Excess weight, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels are being recognized by more heart and health conscious people as contributing to the risk of stroke and heart disease. Even though your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are in a normal range, elevated triglycerides can be another health risk factor to consider. Methods of lowering triglycerides will become more important to people once they realize what triglycerides are and what their levels normal levels are.

It’s important to know the ranges of triglyceride levels and what threat they pose to a persons health. Three fats (tri) and one alcohol (gylcol) combine to make triglycerides. Triglycerides are fats as they’re stored in the body, and are naturally produced by the body as well as food we eat. The fat cells and blood stream of the human body both contain triglycerides.

Measurement of triglyceride levels is a powerful preventative and diagnostic tool, as high triglyceride levels often contribute to coronary artery disease and forms of diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, most people should have a triglyceride count of less than 150. Borderline-high defines readings of 150-199, high is categorized as levels between 200 and 499, very high is defined by levels above 500. Diet, exercise and medications are three approaches to treating hypertriglyceridemia, the medical term for high triglycerides levels.

The preferred treatment methods of most doctors are diet and exercise, with medication being the third choice. This is largely due to potential side effects of the medication, which can often be severe. Selecting and eating triglyceride lowering foods is mostly common sense. Reducing caloric intake for all types of food is a “must do" for the overweight. High triglyceride sufferers need to increase their intake of fruits, vegetable, low and non-fat dairy products, and drastically limit their intake of trans and saturated fats and foods high in cholesterol.

In addition to these common sense dietary tips, the consumption of alcohol needs to see a significant reduction, as even a minimal alcohol intake can have a significant effect on how many triglycerides are in a person’s bloodstream. Eating foods containing canola or olive oils, such as margarine can raise triglyceride levels, therefore butter and small amounts of foods with saturated fats should be used instead in moderation, because monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are far worse for triglyceride levels than saturated fats. The high levels of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish albacore tuna and mackerel are more of a benefit for triglyceride levels than fatty meats like hamburger.

Exercise is vital for lowering triglyceride levels and its level must to be increased. The recommended exercise routine for most people would be five 30 minute sessions per week of jogging, running or other aerobic exercises. Instead of just watching TV in the evening, a busy person should consider getting an aerobic exercise machine and exercise while they watch.

An important step to ensuring good cardiovascular health is lowering triglycerides. An improved diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish with omega-3 fat, and limited in fatty foods and alcohol will produce lower triglyceride levels. Proper exercise is also important, with five 30 minute sessions a week being considered ideal by most doctors. People can go a long way in treating their heart with care by following this advice.