Truth about Triglycerides in Blood Lipid Profile

Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood.
When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals.
If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, particularly from high-carbohydrate foods, you may have high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia)
Adipose tissue triglyceride represents the major energy store of the body. Fatty acids are mobilized from adipose tissue triglycerides by the action of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), which is activated by glucagon and adrenaline (epinephrine) and inhibited by insulin.

When you want to objectively assess your lipid profile in your blood test report, focus on Triglycerides/VLDL level and HDL Cholesterol level.
Target to lower triglyceride levels and improve HDL cholesterol levels.
Total cholesterol level may not be a major concern when Triglycerides are low and HDL is high. Triglycerides and VLDL particles causes inflammation and different issues in our body.
Keeping a check on Cholesterol levels (especially to have high HDL) in our body is good but focusing only on cholesterol may not solve the root cause of the problem.

You may want to check below ratios which are better predictors of cardiovascular disease risk on the blood lipid panel.

Total cholesterol / HDL cholesterol ratio :
- should be “between 3 and 4” to ensure healthy cholesterol levels and a substantially reduced risk of heart disease.
Triglyceride / HDL ratio :
- “Less than 2″ is ideal.
- “Greater than 6” is Dangerous.
- “Between 2 and 6” is bad and must be lowered below 2.

Very high levels of triglycerides are associated with liver disease.
High triglycerides can cause inflammation in arteries and may contribute to hardening of the arteries or thickening of the artery walls (arteriosclerosis) — which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease.
Extremely high triglycerides can also cause acute inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
A sign of metabolic syndrome – For metabolic syndrome, that group includes abdominal obesity (visceral fat), high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL cholesterol — and, yes, high triglyceride levels.
Generally , people having low HDL cholesterol will have high triglycerides. Body would not be able to clear residual cholesterol in blood stream when HDL is low.

Obesity
Poorly controlled diabetes.
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Liver or Pancreas disease
Regularly eating more calories than you burn.
Smoking
Alcoholism
Sometimes high triglycerides are a side effect of taking certain medications including steroids
Poor lifestyle

Get more physical activity – A balanced exercise program of Strength training/HIIT and cardio
Weight loss – To be precise target Fat-loss using right exercise regime and nutrition.
Reduce stress and sleep well
Choose healthy fats like Omega 3. Add some protein rich foods.
High quality Vitamin/Mineral Supplements will be helpful
Eat more fiber – colorful vegetables and fruits
Eat at regular intervals and avoid snacking in between meals
Lower sugar, refined carbs and refined oils
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol