What Are Triglycerides?

Friday, November 27, 2009

Triglycerides are a fat found in your blood and are the most common kind of fat found in the body. It is a combination of animal and vegetable fats, and in its chemical form its three molecules of fatty acids combined with glycerol. It is the major source of energy found in your body. The excess of calories not used from when you eat food are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells.

Triglycerides are not only present in fat but also in carbohydrates. Most carbohydrates are converted into triglycerides by the body. A diet low in fat but high in carbohydrates may increase triglyceride levels. Both protein and carbohydrates provide energy to the body, but triglycerides provide twice that.

Normal triglyceride levels within the body are essential for good health but when the levels are elevated high then they become associated to group of problems knows as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of a group of issues such as: high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, low good cholesterol (HDL), high triglycerides, and excess of fat around the waist. This is something that will lead to stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. It is also linked to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in severe stomach pain.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has set the following guidelines for Triglyceride levels:

< 150 mg/dl are considered normal

150 – 199 mg/dl is considered borderline high

200 – 499 mg/dl is considered high

500 > mg/dl is considered very high

A way to control levels of triglycerides is to exercise regularly and eat a well balanced diet. If you are obese then by losing weight will significantly help lower levels. Some cases require medication which would need to be prescribed by a physician.