What Does Triglycerides Mean?
Triglycerides are the most common fat in your blood. High levels often track with insulin resistance and refined-carb intake — and are linked to elevated cardiovascular risk.
What Triglycerides Measures
Triglycerides are fats your body makes from extra calories — especially from sugar and refined carbs — and stores in fat cells for later energy. A fasting blood test measures how much is circulating. Persistently high triglycerides are associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver, and increased heart disease risk.
Normal Ranges
Normal< 150 mg/dL
Borderline high150–199 mg/dL
High200–499 mg/dL
Very high (pancreatitis risk)≥ 500 mg/dL
Reference ranges may vary slightly by lab. Always use the range provided on your specific test report.
What Affects Your Triglycerides Level
- Refined carbs and added sugar (the biggest dietary driver)
- Excess alcohol (can dramatically raise triglycerides)
- Excess body weight, especially abdominal
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
- Hypothyroidism
- Genetics (familial hypertriglyceridemia)