide tablets, prednisone tablets, drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol tablets, propranolol tablets, and cyclosporine soft capsules on their own, to prevent elevating triglyceride levels. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Fried Chicken

During the high-temperature frying process, chicken absorbs a large amount of oil. Triglycerides are mainly produced from the metabolism of fats and sugars. Excessive fat intake directly increases the raw materials for triglyceride synthesis in the body, leading to elevated triglyceride levels and worsening lipid abnormalities.

2. Pork Brains

Pork brains are high in cholesterol and fat, with a high proportion of saturated fat. Saturated fats promote triglyceride synthesis in the liver and affect the efficiency of fat metabolism, leading to triglyceride accumulation in the body, which is detrimental to lipid control.

3. Cream Cake

Cream cake contains large amounts of trans fatty acids and added sugars. Trans fatty acids inhibit fat breakdown, while added sugars can be converted into triglycerides in the body. These dual effects increase triglyceride concentrations.

4. Pork Belly

Pork belly has a very high fat content, predominantly saturated fat. After entering the body, saturated fats activate triglyceride synthase in the liver, accelerating triglyceride production, while also reducing lipoprotein metabolic efficiency, leading to triglyceride accumulation.

5. Cola

Cola has a high sugar content. Sucrose in the body breaks down into glucose and fructose. Fructose directly promotes triglyceride synthesis in the liver and inhibits lipase activity, reducing triglyceride breakdown and causing elevated triglyceride levels.

II. Medications

1. Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets

As a diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide affects fat metabolism by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase activity, reducing triglyceride breakdown, and promoting triglyceride synthesis in the liver. Long-term use may easily lead to elevated triglyceride levels.

2. Prednisone Tablets

As a glucocorticoid, prednisone promotes triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) synthesis in the liver while reducing peripheral tissue utilization of fats, leading to triglyceride accumulation in the blood and elevated triglyceride levels.

3. Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets

This oral contraceptive contains estrogen. Estrogen affects liver lipid metabolism, promoting triglyceride synthesis and possibly decreasing triglyceride clearance, leading to elevated triglyceride levels. This effect is more pronounced in individuals who already have elevated triglycerides.

4. Propranolol Tablets

As a beta-blocker, propranolol inhibits lipoprotein lipase activity, reducing triglyceride breakdown, and may also increase triglyceride synthesis in the liver. Long-term use may lead to elevated triglyceride levels.

5. Cyclosporine Soft Capsules

As an immunosuppressant, cyclosporine affects lipid metabolism by reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity, decreasing triglyceride clearance, and promoting triglyceride synthesis in the liver, leading to elevated triglyceride levels.

In daily life, one should maintain a low-fat, low-sugar diet, eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and engage in regular physical activity. Avoid alcohol consumption and staying up late. Seek medical advice when necessary and adjust diet and medication plans under a doctor's guidance. Never take medications on your own initiative.