A healthy heart is a must for a healthy life, we all make enormous efforts to keep our hearts healthy by eating food not too high on cholesterol and also keeping our blood pressure in check. These two figures are on everyone’s list of having a healthy heart and body.
Little do people know that there is a third factor, which is almost as crucial when the condition of the heart is concerned. The third thing that you need to monitor is triglycerides.
What Are Triglycerides And What Do They Do?
The first thing on reading the name that would come to your mind is what triglycerides are. They are a type of fat (lipid) which is found in the blood. When a person eats, the body automatically converts calories that are not required immediately into triglycerides. These triglycerides are stored in the fat cells and released by the hormones for energy purposes between meals. If you eat more calories than what the body can burn such as 'easy' calories like carbohydrates and fats, then the triglycerides count in your body may be high. This is also termed as hypertriglyceridemia
If you have a high level of triglycerides in your body, then your risk of heart disease would get higher too.
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What Is A Normal Level Of Triglycerides?
You need to take a blood test to find out if the triglycerides level in your body is falling into the healthy range or high. In case it's very high, it would be 500 mg/dL or above, in case it is just high then it would be somewhat 200 to 499 mg/dL. Whereas if it is borderline touching high it would be 150 to 199 mg/dL and a normal range would fall into the slot of fewer than 150 milligrams per deciliter.
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Causes Of High Triglycerides
These certain conditions can escalate the number of triglycerides in the body:
#1. Obesity is the number one reason for high triglycerides.
#2. If you have diabetes and you are not keeping a check on it.
#3. An underactive thyroid.
#4. If you are suffering from a kidney disease.
#5. If you are eating way more calories than you burn.
#6. Being an alcoholic
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Ways To Lower High Triglycerides
Certain lifestyle and diet changes help you to lower your triglycerides count. These are:
#1. Since obesity is the number one cause of high triglycerides counts, then obviously losing weight would help counter it.
#2. Limit the intake of fat and sugar in your diet if you cannot eliminate them.
#3. Give up your sedentary lifestyle for an active one.
#4. Quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.
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You need to remember that your cholesterol level goes hand in hand with the triglycerides level. Hence, keeping one in check automatically takes care of the other.
If you found the article informative or are seeking answers to other medical queries, then leave us a reply in the comment box below.
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