Blood tests reveal a lot about the state of your health, alerting you to the possible need to take corrective action through diet, lifestyle changes or medication. If your blood tests high for cholesterol, triglycerides and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), you should discuss a treatment plan with your doctor. A diet low in fat and sugar and rich in fruits and vegetables may help.
Triglycerides and Cholesterol
Total cholesterol of higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood puts you at increased risk of developing heart disease. If your triglycerides measure higher than 150 mg/dl, you face additional risk. Other cholesterol numbers to consider include your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Your LDL, or "bad," cholesterol ideally measures lower than 100 mg/dl, while your HDL, or "good," cholesterol above 60 mg/dl. Your HDL cholesterol helps protect you against heart attacks and strokes by extracting LDL and triglycerides from your bloodstream, shipping them to your liver for disposal.
High MCH Levels
A complete blood count would reveal your MCH levels. High levels could indicate microcytic anemia, also called megaloblastic anemia, meaning your red blood cells are abnormally large. Common causes include deficiencies in folate acid or vitamin B12. Elevated MCH levels could also result from alcohol abuse, chemotherapy drugs or inherited disorders. You could treat deficiencies with changes in your diet. Good sources of folate acid include spinach, poultry, milk, beans and whole grains. Eggs, milk, poultry and shellfish contain vitamin B12.
Saturated Fat
Reducing the amount of saturated fat in your diet may help you reduce both your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Animal protein provides the primary source of saturated fat. Eat less protein -- about 6 oz. a day -- and choose lean sources such as nonfat dairy, legumes and fish. Limit saturated fat to 16 g to 22 g daily. Protein choices that include 2 g or less of saturated fat per 3 ½ oz. serving include halibut, salmon, ham, skinless chicken, water-packed tuna, lobster, crab and pork tenderloin. Nonfat dairy includes no saturated fat, but 1 cup of whole milk contains 5 g, and 1 oz. of cheddar cheese contains 6 g.
Other Diet and Lifestyle Remedies
Additional measures to specifically target your triglycerides include reducing your intake of trans fat, found primarily in margarine and shortening, to no more than 2 g daily, and your consumption of foods with added sugar to no more than 100 calories per day for women, and 150 calories for men. The American Heart Association further recommends that you eat fruits lower in fructose, such as cantaloupe and bananas, and limit your alcohol intake, especially if your triglycerides measure higher than 500 mg/dl. Regular exercise can also lower your triglycerides.
References
- Medline Plus: Megaloblastic Anemia; Jan. 31 2010
- Medline Plus; Folate Deficiency; Aug. 9 2009
- Medline Plus; Vitamin B 12; Mar. 14 2009
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol; June 24 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
- University of California San Francisco Medical Center; Cholesterol Content of Foods; Feb. 2, 2011
