Triglycerides are a type of fat and the main way your body stores energy. But how often have you overlooked the triglyceride number on your lipid profile just because your total cholesterol looks fine?

The truth is, elevated triglycerides can signal several underlying issues, including:

• Consuming more calories than your body needs — the excess gets stored as triglycerides in fat cells
• A diet high in carbs and low in protein and fiber
• Lack of regular physical activity
• An underactive thyroid
• Early signs of conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure (pre-diabetics often have high triglyceride levels)
• Smoking, which increases free fatty acids in the blood and lowers HDL (the “good” cholesterol)

Ideally, your triglyceride level should be under 150 mg/dL.

• 150–199 is considered borderline
• 200 and above is very high

The good news? Most of these issues stem from lifestyle choices — and that means they can be reversed by making better ones:

• Eat a balanced diet with adequate protein, fiber, and the right amount of carbs
• Include more omega-3 fatty acids (check out my earlier post to learn why they matter)
• Cut back on alcohol and work on quitting smoking
• Make regular exercise a non-negotiable part of your day

Small, consistent changes can lead to big improvements in your health.