If you are already aware of the importance of health. It’s good to always pay attention and check some indicators. Such as the number of blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and some other things. But there is one more thing that may need to monitor, that is the triglycerides level.
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipids) in the blood. High levels of triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease. There is no specific way to lower triglyceride levels, except with a healthy lifestyle. So that your overall health to be better.
When you eating, your body will change the calories that are not immediately used into triglycerides. Triglycerides are stored in fat cells. And the body will use it as a backup energy when there is no intake of food energy.
If you eat more calories than you burn calories, especially when you eating foods that are high in calories such as carbohydrates and fats, then the triglyceride levels will be high. This situation is referred to as hypertriglyceridemia or elevated triglycerides.
Normal triglycerides level is less than 150 milligrams per de ciliter (mg/dL) or less than 1.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Triglyceride levels near maximum, which is between 150-199 mg/dL or 1.8 to 2.2 mmol/L.
High triglycerides levels, which is 200-499 mg/dL or 2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L. While Very high triglyceride levels, which is more than 500 mg/dL or 5.7 mmol/L.
How to Lower High Triglycerides?
American Heart Association (AHA) recommends triglyceride levels of 100 mg/dL (1.1 mmol / L) or less is optimal levels. According to the AHA, the optimal levels of triglycerides can improve heart health.
However, the AHA does not recommend the use of drugs to achieve these levels. Rather, by changing lifestyle such as diet, weight reduction and physical activity. This is because triglycerides usually respond positively to changes in lifestyle.
Before conducting the examination triglycerides level, you need to fast for 9-12 hours to obtain an accurate measurement of triglycerides.
What is the difference triglycerides and cholesterol?
Triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of lipids present in the blood circulation. Triglyceride is a form of storage of unused calories and can be used as reserve energy. While cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. Because triglycerides and cholesterol can not dissolve in the blood, the circulation in the body can help transport lipoproteins.
Read also about Hyperlipidemia.
