Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I’m taking two prescription medications (Crestor and Tricor) to lower my cholesterol and triglycerides. However, my triglyceride levels are still high. I take my medications as directed, I eat a healthy diet, but nothing seems to work on triglycerides. Do you have any suggestions for me?” —Tom H. Eau Claire, WI A. Dear Tom, I suggest you take two things – Indian Gooseberry (also called Amla) and omega 3 fatty acids. Indian gooseberry provides excellent results for reducing both cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Some experts feel that to get the best results for cholesterol and triglyceride reduction you should take 1,000 mg at night, just before going to sleep. Also, there are many studies showing the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids for reducing triglyceride and cholesterol levels. I recommend taking omega 3 fatty acids from salmon, naturally bound to phospholipids, which you can find in a tablet form. The advantage to this type of omega fatty acid supplement is that the absorption is increased up to 50 times over regular fish oil supplements, and the purity is vastly superior. Therefore, you only need one or two tablets a day instead of spoonfuls of fishy tasting oils. Although I am not aware of any negative interactions between these ingredients and the medications you are already taking, I always recommend keeping your doctor informed of any supplements you may be using.