Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in the blood, and if your level of them gets too high, your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke goes up as well. Diet plays a large role in managing triglyceride levels, and it is important to be mindful of both the foods you eat and the beverages you drink. If you are a regular coffee drinker, you may need to make some changes if your physician has recommended bringing your triglyceride levels down.
Triglycerides
Calories that are eaten and not used right away for fuel are converted into triglycerides and taken to fat cells to be stored, says the American Heart Association. A high triglyceride level, which is called hypertriglyceridemia, can contribute to plaque buildup along the blood vessel walls. To help prevent complications, keep your triglyceride level at less than 150 mg/dl. Lowering your triglyceride level requires cutting back on calorie intake if you are overweight and limiting your consumption of sugar, fat and cholesterol.
Coffee and Triglycerides
Plain coffee and the caffeine in it do not appear to affect triglyceride levels, but what you put in your coffee may. Some specialty coffee drinks may have alcohol added to them, and the alcohol can significantly raise triglyceride levels, according to the Cleveland Clinic. To lower your risk if you are male, limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day, and if you are a woman, limit intake to one drink per day. If you are adding alcohol to your coffee, keep in mind that one drink is equal to 12 oz. of beer, 8 oz. of malt liquor, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor such as gin, rum, vodka or whiskey.
Sugar
Along with too many calories, too much refined sugar also contributes to high triglyceride levels, says the American Dietetic Association. A general goal is to limit your daily sugar intake to no more than 8 percent of your total calories each day, which is about 24 g on a 1,600-calorie food plan. This would mean adding no more than four packets of sugar or 6 tsp. of sugar to your coffee each day and that is only if you do not consume any other sugar. You can also control your triglyceride levels by using artificial sweeteners.
Fat and Cholesterol
If you tend to add whole milk or cream to your coffee, drinking coffee can drive your triglyceride levels up. Limiting intake of fat and cholesterol plays a large role in lowering your triglyceride levels. A general goal is to consume no more than 200 mg of cholesterol each day if you are at a high risk of heart disease. Fat intake should make up no more than 30 percent of your daily caloric intake, and most of that should come from unsaturated fats. If you need to add milk or cream to your coffee, go for fat-free or low-fat versions, but read the label carefully, because fat-free products can be high in calories and sugar.
