The ratio of triglycerides to HDL was the strongest predictor of a heart attack, even more accurate than the LDL/HDL ratio." (Circulation 1997;96:2520-2525).

However, the association between triglycerides and HDL cholesterol is the most difficult to sort out. It turns out that whenever triglycerides are increased, HDL cholesterol decreases. So is the increased risk seen with high triglycerides due to the triglycerides themselves, or to the associated reduction in HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and increase in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol). So far, nobody can say for sure.

The problem is, people with elevated triglyceride levels almost invariably have other major risk factors for heart disease (mainly obesity, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure), and, so far, it has not been possible to sort out whether the triglycerides themselves pose an independent risk.

However, they had a 300 percent greater risk for coronary artery disease when they had both high blood triglyceride levels combined with high levels of LDL cholesterol.

Add borderline high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or higher), and those people suffered a 500 percent increase!

Presence of excess triglycerides in the blood causes the viscosity (thickening) of blood and reduces the ability of arteries to enlarge. Each time, after high fat meals, your systemic arterial compliance (SAC) becomes decreased, what reflects primarily the stiffness of the aorta - the stiffer the aorta, the worse (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, June 1, 2000).

Triglycerides in higher amounts are significantly interrelated to the metabolism of HDL-"good" and LDL-"bad" cholesterol. They make the blood

• more "sluggish" and
• less capable of transporting oxygen to the tissues, particularly through the smallest blood vessels.

The study provides a potential rationale for advocating much lower fasting triglyceride levels than those currently considered “desirable” (American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Anaheim, California, November 13, 2001). Further, the study suggests less than 100 mg/dL is more appropriate, because once a meal is consumed, triglyceride levels rise.

Even when people have acceptable fasting triglyceride levels (the levels of triglyceride circulating in the blood after fasting overnight), after a high fat meal their triglyceride shoots up into levels that could put them at higher risk of heart disease. However it is entirely possible that if people can lower their baseline triglyceride levels with diet changes and exercise, their heart disease risk may drop throughout the day, even after eating high fat meals.

In addition, the study evaluated the implications of “desirable” fasting triglyceride in 50 healthy, non-obese men and women with normal cholesterol levels, whose average age was 35.

After their fasting triglyceride was measured, each volunteer was given a milkshake, standardized at 70 grams of fat per square meter of body surface. Their triglycerides after a milk shake were measured at intervals of two, four, six, eight and ten hours.

For volunteers with a fasting triglyceride between 101 and 149, the triglyceride level at the peak, four hours after consuming the shake, averaged 200 mg/dL, putting them at dangerously high levels, despite the acceptable fasting levels.

However, in volunteers with a fasting triglyceride of less than 100, the four-hour peak triglyceride after the milkshake was only 124 mg/dL on average.

People with triglyceride levels at or above 100 were 50 percent more likely than those with lower levels to suffer from future heart attacks, need bypass surgery or angioplasty, or die from heart disease.

The average triglyceride level in the United States is 134 mg/dL and is considerably higher than triglyceride levels below 100 mg/dL commonly observed in countries where heart disease rates are low.

Higher triglyceride levels are associated with not only increase in body weight but also a disturbing increase in diabetes. It is a two-sided problem, because people with high triglycerides often develop insulin resistance, a major factor in the most common type of diabetes. In some cases, high triglycerides are identified years before the onset of diabetes.

Triglyceride is a fat that always circulates in the blood, especially after a meal high in saturated fat. Enzymes normally break down these fat particles, but when the process is not working efficiently, triglycerides that are only partially broken down can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, also known as narrowing of the arteries.

Triglycerides can also increase the risk of blood clots, which combine with fatty deposits in the coronary vessels to cause heart attacks.

The following video shows series of graphic visual representations caused by poor dietary choices. It is a perfect exemplification of the old adage, "A (motion) picture is worth a thousand words."

Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke

Researchers have linked high levels of triglycerides to an increased risk of stroke. High triglycerides and the low levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol that usually coexist, are important risk factors for the main type of stroke, called ischemic stroke, among people with heart disease.

It is no surprise to read this. Thus a person who has an elevated level of triglycerides, which affects blood vessels in the brain, would have an increased risk of stroke. However, there is much more to this issue/problem.

Increased Risk of Fatty Liver and Pancreatitis

Blood triglycerides higher than 500 mg/dL put you at high risk for such problems as

• fatty liver and
• acute pancreatitis, leading to pancreatic injury.

When triglyceride levels are greater than 150mg/dL, LDL-"bad" cholesterol is almost always a small, dense particle that is highly oxidizable and very atherogenic - producing degenerative changes in arterial walls, especially in those with glucose intolerance or diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes).

TGs Formula^® II: Advanced Blood Lipid Support

Hello, I'm Andrew Mierzejewski, a master formulator, registered holistic nutritionist and biohealing practitioner with over 20 years of experience. I personally guarantee the quality, efficacy and safety of the supplements recommended here. And I am sure that when taken properly and wisely they can be of great benefit to your health or the health of someone you love or hold dear.

TGs Formula II is our new, streamlined and reformulated TGs Formula^®, hence its name: TGs Formula II - a specialty naturopathic formulation designed to optimize the metabolism of lipids (fats) in the body ("TGs" stands for "triglycerides").

TGs Formula II not only keeps the blood fats in check (as drugs do), but actually helps your body rebuild the organs and systems that control your blood lipids - without side effects. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, it is very body-friendly.

TGs Formula II: Mechanism of Action

It should be pointed out that along with lowering high blood triglyceride levels, TGs Formula II also helps to reduce elevated levels of Lipoprotein(a) and LDL-"bad" cholesterol. It is also effective in helping to raise the levels of HDL-"good" cholesterol.

All nutrients in TGs Formula II:

• work by supporting biochemical and enzymatic processes,
• work best in combination with each other (nutrition is like a chain - all of the links have to be strong in order to obtain meaningful results),
• have an effect only if they are absent in the body (a given supplement will likely have no effect unless the person taking it already has a deficiency in that particular factor),
• work gradually and gently over a period of time,
• deal with causes (if a given condition is caused by the lack of specific nutrients, then adding them to the diet will tend to correct the problem, to the extent that any damage done is not irreversible),
• do not require monitoring as closely as do drugs (consequences of nutritional excesses are minimal - there is a wide margin of safety!),
• slow down the degenerative processes in the body caused by deficiency diseases, such as atherosclerosis.

• both natural and essential to the body, therefore
• safe (there has never been a single documented fatality caused by taking dietary supplements),
• required by those who need larger amounts of nutritional factors, because of their longer standing deficiencies and/or poor assimilation of nutrients,
• best taken with meals (they are more efficiently absorbed with food and they enhance the assimilation of other food factors).

TGs Formula II: You Will Benefit*

As a dietary supplement to optimize the blood lipid levels, TGs Formula II is recommended for:

• bringing elevated blood triglycerides down to healthy level,
• keeping levels of HDL-"good" cholesterol within healthy range,
• encouraging healthy blood viscosity (the thickness and stickiness of blood - a critical determinant of friction against the vessel walls),
• improving blood flow,
• supporting proper cardiovascular function.

All nutrients are present in specific ratios and amounts in order to correct longer standing imbalances that are known to contribute to elevated blood fat levels..

TGs Formula II Naturopathic Blood Lipid Support Dietary Supplement: 90 Vegetarian Capsules SUPPLEMENT FACTS: Amount Per Serving (3 Capsules)
Chromium (as Chromium Polynicotinate)	200 mcg
Red Yeast Rice	600 mg
Policosanols (from Sugar Cane)	20 mg
Total Phytosterols (from Soy):	450 mg
Beta sitosterol	180 mg
Campesterol	90 mg
Stigmasterol	66 mg
Coenzyme Q10	20 mg
Guggul Lipids Powder	200 mg
Artichoke (Leaf) Extract	100 mg
Other Ingredients: Rice Flour, Vegetable Cellulose, Vegetarian Leucine.
Contains: Soy
This product is manufactured in a NSF GMP registered facility in accordance with cGMPs for Nutritional Supplements in accordance with USP 31. The laboratories are ISO 9001:1994 certified and ISO 17025:2005 accredited. Raw materials used in the manufacturing of this product are in full compliance with the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. Raw material safety and quality is ensured by the manufacturer's Supplier Qualification Program.	QUALITY & SAFETY ASSURANCE
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 3 capsules daily with food. Daily amount can be divided between AM and PM, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.	DIRECTIONS
CAUTION: If you are pregnant, nursing or taking any cholesterol-lowering medication, consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.	CAUTION
FULL OF HEALTH, INC. Since 1996 TGs Formula® II : A Dietary Supplement to Support Cardiovascular Function and the Maintenance of Lipids within Normal Range * * These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Full of Health and TGs Formula are registered trademarks of Full of Health, Inc.

TGs Formula II: Recommended Intake

Although there is still no consensus regarding the value necessitating initiation of triglyceride drug treatment, according to most physicians, at the triglyceride level:

• over 200 mg/dL (2.3 mmol/L) begins the need for implementation of proper dietary, eating habits, and
• over 300 mg/dL (3.4 mmol/L) a pharmacological (drug) treatment should be started.

The following recommendations will help you determine your needs based on your actual blood test results:

I. How to Bring Your Triglycerides Down Option #1: Borderline High Triglycerides If your triglycerides level is between 150 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L - 2.3 mmol/L ("borderline high") - for best results, you should be on TGs Formula II for at least 2 consecutive months, taking one (1) capsule three times daily with substantial meals. Therefore, you would need at least one (2) bottles of TGs Formula II to improve your next blood test results for triglycerides. Option #2: High Triglycerides If your triglycerides level is between 200 mg/dL and 500 mg/dL, or 2.3 mmol/L – 5.6 mmol/L ("high") - for best results, you should be on TGs Formula II for at least 2 consecutive months, taking two (2) capsules three times daily with substantial meals. Therefore, you would need four (4) bottles of TGs Formula II to improve your next blood test results for triglycerides. Option #3: Very High Triglycerides If your triglycerides level is higher than 500 mg/dL, or >5.6 mmol/L ("very high") - for best results, you should be on TGs Formula II for at least 2 consecutive months, taking three (3) capsules three times daily with substantial meals. Therefore, you would need six (6) bottles of TGs Formula II to improve your next blood test results for triglycerides. REMEMBER: It has been shown that atherogenic (atheromas-forming) hypertriglyceridemia starts at the triglyceride level of 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) initiating degenerative changes in the cardiovascular system. Therefore, for people with levels greater than 150 milligrams per deciliter range, therapeutic lifestyle changes are necessary, such as exercising, losing weight, swapping unhealthy fats for healthy ones, and the like. PLEASE NOTE: If you are a diabetic, or have a history of a heart attack or stroke, for full benefits, in addition to TGs Formula II you should consider taking a quality supplemental EPA, such as UltraPure Mega EPA. If you want to be certain that your gut gets TGs Formula II (and any other supplements you've been taking!) into the bloodstream where it can do its work effectively in bringing your high blood triglycerides down to healthy levels, you should consider taking quality supplemental digestive enzymes, such as XTRAGEST. II. How to Maintain Your Triglycerides Within Normal Range Unfortunately, after bringing triglycerides down to a desired level, it is not always easy, or even possible, to maintain them within normal range through the dietary and lifestyle changes alone. This is where TGs Formula II comes in handy. Its daily recommended maintenance dose can be deteremined as follows: If your best achieved level was under 150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L), you would need to take only one (1) capsule of TGs Formula II daily. If your best achieved level was slightly over 150 mg/dL, or 1.7 mmol/L, you would need to take two (2) capsules of TGs Formula II daily. If your best achieved level was slightly under 200 mg/dL, or 2.3 mmol/L, you would need to take three (3) capsules of TGs Formula II daily. After three (3) consecutive months, you should do a fasting blood test to see the efficacy of this approach. If your results were satisfactory, you may continue the above protocol or discontinue taking TGs Formula II (and relying on the dietary/lifestyle changes alone) for three (3) consecutive months and then repeat the blood test to see how your body responds. If your results were unsatisfactory, you should review your dietary and lifestyle changes and go back for another three (3) consecutive months to the therapeutic intake of TGs Formula II based on the actual level of your blood triglycerides, and then repeat the blood test to see how your body responds. PLEASE NOTE: If you are a diabetic, or have a history of a heart attack or stroke, for full benefits, in addition to TGs Formula II you should consider taking a quality supplemental EPA, such as UltraPure Mega EPA. The Take-Home Message: If you really want to maintain your triglycererides within normal range, please follow the above recommendations to the letter. III. How to Test Properly Your Blood for Triglycerides Although not necessary for measuring cholesterol, the test for triglycerides should always be done when you are fasting. Therefore, for 12 to 14 hours before the blood sample is drawn, only water is permitted. In other words, nothing except water is permitted from bedtime until you get your blood work done next morning when a lab opens (it's good to have two cups of water (473 mL) one hour before the collection of blood). In addition, consumption of alcohol and any vitamin supplements is not permitted for the 24 hours just before the fasting blood work. If you are currently on antihistamines, antibiotics or cortisone treatment only, you need to call the lab or your doctor for more information on how to proceed. Why is that? Anything taken in, other than water during that time, morning coffee or juice, for example, can elevate the triglycerides levels as they change dramatically in response to meals, increasing as much as 5 to 10 times higher than fasting levels just a few hours after eating. Therefore, when scheduling your triglyceride test you need take your weekend activities into account. Because after a weekend of beer and pizza, or desserts, cakes or ice-cream, your Monday blood work readings can be much higher than on the other days. Unfortunately, your doctor, even the "highly regarded" one, may have you take a triglyceride blood test without informing you of all factors that might affect the results. You never know when he might be rushed or inexperienced, or simply overly comfortable with a procedure, then end up taking a shortcut at your expense, recommending a drug or an uncomfortable, invasive procedure based solely on a suspect or false test result. The Take-Home Lesson: Always ask your doctor for specifics regarding factors that can create false positive or false negative blood test results.

TGs Formula II: Description of Nutrients*

I. HDL-"good" Cholesterol to LDL-"Bad" Cholesterol Ratio Support

• Red Yeast Rice (Monascus porporeus) is an all-natural whole food made from dried fermented rice. Red Rice Yeast naturally helps maintain triglyceride levels within normal ranges and contains unsaturated fatty acids that support the maintenance of serum lipids within normal ranges.
• Chromium is a trace mineral used by the body to regulate HDL-"good" cholesterol- to-LDL-"bad" cholesterol ratios. The Chromium Polynicotinate form ensures maximum bioavailability. The average American diet is chromium deficient.
• Phytosterols are plant steroid alcohols that have been shown to support the maintenance of triglycerides within normal range by blocking the over-absorption of triglycerides. TGs Formula II contains a phytosterol complex from soy that yields 90% phytosterols including 180 mg of Beta-sitosterol.

II. Lipids Synthesis and Circulation

• Policosanol is a complex that has been studied for its ability to reduce triglycerides synthesis by the liver, protect against peroxidation of lipids, aid healthy blood flow and support the maintenance of beneficial HDL cholesterol and triglycerides within normal range.
• Artichoke (Cynara scolymnus) Leaf Extract is a phytonutrient that has been shown to support triglycerides within normal ranges. Cynarin, a compound contained in artichokes, supports the production of bile, which may help the body to excrete cholesterol. Artichoke Leaf Extract helps balance activity of the enzyme responsible for maintaining triglyceride levels within normal ranges.

III. Antioxidant and Blood Viscosity Support

• Guggul lipids contain compounds known as guggul sterones. As antioxidants, they protect against lipid peroxidation.
• Coenzyme Q10 is critical in the generation of cellular energy. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant found in the highest concentrations in the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and pancreas.
• TGs Formula^® II is a great addition to any diet and exercise program that is designed to support the maintenance of HDL-"good" cholestereol and triglycerides within normal healthy ranges.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

TGs Formula II: No Conlict with Prescription Drugs

A concern raised by some clients might be the possibility of conflict between prescription drugs and TGs Formula II. The good news is that there is no conflict. In fact, they can be taken at the same time.

The even better news is that, if you take prescription drugs along with TGs Formula II, you need to be monitored regularly by your physician, as you may need to reduce the amount of the drugs you are taking.

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