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Nutrition Nutrition Basics Triglycerides: The Good, The Bad, the Ugly
| Triglycerides: The Good, The Bad, the Ugly |
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| Written by Administrator | |
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a type of lipid (fat). They are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food
as well as in the body. They're also present in blood plasma and, in
association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids.
Triglycerides are the most common type of fat
storage and energy transfer in our bodies. Triglycerides are absolutely necessary for
survival but that too much of a good thing can prove damaging and even
deadly.
Excess calories are converted to triglycerides.
Then they are transported to fat cells for storage. When the body has
need of additional energy, like between meals, hormones trigger the
release of these stored fats which rush to fill the energy gap. It is
a wonderful system providing sustained energy release without us even
thinking about it.
Measuring triglyceride levels
Like cholesterol, increases in
triglyceride levels can be detected by plasma measurements. The measurements should be made after an overnight food and alcohol
fast.
The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for
triglycerides are:
Normal Less than 150 mg/dL
These are based on fasting plasma triglyceride levels.
Hypertriglyceridemia
Excess triglycerides in plasma is called hypertriglyceridemia. It's
linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease.
Elevated triglycerides may also be a consequence of other disease, such as
untreated diabetes mellitus.
Excluding old age, three of the most common
causes of hypertriglyceridemia are:
How are triglycerides harmful?Unfortunately, as people get older and heavier, triglycerides, along with cholesterol levels tend to rise. When levels rise significantly higher than normal some health problems can also develop. Triglycerides that exist in the bloodstream produce a negative impact on heart health. While in the blood stream they are packaged with small amounts of cholesterol, and protein. They are then known as VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein). Under certain conditions these produce LDL (low-density lipoprotein) otherwise known as bad cholesterol. Unfortunately high levels of triglycerides and LDL usually coexist with low levels of HDL. HDL is the healthy cholesterol. Researchers have believed for some time that elevated triglycerides are an indication of increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent research indicates that high triglyceride levels are themselves an independent risk factor.
There are a number of medical conditions that are causally related to
hypertriglyceridemia, as well. These include:
Reducing triglyceride levels
Changes in lifestyle habits are the main therapy for hypertriglyceridemia.These may include:
Other Treatments for Hypertriglyceridemia
In the event diet and exercise are not enough other treatment becomes
necessary. If elevated triglyceride levels are caused by some other
medical condition then the underlying ailment needs to be addressed by
your doctor.
In the absence of other causal medical conditions there are medications that are very effective in reducing triglycerides. These, of course, must be prescribed by your doctor. Along with medication your doctor will also prescribe a triglyceride lowering diet and exercise. He or she should suggest eating more cold water fish like salmon, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, lake trout and possibly taking fish oil supplements. Free Nutrition Resources and ToolsThe following are a few of the FREE nutrition and diet tools to help you live a long healthy, fit life!:
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