Tryglycerides, Hypertriglyceridemia, Fats and the Abacha ncha story

What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exist in food as well as in the body. They're also present in blood plasma and, in association with cholesterol, form the plasma lipids.Triglycerides in plasma are derived from:
1. fats eaten in foods or,
2. made in the body from other energy sources like carbohydrates.
Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.

How is an excess of triglycerides harmful?

Excess triglycerides in plasma is called hypertriglyceridemia. It's linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. Elevated triglycerides may be a consequence of other disease, such as untreated diabetes mellitus.


American Heart Association Recommendations —

Dietary treatment goals:

Changes in lifestyle habits are the main therapy for hypertriglyceridemia.
These are the changes you need to make:
If you're overweight, cut down on calories to reach your ideal body weight. This includes all sources of calories, from fats, proteins, carbohydrates and alcohol.
Reduce the saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol content of your diet.
Reduce your intake of alcohol considerably. Even small amounts of alcohol can lead to large changes in plasma triglyceride levels.
Eat fruits, vegetables and nonfat or low-fat dairy products most often.
Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on five or more days each week.

People with high triglycerides may need to substitute monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats —such as those found in canola oil, olive oil or liquid margarine — for saturated fats ( palm oil,coconut oil animal fat).
Substituting carbohydrates for fats may raise triglyceride levels and may decrease HDL ("good") cholesterol in some people.
Substitute fish high in omega-3 fatty acids for meats high in saturated fat like hamburger.
Because other risk factors for coronary artery disease multiply the hazard from hypertriglyceridemia, control high blood pressure and avoid cigarette smoking.
Even if drugs like statins are used to treat high triglyceride levels (hypertriglyceridemia) dietary management is still important.

It is important to note that fats are essential for life. The body stores away fat for a source of energy reserve. This stored energy is tapped into when the body exerts itself by performing physical activities. Energy is utilized when we do vigourous work such as wood chopping or tedious farm work. The body taps into the fat deposits when such vigorous work is done. Between meals, energy from fat stores is carefully regulated and released by the built in system in the body.

The problems with fat in recent years result from lack of exercise and vigorous activity. Sedentary lifestyle is the norm today and the results in excess fat stores. Vigorous exercise as in bicycling and trecking long distances and activities already mentioned, such as our past generations used to do. Such exercise burns fat and helps eliminate excess fat.

How does Very High Triglycerides affect your health ?

Triglycerides can build up on the walls of certain blood vessels, called arteries.This build-up can make them narrow.Narrowed arteries slow or block blood flow to the heart.Blood brings needed oxygen to the heart. High triglycerides can lead to hardening of your arteries.They can also lead to thickening of your artery walls. This can raise your risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.It can also lead to pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, a very painful and dangerous condition.Some people might be at greater risk for very high triglycerides because they have other serious health problems like:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Obesity.

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Saturated Fats, Unsaturated (mono and poly unsaturated) Fats, Trans Fats, COOKING OILS and the rest of the Abacha ncha story.