What are Triglycerides and Why do they matter?
We can measure health in many ways. Monitoring Cholesterol levels is one of them. An average cholesterol level can vary from person to person, and there are different factors. There is one more health status that we often ignore. That is triglyceride. Triglyceride is one of the most important factors to observe when seeing a cholesterol report.
Today is 28th March, and It is National triglyceride day. We stand by the words of our health being the ultimate wealth. You can be sure that we will be waving that banner this National Triglycerides Day on 28th March. Just like all things in life require balance, so does our nutritional intake. Too much of anything, even if they are vitamins, can be harmful. This is why high triglyceride levels, which are essential lipid compounds that help with providing us with energy, can be highly detrimental.
What is a triglyceride, and how can it affect our health?
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in the bloodstream.
When a person eats, the body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. Fat cell stores triglycerides. Later,?when we do fasting or don't have enough calories to run our body, hormones release triglycerides for energy. It's a kind of backup fuel like a laptop has a battery. A high triglyceride level can block arteries and cause heart stroke, high blood pressure, prediabetes and hypothyroidism.
How are Triglycerides different from Cholesterol?
Cholesterol (HDL & LDL) and Triglycerides are different types of lipids that circulate in your bloodstream. Triglycerides store unused calories that you don't need right away as backup fuel and provide your body with energy when needed. At the same time, Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones. It has two types, HDL(Good Cholesterol) and LDL(Bad Cholesterol). Both are essentials for the body.
Why does triglyceride level rise?
Triglycerides are the calories you eat, but your body does not need them right away. Your body changes these extra calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat cells. When your body needs energy, particularly during fasting, it releases triglycerides. You may have high triglycerides if you regularly eat more calories than you burn, particularly sugar calories and high-carbohydrate foods. Calorie intake will always be higher, and consumption will be less. It will lead to a higher level of Cholesterol.
Let's have a look at the average level of Triglycerides,
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How can we control triglyceride levels?
In 1948, WHO defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease".?
A healthy lifestyle is key here. Be healthy to control cholesterol levels, not the other way around. We can be healthy by doing these simple things and controlling triglycerides.
I hope it added a lot of value to your life and made you aware of your health. Take care!
Further Readings:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186
https://medlineplus.gov/triglycerides.html