Eliminating fructose and high-fructose corn syrup. This ubiquitous sweetener is now consumed in enormous quantities by the average American, nearly 80 lbs per year per person. You'll find it in soft drinks, ketchup, beer, breads, breakfast cereals, and many other processed foods. You'll find none in green peppers, cucumbers, and raw nuts. Fructose triggers large rises in triglycerides, as well as diabetic patterns. Don't let "fat-free" claims fool you; these are often fructose-containing foods, with fructose among the most plentiful ingredients. Sadly, honey is rich in fructose, as are fruits, so don’t overdo either, even though they fall into the “healthy” category in many people’s minds.

Vitamin D. I am a fanatic for correcting vitamin D deficiency in people. Having now corrected vitamin D blood levels in over 1000 patients for up to three years, I am nothing but thoroughly impressed with the range of wonderful benefits that develop, such as reduced blood sugar, increased bone density, gradual relief from arthritis, elimination of winter “blues,” and many others. Among the rarely appreciated benefits of vitamin D is a reduction in triglycerides. I am uncertain why this develops, but I suspect that at least part of the effect arises from vitamin D’s ability to normalize reduce blood sugar and insulin responses, both of which help reduce triglycerides.   

 
Curious thing: Successful participants in our program, i.e., people who achieve desirable weight, reduce processed carbohydrate junk foods and saturated fat sources, and aim for the 60-60-60 targets for conventional lipids, commonly end up with triglyceride levels of 25-50 mg/dl.