Triglycerides give us energy, but when levels get too high, it can be bad news for the body. Fortunately, many people can control their triglycerides by cutting calories, avoiding sugary foods, choosing healthier fats and getting more exercise. A doctor may also prescribe medications to help keep triglyceride levels in check.
Energy
The primary role of triglycerides in the body is to provide energy, but if you eat more calories than you need, your triglyceride level can rise. The Mayo Clinic explains that triglycerides are actually a type of fat, or lipid, found in the blood. Calories your body doesn’t need right after eating are converted into triglycerides and stored in your fat cells for later use. Hormones release those triglycerides to give you energy between meals and snacks. Because triglyceride levels rise after eating, you'll probably be asked to fast for nine to 12 hours before any blood test to get an accurate triglyceride reading. A normal reading is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter, measured as mg/dL. You are considered borderline high if your reading is 150 to 199 mg/dL. Readings of 200 to 499 mg/dL are categorized as high, and anything over 500 mg/dL is very high.
Arteries
Knowing your triglyceride level is important because of the effect too many triglycerides can have on the body. Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, states that too much of this type of fat can contribute to the hardening and narrowing of your arteries. That can put you at higher risk for heart attack or stroke. If you have high triglycerides, you also might have high cholesterol.
Other Conditions
High triglyceride levels might be a clue that something else in the body needs attention. The Cleveland Clinic states that people who are obese may have elevated levels. High triglyceride readings might also be a sign of poorly controlled diabetes, low thyroid hormones, and liver or kidney disease. The Mayo Clinic notes that, in rare cases, high triglycerides might signal a genetic condition that affects how the body converts fat to energy.
