Reasons for Elevated Triglyceride Levels
What really generates dangerous cholesterol levels? Is modern junk food the primary factor? Or is there a deeper underlying issue? Although a junk food diet has a major influence, reasons for high cholesterol problems are much more complicated. The first step is to confirm what is cholesterol. The truths about the cause of high cholesterol are not solely the result of poor eating habits.
Cholesterol molecules are fatty substances occurring normally in the human cardiovascular system and can plug up arteries when the concentration is too high. Ongoing narrowing of arteries restricts blood flow to the heart potentially causing heart attacks or strokes.
Heredity is another critical element that you cannot control. Genetic tendencies determine the manufacture of high cholesterol.
Your cholesterol DNA comes from your parents, automatically passed on to succeeding generations. Ironically, your ancestors have given you the curse of high cholesterol, or not, as the case may be. A serious genetic disease believed to cause high LDL levels is called familial hypercholesterolemia which starts at birth often leading to heart attack at an early age.
Age and sex are other major risk factors affecting cholesterol levels. As early as young adulthood, men often have HDL levels historically lower than females. Unfortunately, bad LDL levels generally increase for both sexes as they grow old. Older women usually have levels surpassing men after age 55.
The standard high-calorie American junk food diet, consisting mostly of foods high in cholesterol, contributes to elevated cholesterol numbers. But as noted before, diet is but one of many contributing factors. Deeper investigation requires a closer examination of the foods we eat.
Everyone knows that fast food has high levels of saturated fats directly related to obesity and any number of other health issues. Saturated fats are a tremendously detrimental to health which raise LDL or bad cholesterol levels more than any other food ingredient.
The contribution of Triglycerides is not as well known. High triglyceride levels heighten the danger of cardiovascular disease. The range of concern begins between 150 mg/dl to more than 200 mg/dl (any number above this is dangerously high) and may require prescriptions. Major risk factors for dangerous Triglyceride levels are excess weight, smoking, inactivity, family history, some diseases and pharmaceutical side effects, and lastly, a high carbohydrate intake.
How can you fight back? First, eat the proper diet. Reduce highly saturated fats as much as is possible because LDL levels are dangerously affected. Don’t gorge yourself at meals. Exercise regularly. Interestingly, benefical HDL levels increase with a consistent and effective exercise routine.
As you can see, the cause of high cholesterol can be as straight forward as being overweight and sedentary. Regardless of your high cholesterol causes, consult your physician and develop a healthier lifestyle to lower your high cholesterol before tragedy strikes.
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