How Does Eating Sugar Relate to High Triglyceride Levels?
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Understanding Triglycerides
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Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, that enter the bloodstream from the food we eat as well as by fat that is already stored in the body. This substance is needed by the body for cell production and to serve as a source of energy. However, triglycerides cannot break down in the blood, so when levels get too high, there is a buildup in the arteries. When this amount is more than 150 mg/dL, there is an increased risk of diseases, such as heart attack and stroke.
Sweet Trouble
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One of the reasons for high triglycerides is a diet high in carbohydrates, specifically simple sugars. If you take in too many high-sugar foods, your body will convert whatever is not used for energy to triglycerides. The Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute recommends that sugar intake does not go above 8 percent of total calories eaten. This is because sugar is easily digested by the body and turned into fuel, or glucose. Who hasn't had a sugar rush after a couple of doughnuts? The problem with consuming simple carbohydrates is this surge quickly dips, allowing hunger to return much to soon and increasing the craving for more sugar. Your body will have more glucose than it knows what to do with, leaving the extra to be stored as triglycerides.
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Sugar Is Everywhere
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Cutting back on sugar is not as simple as leaving it out of your morning coffee. Simple sugars like table sugar, fruit juices, honey, molasses and brown sugar, make their way into more than just desert. Low-fat products often contain more sugar then their regular fat counterparts. Everything from soup to sauces to baked beans can be sugar-laden, so it is important to check the label. Look for ingredients including either corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, glucose, fructose and maltose. These different forms of sugar have the effect of raising your triglycerides.
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