Triglycerides

If you're trying to watch the amount of fat that you consume, you'll definitely want to know more about triglycerides. This substance is found in foods, and is naturally present in the body as well, and you'll need to monitor the levels in order to avoid certain serious health problems that could affect you for a lifetime.

Triglyceridesare the chemical form of fat that is present in food, and the substance is also found in the plasma of the blood. Plasma lipids are formed as a result of triglycerides, and is created and develop in the body when you consume foods that contain a large amount of carbohydrates. This is because all of the calories that you consume when you eat a meal are not used by the body right away; the leftover calories that tissues do not immediately use are converted to triglycerides. Then, they are transferred to the fat cells, so that they can be stored to use for energy later on. So, when you need energy in between eating meals, the hormones on your body regulate the release of this fat chemical from the body's tissues.

Now that you know a little about triglycerides, you can see that this chemical is actually not harmful, and serves the body well for storing excess energy. However, when there is excess fat stored in the body, more of this chemical is formed and found, and this could prove to be harmful. It could lead to coronary artery disease in some people, because the fat becomes too much for the body to process properly. Then, it forms itself into a pasty substance called plaque, and builds up inside the artery walls. When this happens, blood is not able to flow through the body at a normal rate; to much or not enough blood to the heart can cause a heart attack, and too much or not enough blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke. Studies have also shown that an elevated triglyceride and cholesterol level can also lead to diabetes mellitus, which often goes untreated in patients.

If you think you may have too much triglycerides in your system, you can have your plasma measured at the doctor's office to check you levels and get the information you need to make the necessary changes to your lifestyle. The day before you go the doctor, however, you'll need to make sure that you don't eat or consume any alcohol, so that the reading will be accurate and you won't add any triglyceridesto your system. Your doctor may also tell you a little about the National Cholesterol Education Program, which requires you to consume no more than 150 mg/dL for healthy individuals. Simple carbohydrates may also need to be cut from the diet, so try to incorporate foods like brown rice or whole wheat bread into your diet as well.

Need more pointers on how you can regulate the cholesterol levels in your body and reduce triglycerides? Check out www.americanheart.org for more great information.