Having high triglyceride levels is known as hypertriglyceridemia, this consists of an uncommon rise in the level of triglycerides. These are the main type of fat found in the blood.
To be healthy and not suffer from any disease or ailment, it is convenient that those levels are below 150 mg / dl, since if high levels are found there will be the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases or diseases in the pancreas.
What are triglycerides
Many people are aware of what is cholesterol and how it can affect our health if we don't control it. It is convenient to carry out analyzes in a center to keep a slight control of these data and not to be scared later.
In those analyzes where normal cholesterol levels are checked, they are also asked to control and check triglycerides, but what are they really?
Triglycerides they are the most efficient way for the body to store energy and it does so in the form of fat. Cells store triglycerides, which we could call fat, in adipose tissue.
For fat to be constituted and deposited in the tissues and converted into energy, it must be previously transported by the blood. Therefore, those triglycerides that are in our blood are actually the triglycerides that appear in our tests.
Where do we get triglycerides from?
Triglycerides come from fatty acids that we absorb through the intestine from food, although they can also be created by the liver. These triglycerides pass into the blood from the intestine and liver, are carried through the bloodstream by lipoproteins, substances created for it.
Maintain a good level of triglycerides
We must maintain good levels to be healthy, if we do not have them we could suffer from acute pancreatitis, a disease that swells the pancreas and causes abdominal pain. A very serious disease that if there are complications in the process could cause death.
If stable levels are not maintained, you could also suffer cardiovascular diseases, despite having adequate cholesterol levels.
To avoid the risk of pancreatitis we must not exceed 200 mg / dl, it would begin to be considered a risk figure. The desired level is the one below 150 mg / dl, and if we meet between 150 and 200 we would be at the limit of having them elevated. It would be convenient to lower them.
As we commented, are fats that store calories that the body does not use and conserves them for later use as energy. They cannot be dissolved, therefore, the body is responsible for carrying these lipids to the different parts of the body.
Have high levels can cause us to harden the arteries and cause cardiovascular disease. Your heart health would suffer and you could have heart attacks. In addition, it is closely related to being overweight or type II diabetes.
How to lower high triglyceride levels
- A low-fat diet should be maintained. Saturated and trans fats are the most harmful to the body because they directly raise triglycerides. Therefore, you should consume less processed and industrial foods. Avoid red meat, whole milk, lard and in general all foods with fats.
- Refined carbohydrates are prohibited. We refer to breads, white flours and refined sugars. You should change them for eating whole wheat bread, as well as pasta and all the whole grain varieties. Add fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. A healthy diet will help you keep triglycerides under control.
- Add more omega 3 to your diet. Omega 3 fatty acids provide us with many benefits, the arteries will improve blood circulation, do not hesitate to consume more salmon and all kinds of oily fish.
- Play sports regularly. If we do not want to join the gym or we are not very given to exercising, we advise you to walk for half an hour daily, combined with a proper diet you will be taking care of your diet, body and mind.