Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
Triglycerides
Overview & Description
Triglycerides are a common form of fat found in both food and the body. They make up 95% of the fat in the foods a person eats. They're also found in blood plasma and along with cholesterol, they make up the plasma lipids. Triglycerides occur naturally in foods. The liver also makes them from carbohydrates when calories are eaten that are not needed right away. They are stored in the body's fat tissue. Certain hormones control the release of triglycerides from the body's fat tissue as more energy is needed between meals.
Information
The National Cholesterol Education Program, which is a part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, put out new guidelines for healthy fasting blood triglyceride levels in 2001. They are as follows:
Changes in lifestyle will help lower blood levels of triglycerides to a healthy level. These include:
When a person has his or her blood cholesterol checked, the doctor may also check triglycerides. This is most often done when people have other risk factors for heart disease, such as:
A fatty meal that is high in triglycerides will cause a short-term jump in blood cholesterol levels. Because of this, people must fast for 12 hours before a blood test. A person should have two or three tests, one week apart, for the most accurate results.
Triglyceride levels can be affected by any or all of the following factors.
Medicines may be used in people with very high triglyceride levels if they have: