Triglycerides and cholesterol are two types of lipids, which are classified as hydrophobic, or water-fearing substances. Because lipids are hydrophobic, they cannot physically dissolve in water, and as a result, circulate throughout your blood, which contains a large percentage of water, in solid form. Triglycerides and cholesterol are vital to proper body function, but excess amounts of the lipids in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Triglyceride Function
When you eat excess amounts of calories, your body converts the calories to triglycerides, which circulate throughout your blood until they are stored in your fat cells. When your calorie intake falls short, your body uses these stored triglycerides as a source of energy until you eat again.
Triglyceride Values
Normal triglyceride values fall below 150 mg/dL. If your triglyceride values increase to 200 mg/dL or higher, you have high triglycerides. If a lipid test determines that your triglyceride levels are high, one of the most important things you can do is reduce your total calorie intake. As previously mentioned, excess calories are converted to triglycerides in your body. To prevent significant increases in triglyceride levels, you need to stay within your caloric recommendations. You should also reduce your intake of saturated fat and trans fat and try to avoid alcohol as much as possible. Regular exercise can also help lower your triglyceride levels.
Types of Cholesterol
The cholesterol in your body comes from the food you eat and your body's natural production. Doctors generally classify the different types of cholesterol as "good" or "bad" based on their action in your body. "Bad," or LDL, cholesterol contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of plaque on the walls of your arteries. The term "good cholesterol" refers to HDL, which actually removes excess cholesterol from your arteries and carries it back to the liver so that it can be removed from the body. Because of this mechanism, HDL cholesterol is considered protective against heart disease, so the goal is to get your numbers as high as possible.
Cholesterol Values
A lipid test, which is the blood test used to measure triglycerides and cholesterol, reports cholesterol values in three separate categories. Total cholesterol represents the amount of both types of cholesterol in your blood. A total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL is considered ideal. A lipid test also provides readings for LDL and HDL individually. If you have existing heart disease or other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. Healthy adults should aim to keep LDL levels between 100 and 129 mg/dL. If a lipid test shows that your HDL levels fall below 40 mg/dL, it indicates a higher risk for heart disease. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or higher significantly decreases your risk of heart disease, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
