Triglycerides are fats that exist in food and in the body. After a meal, calories not immediately used by tissues are converted into triglycerides, then stored in the body's fat cells. When triglyceride levels become excessive, risk for hypertension, obesity and heart disease increase. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with high triglyceride levels make dietary lifestyle changes, such as avoiding saturated fats, trans fats, refined carbohydrates and cholesterol in food.
Saturated Fat
Saturated fat is found primarily in animal-derived foods, such as beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry fat, butter, cream, whole milk, full-fat ice cream, full-fat cheeses and 2 percent milk. Plant sources of saturated fat include cocoa butter, coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil. Numerous cakes, cookies, pastries and doughnuts also contain plentiful amounts of saturated fat. According to the AHA, saturated fats are a primary source of triglycerides and high cholesterol levels in the body. A maximum of 7 percent of total daily calories should stem from saturated fat.
Trans Fats
Trans fats, also known as trans fatty acids, are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils in order to create a longer-lasting, solid-form fat. Trans fats contain triglycerides and are also believed to increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body. The AHA recommends that no more than 1 percent of a person's daily calories stem from trans fats. Trans fats are found in vegetable shortening, margarine, hydrogenated vegetable oils, deep-fried foods, baking mixes, pastries, instant soups, processed snack foods, fast food restaurant items and prepared frozen entrees.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol in food also contributes triglycerides to a person's body. According to the AHA, most animal-derived saturated fat sources, such as red meat, poultry fat, processed meats, hard cheeses, whole milk, cream, 2 percent milk and commercially prepared pastries, cookies and snack foods contain dietary cholesterol. The AHA suggests consuming no more than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol daily for most adults. People with heart disease, high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels should limit cholesterol intake to under 200 mg per day.
Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates are whole grains that have been stripped of valuable nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and fiber, during food processing. According to research published by the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in Nov. 2001, excessive refined carbohydrate intake is associated with increased fasting triglyceride levels and increased risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Examples of refined carbohydrate-rich foods include enriched white and wheat bread, cereals and pasta, instant rice, baked goods and snack foods made from enriched flour, candy, soft drinks, high fructose corn syrup and table (cane) sugar.
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