8 Unexpected Reasons for High Triglycerides

Triglycerides are fats from the food you consume and the fat that’s stored in your body. Triglycerides you get from foods are digested and absorbed in the small intestine. After that, they’re packaged together with proteins and cholesterol in particles, known as chylomicrons. Chylomicrons carry triglycerides from the gut to other tissues. 

Your liver can produce triglycerides from other fats and sugars when you eat too many carbs or calories than you actually need. Your body stores triglycerides to use as energy when you don’t eat for a long time. 

Having too high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream can be dangerous for your health, especially heart and blood vessels. According to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about one in 3 U.S. adults have high levels of triglycerides. Here are some common causes of elevated triglycerides everyone needs to know: 

1. Excessive alcohol consumption 

Heavy drinkers often have elevated triglyceride levels. Plus, they’re at high risk of cardiovascular disease, alcoholic fatty liver disease, and pancreatitis. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your triglycerides by forcing the liver to release more VLDL, reducing fat-burning properties, and increasing fat storage in the liver. 

2. Inactive lifestyle 

Having an inactive lifestyle is linked to high levels of triglycerides. The less you exercise, the less you need to eat. That’s why you’re more likely to eat more calories than your body requires. 

3. Obesity 

Obese people tend to have too high levels of triglycerides in the blood. Plus, they’re more prone to have high “bad” and low “good” cholesterol levels which is harmful to blood vessels. The combination of these problems raises chronic inflammation and the risk of heart disease. 

This is why It’s essential to lose extra pounds as soon as possible. Weight loss for men must be a priority since they tend to have more heart issues than women.   

4. A diet that’s rich in fast carbs, and trans fats 

An improper diet and overeating are two common reasons for elevated triglyceride levels. When you eat more than you need, the surplus is transformed into fat, including triglycerides. People with diets rich in fast carbs and trans fats often overeat. 

Low-fat, high-carb diets are another common reason for high triglycerides. While unsaturated fats are good for you, saturated fats and trans fats are bad. However, your body needs healthy fats, like those contained in olive oil and fish oil to keep your triglyceride levels normal and to maintain your overall health. If you don’t consume an adequate amount of dietary fats, your body will revert to transforming the sugars you consume into fats.

5. Smoking

According to multiple studies, there is a connection between smoking and higher triglyceride levels. Among 191 women, nonsmokers had 40 percent lower triglyceride levels than those who smoke on average. Smokers also had slightly higher total cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.  

6. Kidney disease 

People who suffer from chronic kidney disease are already at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. They also often develop heart complications due to elevated triglycerides. 

7. Vitamin D deficiency 

Vitamin D is vital for your health. One of its functions is to maintain normal triglyceride levels in the blood. A study of almost 3.8k people has shown that vitamin D deficiency is linked to higher triglyceride levels. Similar results were found in another study of 1.5k people and a study of 149 children. 

8. Chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions 

People with chronic inflammation and infections as well as autoimmune disorders, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis often have elevated triglyceride levels in the blood. These disease-triggered changes initially serve to fight inflammation or infection, however, they raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.