Triglyceride levels increase right after a meal, but cholesterol levels do not

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Triglyceride levels increase right after a meal, but cholesterol levels do not

What are triglycerides and cholesterol?

Cholesterol and triglycerides may get a bad rap, but the body needs them to function, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Cholesterol is used to build cell membranes, produce hormones (like estrogen and testosterone), and create bile acids for fat digestion, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Because cholesterol is so important, the liver produces all the cholesterol the body needs.

Dietary cholesterol is that found in foods. There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol. Along with triglycerides, your LDL and HDL levels help give an idea of your overall cholesterol health.

Triglycerides are a type of fat that the body creates from food. Some fatty foods, like butter and oils, are already in the form of triglycerides. The body also converts sugar and alcohol into triglycerides, along with any other excess calories. The body stores triglycerides for later use as body fat, notes the Cleveland Clinic.

How a fatty meal affects triglycerides

Can eating a fatty meal excessively raise your triglyceride levels? The answer depends on your base level. Baseline (average) triglyceride levels are measured by a blood test.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, here’s what the cholesterol numbers mean:

Normal Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
Benign 150 to 199 mg/dL
Moderate 200 to 499 mg/dL
Severe More than 500 mg/dL

“For healthy people, triglyceride levels peak three to four hours after a meal and return to normal after six hours,” says Robert H. Eckel, MD, professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus and past president of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

But for people with higher triglyceride levels, it may take 10 to 12 hours to return to baseline. “If a person has very high triglyceride levels, their levels may not even return to baseline after 12 hours,” says Dr. Eckel.

Is a meal important?

Just one fatty meal won’t put you at risk for heart disease. But over time, a diet high in saturated fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates can significantly increase your risk.

Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, alcohol and lack of exercise, according to the Mayo Clinic. Genetics, older age and diseases like diabetes can also be risk factors.

The best way to manage the risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides – and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke – is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and quit smoking.

Discuss your cholesterol levels with your doctor. In some cases, they may also prescribe medications, such as statins or fibrates, to help manage your risk.

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