What are triglycerides and why do they matter?
Triglycerides (trī-glis-er-īdes) are a type of fat in the blood. They’re produced in the liver and also come from foods that you eat. High levels of trigs can narrow and harden arteries, making it hard for blood to flow. A high triglyceride level often goes hand-in-hand with high bad cholesterol (LDL) level and a lower good cholesterol (HDL) level. High triglyceride levels in the blood are associated with heart disease. High triglycerides can be due to being overweight, not getting enough exercise, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption and a diet very high in carbohydrates (more than 60 percent of total calories). People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including high bad cholesterol and low good cholesterol. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.
