Triglyceride levels are also measured when you go for a laboratory test. Triglyceride is a type of fat in the blood. Triglycerides provide important energy for the body, but if too much triglyceride builds up in the body, there is a greater chance of developing heart disease. Many things play a role in the development of high triglyceride levels, such as alcohol consumption, diabetes and a high calorie diet.
There are many ways to reduce triglyceride levels. One way is to achieve a healthy weight. Even a 5 per cent reduction in body weight can reduce blood triglyceride levels.
Studies have shown that eating large amounts of added sugar can also increase blood triglyceride levels, but a low-carbohydrate diet can significantly help to lower blood triglyceride levels.
As with added sugar, high-carbohydrate foods are converted into triglycerides in the body, where they are converted into fat cells, leading to obesity. However, a low carbohydrate diet lowers blood triglyceride levels, as does a lower fat diet.
Dietary fibre is found in higher amounts in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Other plant foods are also rich in fibre, such as nuts, seeds, cereals and pulses. When we eat foods rich in fibre, fibre reduces the absorption of sugar and fat in the small intestine, and it also significantly lowers blood triglyceride levels.
Regular exercise, such as aerobic exercise, can increase the levels of good, or HDL cholesterol in the body and thus lower triglyceride levels in the blood.
Foods high in trans fats can also significantly increase triglyceride levels in the blood and thus significantly increase the risk of heart disease. The less processed and fried food we eat, the less trans fat we put into our bodies.
Fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Just two portions of fish a week can lower blood triglyceride levels and significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease.