What Are Triglycerides and Cholesterol?
Cholesterol and triglycerides may have a bad reputation, but the body needs them to function, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Cholesterol is used to build cell membranes, produce hormones (like estrogen and testosterone), and create bile acids for fat digestion, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Because cholesterol is so important, the liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs.
Dietary cholesterol is the type that is found in food. There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol. Together with triglycerides, your LDL and HDL levels help give a picture of your overall cholesterol health.
Triglycerides are a type of fat the body creates from food. Some fatty foods, like butter and oils, are already in triglyceride form. The body also converts sugar and alcohol into triglycerides, along with any other excess calories. The body stores triglycerides for later use in the form of body fat, Cleveland Clinic notes.
How a Fatty Meal Affects Triglycerides
Can eating a fatty meal raise your triglyceride levels excessively? The answer depends on your baseline level. Baseline (average) triglyceride levels are measured through a blood test.
According to Cleveland Clinic, this is what cholesterol numbers mean:
- Normal Under 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- Mild 150 to 199 mg/dL
- Moderate 200 to 499 mg/dL
- Severe Over 500 mg/dL
"For healthy people, triglyceride levels peak three to four hours after a meal and return to normal after six hours,” says Robert H. Eckel, MD, professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, and a former president of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
But for people with higher triglyceride levels, it may take 10 to 12 hours to return to baseline. "If a person has very high triglycerides, their levels may not even return to baseline in 12 hours," says Dr. Eckel.
Does One Meal Matter?
A single fatty meal won't put you at risk for heart disease. But over time, a diet high in saturated fats, sugar, and refined carbohydrates can greatly increase your risk.
Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, alcohol, and a lack of exercise, according to Mayo Clinic. Genetics, older age, and conditions like diabetes can also be risk factors.
The best way to manage risk for high cholesterol and triglycerides — and reduce risk of heart attack or stroke — is to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and quit smoking.
Discuss your cholesterol with your doctor. In some cases, they may also prescribe medications, like statins or fibrates, to help manage your risk.
