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"When you eat more calories than you need, the body stores those calories in the
form of triglycerides, which can be used later by the body for energy," said Dr. Lauri
Wright, a registered dietitian, member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and
an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of South Florida.
Most of the fats we eat, such as natural oils — both polyunsaturated and
monounsaturated — animal fats and trans fats, are triglycerides. While both healthy
and unhealthy fats contribute to triglyceride levels, trans fats like margarine and
saturated fats like fatty red meats, poultry skin, lard and some full-fat dairy products
can elevate triglyceride levels more than leaner cuts of meat and unsaturated fats
like olive oil, avocados, nuts and low-fat dairy products. Refined, simple
carbohydrates and alcohol can also increase triglyceride levels, said Wright.
Lipids
Triglycerides and cholesterol both belong to the "fat family" (also called lipids) but
have different functions, said Wright. "Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is used
by the body to make hormones, vitamin D and is part of the membrane surrounding
the cells," she added. Cholesterol is waxy and odorless. The liver produces it from
animal foods.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cholesterol and triglycerides in their pure forms
cannot mix with blood. As a result, the liver sends them out with proteins in packages
called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins move cholesterol and triglycerides throughout the
bloodstream.
There are three types of lipoproteins, according to the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center. They are low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins
(VLDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL, also called LDL cholesterol, is
considered the "bad" kind of lipoprotein because it contributes to plaque buildup in
the arteries. HDL cholesterol is considered good because it removes LDL from the
arteries, according to the American Heart Association.
Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women are especially at risk of
heart disease if they have high triglyceride levels. Scientists think that high
triglyceride levels can also indicate other conditions that increase the risk of these
diseases, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Extremely high triglyceride levels can lead to acute pancreatitis, according to the
Mayo Clinic. They may also be a sign of type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney
disease, and liver disease or rare genetic conditions that deal with metabolism.
The American Heart Association notes that more research is needed to be sure that
high triglyceride levels are an independent risk for heart and other diseases. These
diseases have other risk factors, such as high cholesterol, so the role of triglycerides
is still being determined. Several case studies have shown that triglycerides could be
an independent disease risk factor, however. Furthermore, a 2007 study published
in Annals of Internal Medicine found that young men with the highest triglyceride levels
had a four times greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke than
similarly aged patients with the lowest triglyceride levels.
Normal triglyceride levels
You need some triglycerides to live healthily. Here are Wright's guidelines to
triglyceride levels in the blood:
● Normal: Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter
(mmol/L)
● Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL (1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L)
There are two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins (LDL), known as bad
cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), also known as good cholesterol. LDL
travels through your bloodstream delivering cholesterol to the cells that need it. If your
body has too much LDL it can build up a substance known as plaque on the walls of your
arteries. Overtime, plaque can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow, which causes an
increase in blood pressure. This is why LDL is called bad cholesterol. Furthermore,
damage to vessel walls from things like high levels of sugar in the bloodstream can make
it easier for LDL to form plaques.
Plaque buildup in your coronary arteries causes coronary artery disease and increases
your risk of a heart attack. Whereas plaque buildup in arteries such as the carotid arteries
in your neck can reduce blood flow to your brain and increases the risk of a stroke.
In addition to LDL, your liver also makes HDL. This form of cholesterol helps return
excess cholesterol to your liver which removes it from your body. This is why HDL is
known as good cholesterol.
Triglycerides on the other hand are used for energy, and also come from food and your
liver. The foods providing the highest level of triglycerides are alcohol, fatty foods, refined
carbohydrates, and simple sugar. High triglycerides can increase your risk of pancreatitis
and other cardiovascular events like heart disease.
Other than meds, lifestyle changes can improve triglyceride levels. Changes include
eating a diet low in sweets, refined carbohydrates and alcohol, getting regular exercise,
managing your weight, and not smoking.
Cholesterol
Optimal HDL = > 60, < 50 for women or 40 for men is a risk for heart disease
Triglycerides