Ask Doctor Cory.

Dear Dr. Cory:

I have very high triglycerides. My count is 700 and my cholesterol is over 300. Can you give me some advice how to lower them?

Zachary

Torrington, Connecticut

Dear Zachary:

Yes, your triglyceride (tri-GLISSer-ide) and cholesterol (ko-LESS-ter-all) levels are high! It is important to have your levels rechecked if the first test shows them above normal. High-fat meals such as a hamburger and french fries can cause these levels to jump up for a short time. Be sure to fast (eat nothing) for at least twelve hours before a test.

Some people may need to take medicine to help control their cholesterol or triglyceride levels, especially if a parent or other relative has the same problem. But healthy eating and daily activities should be the first things tried to keep them under control. Regular exercise helps to increase your HDL, which is a good form of cholesterol.

Your body needs some cholesterol and makes enough on its own. Too much cholesterol comes from eating anything from an animal such as meat, eggs, butter, cheese, ice cream, whole and low-fat milk. As you get older if you have too much cholesterol it can collect in your blood vessels and clog them. This prevents the blood from getting to important places like your heart and brain.

Triglycerides come from eating more calories than your body needs. High levels of triglycerides in the blood make the blood thicker, slowing down the blood flow and bringing less food and oxygen to the heart and brain.

People with high cholesterol and triglycerides have an increased chance of having type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and needing bypass surgery to unclog blocked blood vessels.

Try a Light Bite

Healthy eating tips to control cholesterol and triglycerides include:

* Choose foods that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol;

* Skip frying--roast, bake, poach, steam or broil food instead;

* Avoid butter, shortening, or stick margarine;

* Eat fish, lean meats, and skinless chicken, trimming fat before cooking;

* Eat more legumes like black-eyed peas, split peas, kidney beans, lentils, etc.;

* Eat non-cholesterol foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals, like oatmeal;

* Avoid ready-made snacks like cookies, pastries, snack cakes, and crackers;

* Avoid sugary items--sugar turns into triglycerides in the liver.

Dear Dr. Cory:

I know that melanin gives us our skin color. But do people get more melanin when they get older?

Lilah

Tacoma, Washington

Dear Lilah:

Melanin (MEL-uh-nin) does give us our skin color. There is no overall change in melanin as we get older, except in our hair follicles. That's why our hair turns gray.

Melanin also helps protect us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

However, to really protect yourself from sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer, you should still shield your skin from the sun on sunny and cloudy days.

Try the Slip, Slop, Slap program created in Australia.

* Slip on long pants and a long-sleeved shirt;

* Slop on sunscreen;

* Slap on a wide-brimmed hat that shades your ears and neck.

In addition, wear UVA and UVB protective sunglasses, avoid the sun from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M., and stay in the shade whenever you can.

Waterproof sunscreen should be applied evenly 30 minutes or more before going out into the sun. Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and reapply every two hours or right after swimming or sweating.

Sunscreen should be applied every day over the whole body, even under the clothes, since not even tightly-woven clothing provides full protection from the sun.

Sincerely,

Cory SerVaas, M.D.

Send your health questions to: Ask Doctor Cory, U*S*Kids, P.O. Box 567, Indianapolis, IN 46206. This column does not replace your doctor's advice.