Triglycerides help store and supply energy to your body; they are a form of fat (lipid) present in your blood. Although they are important for normal life, having an excess or a deficiency of them can cause significant health problems — particularly heart disease.
What is triglycerides normal range, how do you know you are having a bad triglycerides levels, and are there any effective ways to treat triglycerides? If yes, then the following information will be helpful for you to keep you heart healthy and continue enjoying your life.
Triglycerides Normal Range
The normal range for triglycerides indicates you have a healthy amount of fat in your blood after fasting. Physicians generally consider triglyceride values as
-
Normal: < 150 mg/dL
-
Borderline High: 150-199 mg/dL
-
High: 200–499 mg/dL
-
Very High: ≥500 mg/dL
Maintaining healthy triglyceride levels eases the burden on your heart and blood vessels. Once triglycerides increase over their normal level, fat deposits in arteries and can lead to heart attack, stroke and metabolic diseases
What are Triglycerides Levels and What They Mean
Triglycerides are a measure of how your body makes and stores fat. High levels are common when you eat more calories particularly those from sugar, refined grains, and unhealthy fats than you burn.
High triglycerides may cause:
-
Hardening of arteries (atherosclerosis)
-
Elevated blood pressure
-
Greater risk of heart disease
-
Pancreatitis in extreme cases
However low triglycerides (blood fats) can occasionally indicate malnutrition or metabolic disorders. Energy and organ function are crucial, and so are their balanced levels.
Causes of High Triglycerides
There are a number of lifestyle and health factors that can increase triglycerides. Causes of a high level of triglycerides include:
-
Too much sugar and too many refined carbs are consumed.
-
Bingeing and obesity
-
No exercise
-
Binge drinking alcohol.
-
Uncontrolled diabetes
-
Hypothyroidism
-
Some drugs
Bad diet is one of the biggest triggers. Eating sweets or drinking sugary drinks, or eating fried foods or processed snacks on a regular basis can tell your liver to make more triglycerides than it needs to.
Causes of Low Triglycerides
Your fat levels are reduced but it doesn’t always mean you are healthy or that your liver is happy!
-
These include: Very low-fat diets
-
Poor nutrition or malabsorption of nutrients
-
Hyperthyroidism
-
Certain chronic illnesses
-
When triglycerides are too low, it can cause fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and an impaired ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
-
A balanced diet is key to maintaining triglycerides at a healthy level.
What are Normal Levels of Triglycerides and Why Is It Important to Keep Them at That Level?
The advantages of keeping your triglycerides at healthy levels include:
-
Heart and Artery Health Up.
-
An Improved Cholesterol Profile
-
Reduced inflammation
-
A Decreased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome
-
Stable Energy Levels
When triglycerides are well regulated, your heart and blood vessels work better, and your blood flows freely, carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout your body.
Triglycerides and Heart Disease
Triglycerides and Heart Disease There is a strong link between triglycerides and heart health. High triglycerides levels tend to coexist with high levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) and low levels of HDL (the good cholesterol), which raises your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Excess triglycerides lead to excess plaque formation in arteries, which not only narrows blood vessels and limits blood supply to the heart. This can eventually lead to the following:
-
Heart attacks
-
Strokes
So for long term heart protection, you need to keep triglycerides under control just as much as cholesterol.
Cholesterol and Triglycerides: What is the Connection?
Cholesterol and Triglycerides have different function in body:
-
Cholesterol Helps Build Cells and Hormones
-
Triglycerides convert excess calories as fat for energy.
But heart disease risk is greatly influenced by the both. When cholesterol and triglycerides are high, the risk to your arteries is even greater. Regular Lipid Profile Testing to Monitor Both and to Direct Lifestyle or Medical Interventions.
Diet Plan for High Triglycerides for Better Management
A good diet is essential in the management of triglycerides. A triglycerides diet plan needs to emphasize on:
-
Fresh fruits and vegetables
-
Whole grains, such as oatmeal and brown rice
-
Lean Protein such as fish, beans and chicken
-
Good fats, including nuts, seeds, and olive oil
-
Cut back on sugar, refined carbs and fried food
To lower triglycerides naturally, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish such as salmon and sardines are particularly potent.
Natural Ways to Lower Triglycerides
If you have high levels, these simple lifestyle changes can help:
-
Do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
-
Reduce consumption of sugary drinks and desserts.
-
Maintain a healthy weight.
-
Moderate your alcohol consumption.
-
Drink plenty of water.
Just losing a little weight can make a big difference to your triglyceride levels.
Conclusion
Managing triglycerides means balancing diet, exercise, stress, and sometimes medication. In certain situations, physicians may also recommend medication to reduce triglycerides, particularly if the levels are very high or associated with heart disease.
But lifestyle modifications are still the cornerstone of good long-term control. Along with continuous observation, they contribute to complication-free better living.
