A lot of people who have high blood pressure and certain heart issues, experience high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of lipid (fat) that is found in your blood. Your body converts unused, consumed calories into triglycerides where they are stored in fat cells. In between meals, hormones will release these triglycerides for energy. Eating more calories than your body is able to use/burn (high-carbohydrate diet) can raise your triglyceride level.
When triglycerides are high, they can cause hardening or thickening of the arterial walls. This is dangerous as it increases risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. Extremely high triglycerides can cause acute inflammation of the pancreas.
Oftentimes things like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, increased fat around the waist, abnormal cholesterol levels, low thyroid function, and obesity can accompany high levels of triglycerides.
Thankfully, there are ways to aid in the lowering of triglycerides. Exercising regularly for about 30 minutes/most days of the week will help. Avoiding sugar and refine carbohydrates. Weight-loss is super important to keep your fat stores low. Eating healthy fats that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (coconut oil, olive oil, avocados, etc.) helps you lose weight and absorb important nutrients. Finally, limit the amount of alcohol that you consume.
Having high triglycerides can become dangerous and it is important that you see your doctor to ensure you are taking all the necessary measures to lower those levels. Certain medications might be required to lower triglycerides.
It is important that you are aware of how your body works and how to properly care for it. If you have any follow-up questions regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me.
Until next time,
Amanda
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